Looking Ahead: Stewardship, Celebration and Connection in 2026
January 2026 — As we welcome a new year, we renew our aloha for Lāna‘i, our ʻāina, its moʻolelo, and the families and friends who carry our values forward together. In 2026, the Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center invites our community to come together for a series of connected programs and events guided by a shared purpose: to mālama ʻāina, honor those who came before us, and strengthen the bonds between people and place.
Each gathering is part of a larger kuleana we share. Together, these experiences form a pathway of learning, remembrance, celebration, and stewardship that supports the long-term health of Lāna‘i’s cultural and natural landscapes. Whether you call Lāna‘i home, are returning to your roots, or are learning alongside us, these programs offer meaningful ways to connect with one another and with the island.
Looking back at 2025, there is much to celebrate as a community. Through ʻāina-based education programs, 350 students learned directly from the land and its stories. Community stewardship was strengthened by the dedication of 202 volunteers, and restoration efforts included the outplanting of 162 native plants at Kānepuʻu Preserve and the responsible removal of 585 ungulates to protect fragile ecosystems. These milestones reflect relationships built, ʻike shared, and a growing sense of kuleana that continues to guide our collective work.
We’ve set the date for Kupulau Festival on April 25, 2026, from 10 am to 1 pm, at the Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center. Traditionally held on the last Saturday of April, this free public celebration marks a season of growth and renewal. Through hands-on cultural activities, educational booths, and opportunities to learn about native plants, animals, and conservation efforts, community members of all ages deepen their understanding of Lāna‘i’s biocultural landscape. The sharing of native, Polynesian-introduced, and food plants allows stewardship to continue at home, reinforcing that caring for the land is something we do together.
That spirit of togetherness continues in May for our annual Memorial Day opportunities. This time of remembrance honors our kūpuna and all who shaped the island’s culture. By gathering to remember, we strengthen our sense of unity and reaffirm why connection, education, and stewardship remain essential to Lāna‘i’s future.
In summer 2026, our longest-running program, E ʻIke Hou iā Lānaʻi, continues its commitment to youth by offering hands-on cultural immersion rooted in Hawaiian traditions and sustainable practices. Students in past programs worked in gardens, learned traditional fishing methods, practiced responsible wildlife management, and prepared food in an imu for a shared pā‘ina, building ʻike and a sense of kuleana they carry with them beyond the program.
Throughout the year, native plant giveaway events support residents in caring for culturally and ecologically significant plants, reminding us that stewardship begins at home and extends across the island through everyday actions. Education remains central to this work through ongoing ʻāina-based programs that connect cultural knowledge, environmental responsibility, and place-based learning.
As 2026 unfolds, each gathering and act of stewardship is woven together by a shared commitment to mālama ʻāina, honor our kūpuna, and support a thriving future for Lāna‘i. We look forward to continuing this journey together, guided by aloha, kuleana, and a deep love for the island we call home.
We hope you'll join us. All of our programs are 100% free to participants. If you'd like to support our mission, consider making a tax-deductible donation today.
