HOʻONAʻAUAO · EDUCATION
Standing in the place,
not just reading about it
We partner with our Hawaiʻi Island communities and educators on initiatives that perpetuates the stories and histories of our beloved places
We work with educators, schools, and community groups to bring awareness about the Hawaiian cultural history of select places in Hilo. The Huaka'i Hele Program focuses on the coastal region of Hilo between Mokuola (Coconut Island) and the Wailuku River. The program promotes awareness about Hilo's rich cultural history through place-based story telling and experiential learning. We tailor each Huakaʻi Hele to meet the goals and objectives of your group.
If your educational or community group could benefit from this program, please contact us.
We do our best to accommodate all requests, so advanced planning (at least one month) is necessary.
*Huaka'i Hele is a culture-historical focused program for educators and our Hawai'i Island community.
First huakaʻi in 2015 with haumāna from Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo
More than a decade later, we’re still walking, talking story, and sharing the moʻolelo of the places we love.
How it all started
It started with a master’s thesis and a few community presentations. While completing her research, Lokelani began sharing what she was learning about Piʻopiʻo and Waiākea with small groups around the community. By 2015, those presentations had made their way out of the classroom and onto the landscape. The community kept asking for more, so in 2023, Huakaʻi Hele was organized as an official program of Hoaʻāina.
Today, Hoaʻāina host between 700 and 1,000 people each year, sharing the history and moʻolelo of Hilo and introducing people to the legendary figures, aliʻi, and hoaʻāina who once lived and dwelled along the coast of Hilo.
About Huakaʻi Hele
Hear from past Huakaʻi Hele participants
What was most valuable about the Huakaʻi Hele program?
“Our group included people new to the island and life-long residents. All agreed that connecting to the place we live and study was a highlight. Even those born and raised in Hilo said they learned a lot, and the newcomers (some arrived in Hawai'i for the first time the day before) were astounded by the depth of cultural history portrayed in Mo'olelo (stories).”
“Learning about the history of the wahi pana within Hilo whilst being present in those spaces. The use of visuals to compare both past and present to then find deeper meaning and invite the knowledge shared to be transferred to our haumāna. Realizing the accessibility of these places to then invite future connections.”