Kula Kaiapuni o Lāhainā Visits Mahele Farm for Interactive Activities, Led By Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike

Story written by Hennessy Arroyo & Mahea Sanita, seniors at Hāna School

On October 6th, 130 students, teachers, and their ‘ohana from Kula Kaiapuni o Lāhainā, including Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena, Lāhainā Intermediate, and Lāhaināluna, visited Mahele Farm. 

Students, teachers, ʻohana, and Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke staff members

Students were separated into six groups with different activities, with Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke graduate apprentices, graduate teachers, and program managers leading each group. All activities were interactive and hands-on—harvesting, husking, and cracking macadamia nuts; weeding and preparing garden beds; weaving coconut leaves into fish; playing Makahiki games like ʻulu maika and moa paheʻe.

Keiki of all ages were surrounded by the ʻāina momona (fertile land and soil) and used the resources of their surroundings for each activity. 

During the drawing contest, students observed Mahele Farm’s chickens running in the grass and resting under trees, and the three wild boar recently caught by the farm staff. They were asked to draw what they observed and tap into their creativity.

Weaving coconut leaves with Kumu Kea

Husking macadamia nuts

Preparing a garden bed with Kumu Mikala

Keiki drawing the chickens and pigs

This visit to Mahele Farm encouraged outdoor learning and provided space for culture and place-based activities, which we know keiki enjoy.

Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke staff members also practiced and used their ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi skills when presenting to and conversing with the keiki, all of whom are fluent in the Hawaiian language.

After the devastating fires in Lāhainā, these schools came to Hāna to connect with each other and our East Maui community. Kumu Mikala, the program manager of Mahele Farm, shared that “many keiki really enjoyed coming to Hāna because it reminded them that people far away are thinking of them and care about them.”

We continue sharing our aloha with the ʻohana of Lāhainā, and send a mahalo to the students, teachers, and families for visiting us at Mahele Farm!