‘aha makahiki ma maui hikina
In partnership with other East Maui organizations like Ala Kukui, Hōlani Hāna, and Kahanu Garden, as well as Hāna School, Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike helps to host Makahiki festivities each year. Through ceremony, food, and traditional games, our community of East Maui comes together to usher in Makahiki season with reverence and gratitude. The following images were captured by photographer Shandelle Nakanelua during the November 2022 gathering.
wāhine Kai Camp
The 4th annual Young Wāhine Kai Camp took place in June of 2022 with the purpose of encouraging and empowering young wāhine of Hāna to believe in themselves and know that they are enough. Through ocean activities like surfing and paddling canoe, place-based and cultural education, deep discussions surrounding coming-of-age, mentorship, and more, participants learn about the ocean, where they come from, who they come from, each other, and themselves. The following images were captured by photographer Shandelle Nakanelua.
Ho‘omohala Initiative
The modification we designed for apprentices during the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraged youth to get back on the job calling “home” their new work site. The apprentices incorporated building and construction with growing food such as constructing raised beds out of wood, and planting crops to eat and share with their ʻohana. They collected evidence of their progress on video and in pictures, and paved the way for more apprentices to follow.
