Hookuaaina

THE MISSION OF HO'OKUA'AINA IS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH THEMSELVES, THE LAND, AND THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH HAWAIIAN CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION DELIVERED THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ON AN ORGANIC KALO FARM.

AT RISK YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM IS OUR PRIMARY PROGRAM. AT RISK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED AND REFERRED BY THEIR SCHOOLS. THE STUDENTS EARN CREDITS WHILE WORKING A TRADITIONAL TARO FARM. THEY ARE MENTORED IN LIFE SKILLS, WORK ETHIC, AND JOB SKILLS. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE CENTERED ON THE TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN PRACTICE OF CULTIVATING KALO. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCORPORATE PERSONAL REFLECTION TIME, ONE-ON-ONE TIME MENTORING AND INTERACTION WITH THE ELDERLY, TRAINED STAFF, NON AT RISK PEERS AND CORE "HEALTHY" FAMILY FROM THE COMMUNITY.THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: THIS IS THE 2ND PHASE OF THE MENTORING PROGRAM. IF PARTICIPANTS IN THE ENTRY LEVEL PROGRAM SHOW INTEREST AND INITIATIVE THEY ARE INVITED TO PROMOTE UP INTO A PAID POSITION UP TO 16 HOURS PER WEEK WHERE THEY WILL BUILD UPON THE SKILLS AND VALUES THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. INTERNS ARE GIVEN GREATER KULEANA TO LEAD AND HOST GROUPS, HARVEST KALO, PROCESS POI, MORE JOB SKILLS TRAINING RELATED TO FARMING, SMALL BUSINESS PRACTICES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.

OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER/EDUCATION: HO'OKUA'AINA PROVIDES AN IDEAL OUTDOOR LEARNING CLASSROOM FOR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS FROM ELEMENTARY UP THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL. HO'OKUA'AINA CO-FOUNDER DEAN WILHELM IS A CERTIFIED DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TEACHER WITH NEARLY 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM. HAWAIIAN VALUES-BASED LESSONS ARE USED AND CAN SUPPLEMENT STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM FOR ANY GRADE AND SUBJECT AREA. SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO BRING STUDENTS ON FIELD TRIPS TO SEE A TRADITIONAL TARO FARM. THEY ARE TAUGHT HAWAIIAN CULTURE, SCIENCE, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY. THIS PROGRAM SERVES SMALL GROUPS AS REQUESTED.