In the heart of Honolulu, a vibrant tapestry of community initiatives is actively working to preserve and celebrate Hawaiian culture. These programs, driven by local organizations and supported by state agencies, play a crucial role in maintaining the rich heritage of the islands.
Huli Ka Lima: Cultivating Aloha ʻĀina
Huli Ka Lima focuses on ʻāina-based education and stewardship programs in the Koʻolauloa region of Oʻahu. Their mission is to perpetuate Aloha ʻĀina through traditional and modern farming practices, restoring native ecosystems, and promoting culturally-based Native Hawaiian practices. These programs are designed to cultivate Native Hawaiian culture-based practices, promote environmental conservation, and provide hands-on opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages to learn about and participate in fostering a sustainable Hawaii. Learn more about Huli Ka Lima.
PA‘I Foundation: A Platform for Native Hawaiian Arts
The PA‘I Foundation is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian cultural traditions for future generations. They have established a cultural center on Oʻahu to better serve the broader Hawaiian community. The foundation is among a group that is the driving force behind movements to recover language, cultural traditions, healing practices, voyaging, navigations, and agricultural practices of a people in their ancestral land who are now the minority population. Discover more about PA‘I Foundation.
Puʻuhonua Society: Amplifying Social Justice Through Art
Puʻuhonua Society creates opportunities for Native Hawaiian and Hawaiʻi-based artists and cultural practitioners to express themselves and engage with and impact audiences. They support artists and makers who serve as translators, mediators, and amplifiers of social justice issues in the community. Their initiatives include Aupuni Space, an artist-run gallery, and KEANAHALA, a collaborative weaving program that perpetuates the Native Hawaiian practice of ulana lauhala (pandanus weaving). Explore Puʻuhonua Society’s initiatives.
Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts: Public Art and Cultural Engagement
The Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA) in Honolulu provides equal and abundant opportunities for exposure to culture and the arts in all its forms. One of their notable projects is “Wahi Pana: Storied Places,” a temporary public art project featuring installations across Oʻahu that connect each site with their indigenous, Native Hawaiian moʻolelo (stories). Learn more about MOCA’s projects.
Mokauea Island Restoration Project: Reviving a Historic Fishing Village
In Keʻehi Lagoon, Mokauea Island is the site of Oʻahu’s last Hawaiian fishing village. The Mokauea Island Restoration Project aims to environmentally and culturally restore the island, recreating a living example of a traditional Hawaiian subsistence fishing village. This effort preserves maritime skills and knowledge that have been part of Hawaiian culture for centuries. Read about the Mokauea Island Restoration Project.
These initiatives, among others, highlight the dedication of Honolulu’s communities to preserving and celebrating Hawaiian culture. Through education, art, environmental stewardship, and cultural practices, they ensure that the rich heritage of the islands continues to thrive for future generations.