Honolulu’s vibrant community is actively engaged in preserving and celebrating Hawaiian culture through various initiatives that honor traditions and foster cultural education.
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 provide hands-on opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages to learn about and participate in fostering a sustainable Hawaiʻi.
Wahi Pana: Storied Places
Wahi Pana is a temporary public art project initiated by the City and County of Honolulu’s Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA). The project features art installations across Oʻahu that connect each site with their indigenous, Native Hawaiian moʻolelo (stories). Launched in 2025, Wahi Pana brings together local artists and storytellers to create multi-media installations that activate sites by connecting them to stories rooted in Native Hawaiian history.
Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center: Restoring Loko Iʻa
The Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center is dedicated to protecting, preserving, and restoring remaining Hawaiian fishponds, springs, and cultural sites in Maunalua Bay. They manage sites like Kānewai Spring in Kuliʻouʻou and Kalauhaʻihaʻi fishpond in Niu Valley, caring for native species and fostering community engagement to revive traditional aquaculture practices.
Mokauea Island Restoration Project
In Keʻehi Lagoon, Mokauea Island is the site of Oʻahu’s last Hawaiian fishing village. The Mokauea Island Restoration Project aims to recreate a living example of a traditional Hawaiian subsistence fishing village, preserving maritime skills and knowledge that have been lost over the past century.
These initiatives, among others, reflect Honolulu’s commitment to preserving and celebrating Hawaiian culture, ensuring that traditions and practices are passed down to future generations.