Hui Hooleimaluo

“The board of directors reviews and approves the form 990 before it is filed.”

“The board of directors reviewed and approved the executive director's compensation.”

“HI”

“Waiuli ocean festival: each year hui ho'oleimaluo hosts the waiuli ocean festival at richardson's ocean beach park. This free public event (drug and alcohol free) is dedicated to fostering ocean literacy, outdoor recreation and sportsmanship, hawaiian cultural heritage and place-based education and stewardship. We welcome ocean related organizations to join us in educating our youth. The event consists of free food, t-shirts and hats, and prizes for the ocean contests and fishing tournament for the children of the community. Additionally, researchers from the university of hawaii hilo, loko i'a (fishpond) practitioners of keaukaha, department of aquatic resources (dar), and department ofland and natural resources (dlnr), hawaii police department, hawaii fire department, barbless hooks project, cultural practitioners, representatives come yearly to conduct our activity sessions. Yearly, the waiuli fest features keiki competitions in surfing, swimming, bamboo fishing, and traditional hawaiian games. The public is also invited to browse and take part in the many hands-on activity booths by uhh students, dar and dlnr representatives. The ocean fest draws approximately 300 people for a fun-filled day of ocean competitions for keiki, interactive learning activities, and community discourse. This event is dedicated to developing a more informed and responsible community regarding our ocean and coastal environment.”

“La malama- community work days program description: hui hooleimaluo facilitates hawaiian cultural activities at two sites with the support of the community at honokea loko at waiuli (richardsons ocean park) and kaumaui, both on kalanianaole avenue (hilo, hawaii island) scarcely a quarter mile away from one another. Loko ia (hawaiian fishpond) restoration and maintenance and community gardening have brought many residents and their friends from our community and beyond to engage in sustainable practices on the coastline. Hui hooleimaluo facilitates one community work day at each site once a quarter. Planning for these work days include development of flyers, advertising via posters posted around the community, social media, and public announcements at bordering community associations. At these events, and for all participants, hui hooleimaluoprovides interactive learning activities, an introduction to the historical significance of the area, food, and tools. We also coordinate closely on events and community work days with the keaukaha community association and the leleiwi community association. Between the two sites, hui hooleimaluo has had over 300 participants in 2020-21. All participants have gained greater knowledge of cultural sites; native plant and animal species; loko ia practices; and hawaiian farming methods. Quarterly community work days at honokea loko ia, waiuli have cleared areas around the loko ia and increased habitat space in the loko ia, produced supplies for extending and re-building makaha and walls, and increased populations of fish and invertebrates in the brackishwater ecosystem of the fishpond. Additionally, in 2020, with the efforts from our community work days, we have been able to plant and harvest hawaiian chilli peppers, mamaki, banana, hawaiian gourds, basil, bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, poha berries, coconut, sweet potato, and taro. More specifically, a single harvest gave us a total of 5 pounds of sweet potato, 77 pounds of taro, and 28 pounds of taro leaf to feed participants at our community events. Our community work days have been valuable because they encourage family engagement, build community relations, and instill the perpetuation of cultural and sustainable practices and identity throughout our hawaiian communities.”

“Puakahinano student program: hui ho'oleimaluo provides opportunities for steam (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) skill building, place based learning, and community engagement through the maintenance and management of loko i.a ecosystems and small scale hawaiian farming at waiuli and lehia in hilo. Our work includes restoring native flora and fauna of the area, increasing cultural resources, and creating steam experiences that allow participants to build the skills needed to further pursue steam studies. During the school year and summers, ho.oleimaluo engages with hawaii students from grades 3-12 and college/university providing outdoor-classroom learning. Currently, hui ho.oleimaluo works closely with students from ka'umeke ka'eo, ke ana la'ahana, lanakila learning center, and na huna ahi on a weekly and monthly basis.”

“Hui ho'oleimaluo extends learning experiences to any educational institution for one-time visits upon request on our website. To this end, and on occasion, we have hosted preschool students and their families and foreign visitors for the educational experience. This program is dedicated to increasing the knowledge of cultural practices associated with the keaukaha coastline for the students of the community. At least 30 students participated in independent steam studies facilitated by hooleimaluo activities in 2020. Teacher feedback on student progress after hands-on learning experiences with hui hooleimaluo suggests that there is a strong correlation between active participation at the learning site and the understanding of stewardship for sustainable communities. On site learning areas become an extension of their classroom and students learn to be stewards and experts in caring for their community. Student programming rooted in cultural practices within ones own community are crucial for the health and well-being of that community, its resources, and future generations”