Hookuaaina at Kapalai

Hookuaaina at Kapalai We grow kalo. Growing kalo is our means to growing young people. We provide mentoring programs to bui

We provide mentoring programs to build young lives for a healthy tomorrow.

This could be you. Two years from now.These are the faces of ASA Cohort 6 students who said yes two years ago, most with...
06/04/2026

This could be you. Two years from now.

These are the faces of ASA Cohort 6 students who said yes two years ago, most without knowing exactly what they were signing up for.

Last month, they stood in front of ʻohana, mentors, and community wearing gifted lei, presenting their kīhei, and shared what this experience has been to them.

Confidence. Leadership. Roots. Direction.

We’ve extended the application deadline for our next cohort! We’re looking for those with heart and grit. If you’ve been quietly thinking about applying, this is your sign.

Comment ASA below and we’ll DM you everything you need!
Link in bio to apply. A few seats are still open. One of them might have your name on it.

05/29/2026

What’s your strategy going into a mud race? 🤔
Spend a morning working the lo’i and by the time the race starts, you’re already too comfortable in the mud to hold back! The Kailua Canoe Club comes ready to dive headfirst with zero hesitation, full heart, and absolutely zero fear of a little (okay, a lot of) mud. We love a group like that!

Tag someone you want to race at the next mud race 👇

As we prepare to take on the kuleana of restoring more than 100 acres back to a state of waiwai, we know we cannot do th...
05/18/2026

As we prepare to take on the kuleana of restoring more than 100 acres back to a state of waiwai, we know we cannot do this work alone. It is essential that we continue learning from and alongside those who are deeply committed to stewarding ʻāina and nourishing our communities.

One of those relationships we deeply value is the pilina we have built over the years with Kualoa Ranch, especially under the leadership of Taylor Kellerman. Through shared experiences, collaboration, and mutual encouragement in the hard work of agriculture, our organizations have continued to inspire and strengthen one another.

This week, their incredible team welcomed our entire staff for a generous behind-the-scenes look at the heart of their social enterprise model. From livestock to orchards, oysters to chocolate, our team had the opportunity to witness the intention, systems, and stewardship required to build something that not only feeds people, but helps reshape Hawaiʻi’s food future.

Taylor, mahalo for the care and thoughtfulness poured into such a rich day of learning. We left with full bellies, inspired hearts, and renewed clarity around our own kuleana—to continue stewarding Kapalai faithfully while dreaming boldly about what is possible at Pālāwai.

If there was one thing we were reminded of, it is this: abundance grows where people choose to care deeply for place, for one another, and for the future still to come.

Finally. 🌱After the Kona Low Storms kept forcing us to cancel our community days, we were able to finally get back in th...
05/16/2026

Finally. 🌱
After the Kona Low Storms kept forcing us to cancel our community days, we were able to finally get back in the loʻi this Saturday with kaiāulu for Community Day at Kapalai.

Mud. Stories. Laulima. And so many faces we’ve been missing.

We love to share the experience in the lepo, and we missed sharing it with you.
Mahalo nui to everyone who showed up. See you at the next one.

Hōʻike 2026 — What. A. Day. Our 2026 ASA graduates stood before their ʻohana, kumu, mentors, and community to share the ...
05/06/2026

Hōʻike 2026 — What. A. Day.

Our 2026 ASA graduates stood before their ʻohana, kumu, mentors, and community to share the journey these past two years at Hoʻokuaʻāina have taken them on. The space was filled with joy, pride, and deep aloha.

Keep swiping to see who received this year’s Hammah Award—honoring the haumāna who showed up with the most naʻau, grit, and unwavering commitment throughout the journey.

Dear Cohort 6, two years ago you stepped into Kapalai not fully knowing what was ahead. Today, you leave grounded in ʻike, strengthened in kuleana, and ready to lead in your communities.
Your ʻohana are proud. Your lāhui is proud.
And we are so, so proud.

If something in these photos is stirring something in you, that’s not an accident.

Applications for the next cohort close May 24! Comment ASA below and we’ll send you all the details. Link in bio to apply!

Tag a Cohort 6 grad you’re celebrating — or send this to the friend who might be interested.

Kapalai AlohaĀina WCC MahaloKanuKalo

04/30/2026

Lei making, kīhei painting, set up, and last-minute to-do’s, our team came together last Saturday to prepare for our most special event of the year: Hōʻike!!

Our Cohort 6 graduates gathered with loved ones to share what the last two years in the Ahupuaʻa Systems Apprenticeship at Hoʻokuaʻāina have meant to them.

Two years of mālama ʻāina. Of caring for Hāloa. Of stepping into kuleana, leadership, and purpose. They came in as students, but they leave as grounded, capable leaders connected to ʻāina and community.

This is the part of ASA you don’t see on a brochure. The growth. The transformation. The ʻike that stays with them long after the program ends.

And now, we’re looking for the next cohort.
Somewhere out there is our next group of ʻōpio ready to begin this journey. It could be you, or someone you know. We’re saving you a seat. Please share this with someone who should be here too.

Applications close May 24!

04/23/2026

ASA is not your typical college program.
You learn by doing, ma ka hana ka ʻike.
You show up, get your hands in the lepo, and build real pilina with ʻāina and each other.

It’s not just about earning a degree.
It’s about figuring out who you are, where you come from, and what you’re capable of.
You’ll be pushed. You’ll grow.
And by the end, you won’t just talk about leadership, you’ll live it.
Real work. Real kuleana.
We’re looking for our next cohort and we want YOU in it.
Apply before May 24, link below!
Tag a friend who’s ready to grow with us!
https://forms.gle/xZQKiYiyMmXchHc17

04/16/2026

From student to leader -
Hear directly from one of our ASA graduates about what this experience meant to them and how it shaped their path. ASA is more than an internship. It’s a space to build confidence, develop leadership, connect to ʻāina, and grow in ʻike Hawaiʻi alongside a supportive community. If you’re looking for something that will challenge you, ground you, and help you grow while pursuing your AA degree, this is it.

Applications for our next ASA cohort are now open
Deadline: May 24
Apply now and take the next step in your journey.

04/11/2026

From the first huli planted to paʻi ʻai on the board, this Aikahi Elementary class experienced the full circle of our Kupuohi ʻāina-based education program at Kapalai. 🌱

Over the year, these keiki completed all four visits of the program, building deep pilina with the loʻi and each other. They moved through each seasonal lesson: Nani ke Kalo (respect through Hāloa), Lōkahi (balance and well-being), Laulima (working together), and Waiwai (celebrating abundance).

At their final visit, they gathered at the papa kuʻi ʻai with Uncle Dean to learn how to pound the kalo they had helped grow. He shared that waiwai, true wealth, is abundance that allows us to share and care for others.

There’s nothing like eating food you’ve grown, surrounded by the people you’ve grown with.

Mahalo to these keiki, their kumu, and ʻohana, especially Kumu Uʻi and team, for their trust and commitment. Our hope is they leave with a strong sense of belonging and a deeper connection to ʻāina and Hawaiian culture.
🤙

Address

916E Auloa Road
Maunawili, HI
96734

Website

https://linktr.ee/hookuaaina

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hookuaaina at Kapalai posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Hookuaaina at Kapalai:

Shortcuts

Share