Our Lelekamanu Program operates in partnership with schools, with participation being by invitation only. Lelekamanu serves as our outreach and service project division on Oʻahu, offering exclusive educational opportunities. These include field trips to terrestrial conservation areas and active restoration sites, partnering with other community organizations on mālama ʻāina-based initiatives, and participating in native vegetation restoration projects in Waipao. We aim to extend the teachings of Papahana Kuaola to the wider community, highlighting the deep connection between cultural heritage and ecological vitality. Our goal is to secure the lasting legacy of Hawaii’s unique identity for both the present and future generations.
For schools interested in the Lelekamanu Program, please contact us at lelekamanu@papahanakuaola.org .
Nā Papa Grade 3-6
Embark on an exhilarating journey with our 90-minute interactive classroom presentations, designed to ignite the curiosity of elementary school teachers and students about the rich tapestry of Hawaiian natural and cultural history. These dynamic sessions (Nā papa) feature captivating PowerPoint presentations, a diverse array of visual aids, and interactive student activities that promise an engaging exploration of our vibrant heritage. Get ready for an educational experience that goes beyond theordinary!
Cultural traditions connected to volcanoes and modern scientific theory of how Hawaiian volcanoes form and change over time.
Native stream ecosystems, form and function of stream organisms, and human interactions with streams from ancient times until today.
Components of watersheds and their values, human interaction from ancient times until today, moʻolelo, healthy versus unhealthy watersheds, and status of watersheds today.
Native wetland ecosystems, form and function of wetland organisms, endangered Hawaiian water birds, cultural connections, and impact and mālama.
Arrival of native organisms in Hawai‘i, adaptation over time to specific habitats, and values in Hawaiian cultural traditions.
Changes made by people to the Hawaiian environment over the last 1500 years. Reasons for high rates of endangered and extinct species; and living Hawaiian values.
Changes in population, settlement patterns, government, religion, and food production from the first Polynesian settlers until 1778.
Modifications to the environment since 1778, including impact due to population growth, influx of introduced plants and animals, and mālama ‘āina.
Nā Huakaʻi
The interpretive place-based field trips, lasting 3-4 hours, encompass bus tours, walking excursions, hikes, stream investigations, service learning, and a NEW* literacy and ‘āina-based option, all offering students hands-on experiences. Throughout these excursions, the education staff further enriches the cultural and scientific knowledge acquired by students through classroom presentations and resource materials found in Discovery Boxes. Specific classes (nā papa) serve as prerequisites for certain field trips (nā huaka‘i).
Explore the rich cultural traditions and captivating volcanic history on a multi-stop tour of southeast O‘ahu, including Pu‘u o Kaimukī and Makapu‘u, and participate in a pōhaku scavenger hunt.
Learn the history and traditions of He‘eia ahupua‘a on a multi-stop excursion from kai to kula to uka.
Walk three miles on the Kamananui Valley Road Trail in Moanalua, identify native and introduced plants, observe human impact, and discover the history and traditions of this ‘āina.
He‘eia to Lā‘ie route is available to Windward and Honolulu area schools only. Join us on a cultural bus tour beginning in the ahupua’a of He‘eia and traveling up the Ko‘olau coast as far as Lā‘ie. Focusing on literacy through mo‘olelo, highlights include place names, gods, and wahi pana (special places).
Wahiawā to Paumalū/Sunset Beach route is available to Central, ‘Ewa, and North Shore area schools only. Join us on a cultural bus tour beginning at Kūkaniloko in Wahiawā, traveling along the Ko‘olau coast through Hale‘iwa and as far as Paumalū/Sunset Beach. Focusing on literacy through mo‘olelo, highlights include place names, gods, and wahi pana (special places).
Trek two miles on the Mānana Trail in Mānana (often referred to as Pearl City), identify native and introduced plants, observe human impact, and discover the history and traditions of this ‘āina.
An innovative literacy and ‘āina-focused initiative at Waipao in Heʻeia aims to introduce students in grades 3 – 6 to stories (moʻolelo) and culturally rooted experiences with the goal of deepening connections between children (keiki) and the land (‘āina). Participants will involve themselves in listening to a moʻolelo and acquiring knowledge of a Hawaiian cultural practice.
Explore ethnobotany and seed stewardship by understanding the significance of Hawaiian plants, connecting to ancestral lands, and embracing ancestral knowledge. Contribute to these efforts by propagating and planting more Hawaiian plants.
Embark on an exploration of Waipao in He‘eia ma uka, engaging in mālama ‘āina activities, acquiring cultural skills, delving into Hawaiian mo‘olelo, and gaining insights into the history and traditions of this cherished land.
Explore Hawaiian watersheds on a multi-stop tour including the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, a channelized stream in the Kāneʻohe Watershed, and a natural stream and site tour at Waipao in the Heʻeia Watershed.
Experience Hawaiian wetlands on a multi-stop tour including a rare opportunity to view taxidermy displays at the Bishop Museum, a drive-through Kualoa Regional Park to spot migratory birds, and finally observe endangered and migratory wetland birds in their natural habitat at the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in Kahuku.
Service Learning experience
E mālama ‘āina. Participating in Service Learning Experiences provides your students with the opportunity to actively engage in stewardship practices for their island. For more information about this huakaʻi, see Service Learning Experiences description document.
Possible mālama ʻāina activities include:
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removal of invasive armored catfish; stream restoration including, weeding, watering, mulching, clearing areas for planting, and/or cutting back overgrown areas;
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work in or around the lo‘i kalo (taro patches) where students build, repair, or maintain walls or ditches, prepare for planting, weed, harvest, or help open new taro patches;
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site maintenance, where work includes planting, weeding, mulching, clearing areas of overgrowth, working to complete construction of or maintain cultural features of the site, or maintaining plantings on the site.
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explore ethnobotany and seed stewardship by understanding the significance of Hawaiian plants, connecting to ancestral lands, and embracing ancestral knowledge. Contribute to these efforts by propagating and planting more Hawaiian plants.
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