Pohaha I KA lani, a native hawaiian nonprofit organization dedicated to cultural and ecological stewardship, proposes the hinaaiulunui project to restore cultural authority, revitalize traditional…

The Department of the Interior's Office of Native Hawaiian Relations awarded $165,000 to Pohaha I Ka Lani through the Heritage (Tourism) Opportunities in Hawaii (HOIHI) Grant Program (CFDA 15.068) on October 1, 2025, for the 12-month Hinaaiulunui Project. The project delivers culturally immersive visitor experiences and community education programming centered on three sacred sites in Waipio Valley—Lālākea, Nāpōpōō, and Koaekeā. Under the direction of lineal descendants (kua'āina), the initiative provides 48 guided visitor experiences incorporating traditional Hawaiian practices including mahiai (traditional farming), moolelo (storytelling), and hula, while simultaneously activating these sites as living classrooms for cultural and ecological stewardship.

The project generates earned revenue through fee-based programming to support a regenerative economic model that prioritizes community benefit. Specifically, the initiative targets $40,000 in earned income to fully subsidize free education and stewardship programming for 500 Hawaii residents, ensuring cultural integrity and accessibility while addressing decades of unmanaged tourism and ecological degradation in Waipio Valley. The award aligns with the HOIHI program's foundational principles of uplifting cultural practice, protecting sacred landscapes, enhancing community-based visitor engagement, and supporting circular economy development within the Native Hawaiian community.

Pohaha I KA lani, a native hawaiian nonprofit organization dedicated to cultural and ecological stewardship, proposes the hinaaiulunui project to restore cultural authority, revitalize traditional practices, and formalizeregenerative visitor engagement in waipio valley. In response to decades of unmanaged tourism, ecologicaldegradation, and erosion of intergenerational cultural practice, this 12-month initiative will reestablish sacredsites as living classrooms led by native hawaiian practitioners, transforming tourism into a force of reciprocityand community benefit. The project aligns with the foundational principles and 2025 priorities of the hoihi grant program by upliftingcultural practice (CULTURE), protecting sacred landscapes (LAND), enhancing community-based visitor engagement (visitor engagement), and supporting a circular economy through fee-based programming (ECONOMIC). Three culturally significant siteslalakea, napoopoo, and koaekeawill be stewarded as hubs for education and restoration. Guided by kuaaina (lineal descendants), visitors will engage in hands-on mahiai (traditional farming), moolelo (STORYTELLING), and hula, grounded in hawaiian protocol. The project has three key objectives: (1) deliver 48 culturally immersive visitor experiences by september 2026 (2) activate and steward three wahi pana as culturally grounded learning spaces and (3) generate $40,000 inearned income to fully subsidize free education and stewardship programming for 500 hawaii residents. Thisregenerative model ensures cultural integrity and community access while redirecting tourism revenue towardcultural perpetuation.pohaha I KA lani has a proven track record, having engaged over 7,500 residents and visitors in stewardshipefforts since 2009. With longstanding site control, cultural leadership, and trusted partnershipsincluding givevolunteers and hawaiian cultural expertsthis project will leave a lasting impact on waipio valley, advancingnative hawaiian values of malama aina and hookipa with authenticity and respect.