High School students receive a special invitation

Today, a handful of Kumu Kanānāikahaku’s Hawaiian Language haumāna ventured out to Hanalei to participate in Hoʻākea Kauaʻi. This event was the second part—the hands-on activities and learning—of the all-state initiative Waʻa Pae Kula, carried out last school year. The initiative’s goal was for every child in the DOE school system to connect with and physically touch a canoe from their island.

As supporters of our voyaging community, eleven of our Voyagers (Max ʻ26, Piko ʻ26, Ilihia ʻ26, Kea ʻ26, Elijah ʻ26, Kolohaiahe ʻ27, Lindsey ʻ27, Teagan ʻ27, Mia ʻ27, Isla ʻ27, and Kamahana ʻ33), alongside Kumu Kanānā, were invited to join other high school students from across Kauaʻi to engage in both land and ocean activities. Our students had the opportunity to sail on the decks of Kūmau and Manaiakalani and were extremely grateful to experience being actual Voyagers for a day!

This was especially exciting for Max, Piko, Ilihia, Kea, and Kolohaiahe, as many of the crew members and canoes were also part of the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture that these haumāna participated in last summer.

Special shout out and mahalo to Kumu Sabra and all the members of this yearʻs Hālau who helped to make the lei that was gifted to all of the crew from the different islands!