WHO WE ARE
Hoʻoulu Lāhui is a non-profit organization (501-c3), formed in 1995, with the purpose of awakening Hawaiian culture, values, beliefs, and lifestyle in partnership with the community to achieve unity, harmony, and total well-being (Lokahi).
The name, Hoʻoulu Lāhui comes from King Kalākauaʻs motto, and it means the growing or nurturing of a nation or people, specifically, the Hawaiian nation and people. Hoʻoulu Lāhui, the organization, is the result of grassroots effort to restore and care for what mana (historically significant Hawaiian cultural sites) in Puna along withe values and lifestyle of indigenous people (lāhui) who establiised these sites. The ʻili (land division) of Pūʻalaʻa is the pike or center of Hoʻoulu Lāhui.
Our Goals
The goals of Hoʻoulu Lāhui are: The restoration and management of Hawaiian cultural sites; the development and operation of Hawaiian cultural education center; the self-suffiiciency of Hoʻoulu Lahui through culturally appropriate economic development ventures; and collaboration with other agencies and organizations.
Components of the Pūʻalaʻa Cultural Education Center
1. Cultural empowerment (a place to practice Hawaiian values and arts)
2. Community involvement (developing plans, sites, projects and committees)
3. Culturally approriiate sustiaibable economic development (aquaculture, etc.)
4. Site for mental, physical, and spiritual health (learning Hawaiian protocol, etc.)
5. Restoration of a Hawaiian cultural area (Hawaiian village and fishing grounds)
6. Experiential education site (food preparation and cultivation, agriculture, etc.)
7. Linking with local schools and human service agencies (DOE, State, Etc.)
8. Family puʻuhonua (a safe place where families come for rejuvenation)
9. A place for cultural practitioners (Makahiki games, gathering, etc.)
10. Employment (Puna is a rural community with high rates of unemployment)
Hoʻoulu Lāhui believes that by cultivating culture and community, we will endure.