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About Us

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

What is
Hoʻoulu Lāhui?

A Hawaiʻi Island-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to restoring and stewarding wahi pana in Puna.

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Our
Mission

To awaken Hawaiian culture, values, beliefs, and lifestyle in partnership with the community to achieve unity, harmony, and total well-being (lōkahi).

Our

Vision

Hoʻoulu Lāhui was created with the vision of perpetuating all facets of Hawaiian cultural knowledge, including our foundation of mālama nā iwi, pā pōhaku, agriculture, aquaculture, education, Hawaiian language, protocol, food preparation, fishing, and handcrafts.

Our Moʻolelo

Keikialoha Kekipi, co-founder of Hoʻoulu Lāhui, hails from the sacred lands of Pū'alaʻa and Kumukahi in Puna, Hawaiʻi. In 1995, following a burial site desecration, Kupuna Yvonne Maunakea revealed his lineage to Pu'ala’a, entrusting him with the kuleana (responsibility) to protect the iwi kūpuna (ancestral bones) of Puna. This led to the founding of Ho’oulu Lāhui, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving cultural heritage.

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Under Keiki's leadership, Ho’oulu Lāhui secured the 600-acre village of Pu'ala’a and other sacred sites. After intensive discussions with officials, he successfully reinterred the iwi kūpuna and served two eight-year terms on the State of Hawaii Island Burial Council. Ho’oulu Lāhui has since developed numerous programs to protect and reverence cultural heritage for future generations.

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In 1998, Hawai`i State Legislators established New Century Public Charter Schools, leading to the creation of Hawaiian-focused Charter Schools. Kua O Ka Lā, emerging from Ho’oulu Lāhui's initiatives, received its Charter in 2000 and opened in 2002, offering place-based learning rooted in Hawaiian culture.

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Located in Puʻalaʻa, Kua O Ka Lā grew over 20 years, serving around 280 students from pre-K to 12th grade. On July 11, 2018, the Kilauea volcanic eruption destroyed the 600-acre coastal campus, including the school and cultural sites, transforming the learning environment forever.

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