Nā Mea Kūpono Learning Center
In the ahupua‘a (land division) of Kamananui, the 6-acre wetland eco-system of Nā Mea Kūpono allows you to take a step back into the past. With beautiful views of Mount Ka‘ala, this lo’i kalo (taro patch) focuses on education through cultural practices that will enhance the concepts of respecting and connecting to the land. Join the aloha ‘āina movement in the moku (district) of Waialua.
Welcome to Nā Mea Kūpono Learning Center
The ancient Kanaka Maoli have tended the land of Nā Mea Kūpono Learning Center for hundreds of years. It is sacred land, prized for the punawai (natural spring) bursting from its ground.
“Our focus is on the restoration and preservation of our wetland ecosystem through education and sustainable practices.”
I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope:
"The Future is in the Past"
The life-giving sacred waters of this natural spring gave Hawaiians life and allowed them to grow kalo and other crops. In the tradition of coexistence and harmony, the ahupua‘a stretched from the mountain down to the sea.
The ahupua‘a functioned because of cooperation, community, care for the land, and a knowledge of the natural world. By looking to the past, we can cultivate a better future, grounded in the knowledge of our ancestors.
E Komo Mai (Welcome) to Nā Mea Kūpono
Getting Here
Na Mea Kupono Learning Center is nestled behind the famous Pa'la'a Kai Bakery and Market. Check out a map by clicking the link below.
Empower
versus
Overpower
Ho‘omanamana
Ancient Hawaiians and other Indigenous cultures all around the world understood what it meant to empower the earth—to give and receive—unlike today. Today, our lives are not lived sustainably, and the Earth’s resources are at stake, and the life on planet are at risk for extinction.
Ku‘uipo Garrido, Steven Bolosan, and Babes Malina have made it their life’s work to share the practices and knowledge of Hawaiian culture. It is their honor and privilege (kuleana) to be caretakers of the land. Although the land itself has been cultivated for generations, it was in 2008 when Ku‘uipo and Steven took on this important responsibility.
Since 2008, they have been offering eco-tours, educational days, events, and classes to Hawaiʻi’s families, youth, communities, and visitors. In 2018, Steven and Ku‘uipo decided to make Nā Mea Kūpono a 501c3 non-profit.
For Steven, Ku‘uipo, and Babes, it’s about showing people how to re-connect with Mother Earth, which so many of us have become disconnected from. They see Nā Mea Kūpono Learning Center as the opportunity to do just that.
Love Mother Earth
Educating and Inspiring People
Ku‘uipo and Steven have long felt that the state of our planet is unacceptable. They have made it their mission to educate and inspire as many people as possible. They’ve since hosted hundreds of educational, private, and public tours of the land.
Tours: Schools, Families, and Visitors
A range of tours and experiences are available at Nā Mea Kūpono Learning Center. Each day is different. Some days you might find eco-tours. Other days, volunteers will be working in the lo‘i, or school children might be playing traditional Hawaiian games.
The mission of Nā Mea Kūpono is to perpetuate the concepts of aloha ’aina (love for the land) and Hawaiian culture values with people of the community and the world, through environmental awareness and interaction, and to improve the quality of life.
The mission of Nā Mea Kūpono has infused every aspect of their work. The values of aloha (love), hō‘ihi (respect), alu like (teamwork), pule (prayer), and lōkahi (harmony), are present in their work every day. They share these values, and so much more, with every person who visits this special place.
The Mission
