Kaʻala Farms - Waiʻanae: upland activity

Kaʻala Farms - Waiʻanae: upland activity

Counts for 3 hours of service learning.REGISTRATION REQUIREDSign up for this activity via the MINA Activity RegistrationCOMPLETE Kaʻala Farms registration (REQUIRED) - Registration LinkACTIVITY DESCRIPTIONThe roots of Kaʻala Farm and its Cultural Learning Center reach back to the early 1970s, when a group of alienated youth involved with the Waiʻanae Rap Center began hiking in the uplands of Waiʻanae Valley. There, they stumbled upon rock terraces. Unversed in their culture, they didn’t recognize them as loʻi kalo. But they took the time to find out what they were, and soon shifted their focus.  With machetes, picks and shovels, they threw themselves into the backbreaking effort of restoring the oasis of old. By replanting kalo and connecting with the life cycles of ʻāina, they hoped to give new meaning to their lives. Ultimately, their goal was to create a parallel economic and cultural system, based on the traditional values of hard work, cooperation and respect. For more than 40 years, Kaʻala Farm has offered a stable, enduring anchor for the community. Rather than simply lamenting problems, its founders have seized opportunities.  They host a range of people from elementary to college, community groups and more from the neighboring islands and beyond– helping people connect back to ʻike Hawaiʻi, teaching how to cultivate food, mapping pre-archaeological sites, revegetating coastal and valley areas, providing work therapy and more!  We have the privilege to be a small part of this impactful legacy–of foundational community building, resilience and aloha ʻāina!To learn more about the organization, visit their website https://kaalafarm.org/.  Videos highlighting the incredible work Kaʻala Farms does can be found here. Lā Kōkua Kaʻala community workdays happen every second Saturday of the month! TO BE PREPAREDThere will be NO WATER REFILLS please bring your own water!  Be prepared for hot, dry and sunny weather.   Please bring the following items with you on the workday: WATER!! Long sleeve (encouraged)Long pants/leggings (REQUIRED)Sun protectionCovered Shoes (REQUIRED)Optional: Hat, Towel, Insect repellent, Change of ClothesDIRECTIONSDirections to the Cultural Learning Center at Kaʻala (aka Kaʻala Learning Center)1. Take Farrington Highway until you reach Waiʻanae Valley Road.2. Turn Right (i uka) onto Waiʻanae Valley Road and take it all the way to the Haleahi Road intersection.3. At the Haleahi Road intersection is a circular bus turn-around station. Take the single-lane DEAD-END road to the left.4. Continue along this road until you see a dirt road on your right between two large kiawe trees – this isthe entrance road to the Cultural Learning Center.5. Turn right onto the entrance road and drive until you see the Cultural Learning Center sign. Parknear the sign. No vehicles are allowed beyond the stream. A KFI staff person should be there to meetyou.COORDINATORSKaʻala Farms: Nohea StevensMINA: Ulla Hasager, Ruben Campos, Waileia Tupou, Ella ShapiroQuestions? Contact Ulla at 330 1276 or csssl@hawaii.edu. 

📍 Waianae, HI 96792, USA

🔖 MālamaINāAhupuaʻa