programs
Nāwaipuna’s work is carried through place-based programs that connect people to ʻāina, cultural practice, and community.
the makaliʻi Project
As Nāwaipuna's flagship program, the Makaliʻi Project carries forth the 10-year legacy of the Blue Water Exchange, engaging young adults in immersive, place-based experiences that build cultural literacy, environmental stewardship, and community leadership.
What participants do:
Engage in hands-on ʻāina stewardship
Learn through cultural practice and ʻike kūpuna
Build relationships across communities and regions
Participate in cohort-based, place-based learning
Kahōkūwelowelo
Kahōkūwelowelo is a place-based initiative focused on ʻāina stewardship, restoration, and cultural practice, fostering long-term stewardship through these efforts and community engagement.
Focus areas:
ʻĀina restoration and care
Cultural practice and learning
Community-based engagement
Stewardship as ongoing practice
Why these programs matter
Through immersive, place-based learning, participants develop the relationships, knowledge, and leadership needed to care for communities and the places that sustain them.
Our programs strengthen cultural continuity, stewardship, and community well-being by connecting learning directly to lived experience.
Get Involved
Whether you are interested in participating, partnering, volunteering, or supporting this work, we welcome the opportunity to connect.