Mālama I Ka ‘Āina

A program of the Mālama ‘Āina Foundation, in collaboration with Partners in Development Foundation, and the University of Hawaii College of Education

Mālama I Ka ‘Āina, a 3-year U.S. Department of Education program developed at the College of Education and College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa, prepares teachers to develop, implement, and disseminate standards-based science curricula relevant to Hawai‘i and Hawaiian culture. The program equips teachers with the knowledge and experience needed to help their Hawaiian and part-Hawaiian students learn about their heritage, as well as connect traditional Hawaiian cultural practices to modern scientific principles and technologies to evaluate and remediate local environmental problems.

Thus far, 50 teachers have participated in the program, gaining hands-on experience in Hawaiian culture and practices, including restoring and replanting taro fields (lo‘i kalo), propagating ‘ōhi‘a lehua, and learning about the ahupua‘a, the basic Hawaiian land unit.