#Aloha Aina

A coalition of ocean and cultural organizations announces the launch of “Cultures & Coastlines,” a new speaker series focused on exploring the intersection of cultural heritage and coastal stewardship. The series debuts with “A Conversation with Walter Ritte: The Past and Future of Aloha ʻĀina,” on May 20, 2025, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Maui Ocean Center’s Sphere Theater.

Nearly 150 fifth grade haumāna from Kamehameha School Kapālama will share their live stage production, “Ka Malu ʻUlu o Lele: The Shaded Breadfruit Grove of Lele,” with the Maui community. The one-of-a-kind show explores Lahaina’s rich history and serves as a tribute to the resilience of the community. No tickets are needed for the free performance taking place on Tuesday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m. at the Baldwin High School auditorium. The annual fifth grade play is a student-led project that started 31 years ago at the Kapālama campus. 

Ahupua‘a Stewards helps high school students on Maui develop and implement environmental decisions informed by ahupua‘a systems. The summer session runs from June 11-July 18, 2024, with in-person classes at the UHMC Kahului campus and field trips to HILT lands and conservation partner sites on Maui, including the Keālia National Wildlife Refuge, Haleakalā Ranch, East Maui Watershed Partnership and The Nature Conservancy. Students meet Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Especially in the context of the devastating Lahaina wildfires in August of this year, the Pledge is a commitment to strengthen Hawai’i’s ability to respond to unforeseen challenges and help Maui recover, rebuild, and prepare the islands for the future.

Senator Angus McKelvey and Representative Elle Cochran sent a letter to Governor Josh Green urging him to abandon the hard date of Oct. 8 for the reopening of tourism to West Maui.

Ahupua‘a Stewards helps high school students on Maui develop and implement environmental decisions informed by ahupua‘a systems. The summer session runs from June 6-July 18, 2023, with in-person classes at the UHMC Kahului campus and field trips to HILT lands and conservation partner sites on Maui.

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority has released two Requests for Proposals to procure brand management and marketing services for the United States, as well as support services for destination stewardship.

The Hawaiian rights group, Kākoʻo Haleakalā, is calling for the removal of “all telescopes” from both Haleakalā on Maui and Maunakea on Hawaiʻi Island. This comes following recent reports of a 700 gallon diesel fuel spill at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex near the summit of Haleakalā.

The story of Hawaiian activist George Helm unfolds in a screening of the film “Hawaiian Soul” at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Aug. 18, along with music from his niece and multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano winner Raiatea Helm.

HTA is working with the Department of Transportation Airports Division to set up the Aloha Ambassador Volunteer Program at Moloka‘i Airport.

Kāhuli Leo Le‘a is partnering with Hawaiʻi News Now to produce “Hawaiian Airlines May Day 2020: Aloha ʻĀina,” transitioning the live event into a TV broadcast. The broadcast will air on Friday, May 1, 2020: 7 p.m. on Hawaiʻi TV broadcast (KHNL), HawaiiNewsNow.com, or Hawaiʻi News Now Facebook Live; and 8 p.m. on Hawaiʻi TV broadcast (K5) or HawaiiNewsNow.com

A total of nine Hawaiian cultural programs in Maui County were awarded funding through the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Both sides of the debate over the contentious Thirty Meter Telescope project are making sure their voices are being heard.

The workshops will focus on HTA’s 2018 grant programs: Kūkulu Ola, Aloha ‘Āina and the Community Enrichment Program.

The HTA is funding 128 programs to perpetuate Hawaiian culture, preserve Hawaiʻi’s natural resources, and present community festivals and events.

Property taxes, water rights and development are among the issues to be discussed at an Upcountry Aloha ʻĀina candidate forum.

Several shark encounters, demonstrators arrested on Haleakalā and the outpouring of community support for a local Maui girl dominated Maui’s headlines in 2015…

The Thirty Meter Telescope or TMT project site is the last new area on the mountain where a telescope project will be contemplated or sought by the University, UH officials said.

“The majority of our people have been disassociated from this process and we’re here to acknowledge those feelings and be sincere about it. Many of us didn’t know where Act 195 came from… We were never part of our own self determination design. Therein lies the problem.” -Andre Perez.

The Aloha ‘Aina Unity March down Front Street in Lahaina on Sunday was a huge success, according to event organizers, calling it a “a beautiful day of activation.”