`Ohana Engagement Weekend (HILO) | Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) Hawaii Chapter

In collaboration with Na Pua Noʻeau at UH Manoa, ʻohana engagement with keiki activities will be held at the Ola`a Community Day in Kea`au on Hawaiʻi Island. As Rapid ʻOhia Death (ROD) has become an urgent issue, keiki will learn about the ʻohia lehua plant through various activities. At the end of the activities, each keiki will create a learning kit they can take home to continue their learning with their ʻohana.

Activities will encourage reading and literacy, critical thinking, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, and understanding the pilina between parts of the lehua tree to familial and community support systems. Participants will also learn to malama ʻāina.

The Culinary STEM Literacy program, "Let’s Cook Kākou," is designed to bring together children from grades PreK–12 and their families to cook, while integrating STEM concepts within the kitchen environment. The overarching goal is to nurture positive environments for families while supporting the next generation of confident and resilient PreK–12 academic learners.

Providing both in-person participation and online engagement, families will learn in a comfortable environment that encourages future growth. After preparing a minimum of three dishes, families will eat together. Na Pua Noʻeau at UH Manoa piloted this event during the pandemic through a partnership with HIDOE and continues to offer this event as funding becomes available.

These events are being offered back to back to maximize the funding budgeted for travel, along with other funding sources and in-kind funds that contribute towards covering expenses.