West Kauaʻi ʻĀina & ʻOhana Celebration

The West Kauaʻi ʻĀina & ʻOhana Celebration is a free, ʻohana-friendly gathering at Māhaʻihaʻi in Waimea, inviting West Kauaʻi families, students, and community members to spend the day learning and working together on the land. This event will be held on October 3, 2026, and brings the community onto KIKA’s stewarded ʻāina for hands-on engagement rooted in Hawaiian practice and contemporary food production.

Throughout the day, participants will move through interactive demonstrations that include:

• Huli planting in the newly established loʻi
• Kuʻi kalo
• Native Hawaiian plant education
• Korean Natural Farming methods
• Guided instruction on the purpose and safe operation of farm equipment such as tractors and skid steers used in land restoration

The emphasis is on participation, allowing ʻohana to feel the mud, handle the tools, and connect directly to the work of rebuilding productive Indigenous farmlands.

In partnership with local schools, students and their families will be invited to attend together, strengthening the bridge between classroom learning and ʻāina-based practice. The celebration will also introduce pathways into KIKA’s internships, intersession programs, and agricultural workforce opportunities, creating clear next steps for youth and ʻohana who wish to stay engaged.

By opening Māhaʻihaʻi to the broader community in this way, the West Kauaʻi ʻĀina & ʻOhana Celebration reinforces shared stewardship, cultural continuity, and the collective responsibility to mālama ʻāina for future generations.