HAUULA, Hawaii — Eighteen youths from the community of Hauula and surrounding areas came together to build Hauula’s first traditional Hawaiian hale or thatch house in more than 100 years. They are from the Maunawila Opio Malama Aina Summer Program, an annual summer internship program run by Hawaii Land Trust held at Maunawila Heiau Complex.

What You Need To Know

  • Youths from the Maunawila Opio Malama Aina Summer Program built a traditional Hawaiian hale over five weeks, working Monday through Friday

  • A blessing held on July 9 marked the first hale built within the ahupuaa of Hauula in more than 100 years

  • Hawaii Land Trust is a statewide nonprofit land trust that protects, stewards and connects people to Hawaii’s lands through volunteer opportunities and its “Talk Story with the Land” outings

Meeting Monday through Friday, the youths completed the hale in five weeks. They also took part in other activities, such as removing invasive plants; trail maintenance; archaeology; planting; community work; learning moolelo (stories, history), oli (chants) and pule (prayers); conducting tours; hiking; archeological management; and a huakai (trip) to Hawaii Land Trust’s Waihee Coastal Dune & Wetlands Refuge on Maui.

On July 9, the last day of the summer program, the youths, hale teacher Tiana Henderson and HILT staff welcomed the Hauula community, families, friends and partners to bless the hale.

Hawaii Land Trust is a statewide nonprofit land trust that protects, stewards and connects people to Hawaii’s lands through volunteer opportunities and its “Talk Story with the Land” outings on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauai. The focus of this year’s Maunawila Opio Malama Aina that began on June 6, was “Kukulu,” according to a news release. “Building hale, building community and building stronger connections to aina.” The program’s focus is to teach Wahi Kupuna Stewardship practices to high school students ages 14 to 18 years and young adults aged 18 to 22 years old, who live in the Ko‘olaulea area. Youths received a stipend to support their educational goals.

“Our Opio are learning how to build hale, and in the process, they learn to build community, and build each other while connecting and learning kuleana to this valuable wahi kupuna we have right here at home in Hauula,” said Kealaulaokamano Leota, Maunawila Heiau Complex Educator and Steward, in a release. “The hope is to give our opio a better understanding of 'Aloha Aina' and that it can be a job opportunity as well as a lifestyle.”

HILT’s long-term success depends on teaching and raising youths to be future aina stewards. Maunawila Menehune, Kamalii Kahili on Kauai and Ahupuaa Stewards on Maui are the organization’s other programs that support youths to create intimate relationships with Hawaii’s places as they grow.

Sarah Yamanaka is a digital journalist for Spectrum News Hawaii. Read more of her stories here.