Our Programs
at a glance
Kupa'aina Explorations Program
This program allows students to participate in cultural activities outside of the school setting. We assist students in developing cultural values and awareness of the Hawaiian culture. Cultural activities include traditional Hawaiian chants, crafts, native plant uses, wayfinding and navigation, paddling, legends, ku’i kalo and many more fun activities. This program explores the importance of the Ahupua’a system, sustainability, kuleana, and how this system can be modeled today.
Contact us to arrange Huakaʻi (field trip)
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Living Pono Plantation
The purpose for establishing the Living Pono Plantation is three fold. First, we seek to employ disadvantaged populations within the Green Industry at a fare wage while providing them a unique opportunity to learn and gain life skills through a positive and fun alternative work experience. Secondly, by integrating several sustainable agricultural practices we will be providing Hawaii consumers with several alternatives to conventionally grown crops from the mainland as well as healing our ‘aina. Lastly, this system can be an invaluable teaching tool for students to learn about sustainability, a modern working ahupua’a, and to develop curriculum that is relevant to real world applications. The Living Pono Project partners with AES Solar as the Ag partners for the 500 acre Kūihelani project to integrate compatable agricultural practices and build island resilience for Maui County. The Living Pono Project employs a 100% native Hawaiian staff. This year our team grew with the addition of four graduates of the Lahainaluna High School Kula Kaiapuni, Hawaiian emersion, program. We are so proud to have these 3 young leaders from our native Hawaiian community take an active role in sustainable agriculture, responsible renewable energy projects, and island resilience. Come see our farm! |
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Malama Service Dogs
This program was developed to further assist peoples with disabilities in enter the workforce or simply to face the daily challenges of life with a disability. We will breed, raise, and successfully train assistance dogs to provide physical, medical and therapeutic support. Each dog in training learns specific tasks along with basic obedience and social skills. A service dog can open and close doors, retrieve, pull a manual wheelchair, find the phone, do bracing working, turn on and off switches and much more. Hearing dogs respond to different sounds which include knocking, doorbell, timer, alarm clock, smoke alarm, telephone, baby cry and the person’s name.
Visit our Malama Service Dog headquarters
This program was developed to further assist peoples with disabilities in enter the workforce or simply to face the daily challenges of life with a disability. We will breed, raise, and successfully train assistance dogs to provide physical, medical and therapeutic support. Each dog in training learns specific tasks along with basic obedience and social skills. A service dog can open and close doors, retrieve, pull a manual wheelchair, find the phone, do bracing working, turn on and off switches and much more. Hearing dogs respond to different sounds which include knocking, doorbell, timer, alarm clock, smoke alarm, telephone, baby cry and the person’s name.
Visit our Malama Service Dog headquarters
Click here for link to the Hawaii News NOW video clip: http://www.kitv.com/news/thismorning/Help-bring-awareness-to-Brain-Injuries-this-month/-/16414272/19457952/-/ygedsn/-/index.html
Na Hoa O Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project
The Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project is a project of The Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. MNSRP, working with state, federal, and community partners, conserves endemic and indigenous seabirds and their habitats in Maui Nui. We work to protect seabirds and the land they require in order to breed and thrive in their native homes. Seabirds have been nourishing the island and reef ecosystems throughout Hawaiʻi’s existence. They spend most of their lives at sea feeding on nutrient rich fish and squid. When they return to their nests, they bring these nutrients to the land, providing a critical link between “mauka” (the mountains) and “makai” (the sea). Unfortunately, seabirds of Hawaiʻi face many threats, including introduced predators (like cats, rats, and mongooses), habitat loss, ocean plastic, and light pollution. Three of the eleven species of seabirds that breed in Maui Nui are endangered, and all suffer from population declines. We can work together to identify land for protection, restore habitat, and educate our community about na manu o ke kai. Seabird conservation ensures a healthy and resilient ʻāina for future generations.
For more information visit us at: https://mauinuiseabirds.org/about/
The Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project is a project of The Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. MNSRP, working with state, federal, and community partners, conserves endemic and indigenous seabirds and their habitats in Maui Nui. We work to protect seabirds and the land they require in order to breed and thrive in their native homes. Seabirds have been nourishing the island and reef ecosystems throughout Hawaiʻi’s existence. They spend most of their lives at sea feeding on nutrient rich fish and squid. When they return to their nests, they bring these nutrients to the land, providing a critical link between “mauka” (the mountains) and “makai” (the sea). Unfortunately, seabirds of Hawaiʻi face many threats, including introduced predators (like cats, rats, and mongooses), habitat loss, ocean plastic, and light pollution. Three of the eleven species of seabirds that breed in Maui Nui are endangered, and all suffer from population declines. We can work together to identify land for protection, restore habitat, and educate our community about na manu o ke kai. Seabird conservation ensures a healthy and resilient ʻāina for future generations.
For more information visit us at: https://mauinuiseabirds.org/about/
Resilience Hub Network Coordination
The Living Pono Project (LPP) has played a central role in facilitating the Maui Nui Resilience Hub Network, a grassroots partnership bringing together over 30 organizations and ten communities across Maui County. Through a series of workshops and trainings—such as Resilience Hubs 101 in January 2025—LPP has helped local leaders and groups build the capacity needed to plan, prepare, and manage community-centered resilience hubs. LPP’s approach centers on human‑centered, culturally grounded resilience. Their work includes hosting logistical planning sessions in partnership with Maui County and community experts, ensuring that hub designs reflect neighborhood-level connections, shared values, and collective care. By embedding traditional Hawaiian concepts like ʻohana, kuleana, and pono into the resilience framework, LPP ensures that each hub supports physical safety and reinforces cultural resilience and food sovereignty. LPP also facilitates bi-weekly meetings with hub leaders and stakeholders, holding space for the community to pre-plan for disaster preparedness. These consistent gatherings allow for information sharing, coordination of resources, and the development of proactive strategies tailored to each community's unique needs. A key insight of LPP’s role is bridging emergency food systems and resilience planning. Their Mahi‘ai Baskets program has provided fresh, culturally relevant produce to hundreds of fire-affected households, connecting them with local farmers and the Emergency Feeding Task Force. Funds awarded in January 2025 further supported trainings that united Maui Nui community groups, deepening their collective ability to respond to crises. The Living Pono Project not only delivers essential resources—food, workshops, coordination—but also weaves together community values, resilience-building, and cultural nourishment that anchor the Maui Nui Resilience Hub Network.
The Living Pono Project (LPP) has played a central role in facilitating the Maui Nui Resilience Hub Network, a grassroots partnership bringing together over 30 organizations and ten communities across Maui County. Through a series of workshops and trainings—such as Resilience Hubs 101 in January 2025—LPP has helped local leaders and groups build the capacity needed to plan, prepare, and manage community-centered resilience hubs. LPP’s approach centers on human‑centered, culturally grounded resilience. Their work includes hosting logistical planning sessions in partnership with Maui County and community experts, ensuring that hub designs reflect neighborhood-level connections, shared values, and collective care. By embedding traditional Hawaiian concepts like ʻohana, kuleana, and pono into the resilience framework, LPP ensures that each hub supports physical safety and reinforces cultural resilience and food sovereignty. LPP also facilitates bi-weekly meetings with hub leaders and stakeholders, holding space for the community to pre-plan for disaster preparedness. These consistent gatherings allow for information sharing, coordination of resources, and the development of proactive strategies tailored to each community's unique needs. A key insight of LPP’s role is bridging emergency food systems and resilience planning. Their Mahi‘ai Baskets program has provided fresh, culturally relevant produce to hundreds of fire-affected households, connecting them with local farmers and the Emergency Feeding Task Force. Funds awarded in January 2025 further supported trainings that united Maui Nui community groups, deepening their collective ability to respond to crises. The Living Pono Project not only delivers essential resources—food, workshops, coordination—but also weaves together community values, resilience-building, and cultural nourishment that anchor the Maui Nui Resilience Hub Network.