June 1, 2025 | Job Free but not Kuleana Free!
Hui! Hey kākou, Kyleena here to share some updates since our last chat:
The number one question asked since our teamʻs layoff is "What are the challenges of this freeze?": Most people believe that funding is our top issue and the truth is, thatʻs wrong. Funding allows us to produce the work at a faster rate, support local agricultural businesses, conduct educational and recruitment outreach, and more, but it is not and never will be the heart beat of our work.
The heart of our work is in the hands of our ʻōpio, in soles of our kūpunas feet, and in the brains of our mākua. We will resume consistent Second Saturday Workdays at Kapapuhi immediately, as well as Fourth Saturday Workdays at the Waipahu Loʻi. Check us out on Instagram and Facebook for more details! E mālama pono <3
February 14, 2025 | Federal Funding Freeze Impact
Effective immediately, all Hui o Hoʻohonua staff are laid off as a result of the Federal Funding Freeze. We mahalo our dedicated kiaʻi for sharing your hardworking hands, committed hearts, and talented minds, in a working capacity for as long as we could keep you on. As we navigate another "new normal" within our operations, please stay up to date with us through Instagram @huiohoohonua or Facebook @HOH808
Summer 2024 | Evolving our initiative
Our organization continues to transform, adapt, and evolve to what is best for our community. As we have undergone great internal transition, we feel it is pono to evolve our Inoa and practice as well. Effective immediately, Hui o Hoʻohonua will be known only for our organizational name.
Mālama Puʻuloa was intended to be an inspirational call to action gifted to us by a vital pulse in our story, Auliʻi Silva. As we have been known by this name for nearly a decade, we continue to celebrate the many lessons and achievements our community has seen under this regime. We look forward to finding our Programs new identity as our journey continues.
Summer 2024 | Pilina Building
This summer, Kyleena and Evan traveled to Maui for the annual Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa Gathering. They learned a lot, made their first introduction to this hui, and returned home feeling rejuvenated by the pilina created through this huakaʻi. Mahalo to the HMLI for caring for our leads while they were away! We look forward to collaborating where we can until the next time we gather.
Partnerships 4 Puʻuloa Cohort #2 | Welcome Mānoalani, Lopaka, and Celena! We look forward to collaborating closely with Graduate Student Leads, Oli Carbi and Jade Rhodes, to nurture your ma ka hana ka ʻike journey in Puʻuloa, specifically within Kapapapuhi. Last cohort participated in hana at Hui Alaloa Lehua Māla in Mānana, they produced a vibrant garden plan that included the restoration of soil, native and endemic pollinators to space, and the introduction of native crops and medicine plants grown and harvested by an active community. We are overwhelmed with excitement to see the impact this cohort has on this resource!"
January 2024 | Changing Tides
Happy New Year, kākou! This year is starting off with a lot of transition. Mahalo to the many hands and hearts who have nurtured our journey, we are eager to see what this year has in store for us! Stay tuned for updates, workday schedules, and more. Strap in, team! We got lots to do this year.
Winter 2023 | Right of Entry
November 2023, Hui o Hoʻohonua receives a Right of Entry agreement from Mayor Blangiardiʻs office that allows the nonprofit organization the ability to take over the property where they will continue removing invasive species, replanting native crops and plants, and begin building plans with community members and kupuna, Hercules Huihui, to restore the Loʻi Kalo that once existed along the bike path.
Fall 2023 | Waipahu Loʻi + Māla Project, Climate Champion Cohort
Breaking Ground in August 2023, HOH x WISFFA collaborated to host and facilitate our very first Hui Alaloa Waipahū Māla community workday! Mahalo to Weed and Seed Hawaiʻi, Waipahū Safe Haven, Lead Instructor + Kumu of WISFFA for a beautiful day. Join us at up coming workdays! Stay up to date by following us on Instagram @huiohoohonua or on Facebook @HOH808. Special Mahalo to HNN for talking with Student Leader Lakeisha and Kumu Young about our collective journey!
August 25, 2023, Final Presentation from the very first City and County of Honolulu Climate Champion Cohort! Our project focused on urban garden hope spots along the historic Leeward Bike Path with the intention of activating community stewardship lead by local youth and kupuna. We are proud to have ended the cohort with the ground breaking of the Hui Alaloa Waipahū Māla with community partners at Weed and Seed Hawaiʻi and Waipahu Safe Haven.
Summer 2023 | Project Hui Alaloa x P4P
Woohoo! Mahalo to City and County of Honoluluʻs Adopt a Plot Program, Kaulunani, University of Hawaiʻi Offices of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, and Hui o Hoʻohonua staff for cultivating a new project thats intended to weave a lei of pilina through the ʻEwa moku via the Historic Leeward Bike Path. Graduate Student, Jade Rhodes, envisions robust urban gardens along the bike path that she likes to call "Hopespots" , stewarded by community with support from local government, organizations, and local members of the area. We look forward to breaking ground on this ʻāina this summer and beginning restoration in this area. Mahalo KHON2 News and Lead Field Technician Brailey H.H. for sharing communities vision for this area!
2022 |Mālama Puʻuloa Festival !
Hui o Hoʻohonua is proud to celebrate 5 years of service to the ʻEwa moku, specifically in the makai section of Honouliuli. To celebrate this milestone we will be highlighting different partnerships, community members, project and programs, and more who come together to inspire people to huli ka lima i lalo to Mālama Puʻuloa. Special mahalo to the City and County DPR, EMCEE Augie Tulba and Leilehua Kila, HOH808 Staff, Heiva Nui, and more for participating in the Festival!
2021 | Ready, Set, Grow!
Our hui continues to expand and we are fortunate to welcome new projects to the Mālama Puʻuloa Program. Mahalo to stellar stewards Stephen and Tyler for bringing our hui the Weed Warrior Wednesday Project! Volunteers are now welcome to join our crew every Wednesday from 8am-11am for some light weeding and targeted hana good for retirees, kupuna, and young keiki!
2020 | First Restoration Crew, COVID-19, Updates
Welcome to our first crew of the Mālama Puʻuloa Program! Mahalo to our partners at KUPU Hawaiʻi for helping to make our dream a reality by supporting our work through programs such as KAC, HYCC, and other programs who participate in restoration that takes place with HOH808. We look forward to witnessing this crew tackle the task of opening the makai section of Honouliuli Stream."
HOH808 will continue to host and facilitate Community Restoration Workdays as allowed by the guidelines set by our local CDC. To stay up to date with HOH specific activities, check us out on social media @huiohoohonua on Instagram and @HOH808 on Facebook."
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 | Mālama Puʻuloa Month Designation
"Hounse Concurrent Resolution (H.C.R. NO. 214 H.D. 1) Recognizing the thirty-day period from the last Saturday in September to the last Sunday in October as Mālama Puʻuloa Month."
March 19, 2018 | Introduction to Senate
"It was my honor and pleasure during session on the Senate Floor today to introduce the Hui O Ho'ohonua (HOH808)–a 501c3 non-profit, community-development networking organization, that is restoring the land surrounding Pu'uloa (Pearl Harbor) and the surrounding `Ewa Moku to once again provide an abundance of food. " Senator Mike Gabbard
August 21, 2017 | Restoration Begins for Kapapapuhi Point Park
Honolulu City Council Resolution 17-230 HR72 passed to rename Westloch Shoreline Community Park to Kapapapuhi Point Park."
Mahalo to Ty Cullen, Uncle Shad Kane, and the Honolulu City Council for supporting our first official action; returning the inoa Hawaiʻi, the name ʻāina has always held.