Safety first.
Stay together.
​Make happy.

E mau mai ka ‘ike a mau loa e

May we continue in the wake of our ancestors.

Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy (KVA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing non-instrumental navigation, voyaging and Hawaiian canoe culture. Through hands-on learning experiences, cultural programs, and ocean-based education, KVA empowers learners of all ages to build ocean and cultural literacy, leadership, and a deeper connection to Hawai‘i.

meet OUR canoes

Based in Kawahaokamanō (Kāneʻohe Bay), students of all ages learn with and from our three waʻa—Kānehūnāmoku, Māhealani and Kuʻupōkiʻialoha. Ranging from 25 to 29 feet in length, each vessel serves a unique role in providing hands-on instruction that invites learners to actively participate as crew while building skills, confidence, and connection to wa‘a.
KĀNEHŪNĀMOKU
KU‘UPŌKI‘IALOHA
MĀHEALANI

PROGRAMS
E HOLO MAU​
E Holo Mau is a school and community outreach program providing waʻa-based education, curriculum development, and teacher training to students, educators, and community members of all ages.
HOA MAU
Hoa Mau is a multi-leveled adult training program intended to increase the capacity of participants to serve as teachers, cultural stewards, and leaders in the community.
​HĀLAU HOLOMOANA
Hālau Holomoana is a youth leadership program that connects waʻa and voyaging knowledge with maritime career pathways through sailing, mentorship, and leadership opportunities on the ocean.

Curriculum

Our curriculum centers the wa’a as a living classroom and is grounded in culture, connected to place, and guided by our ancestors. Using the waʻa as a foundation, educators connect learning across all academic disciplines.

our impact

For over 20 years, Kānehūnāmoku has advanced voyaging education by bringing waʻa-based learning into schools and communities across Hawaiʻi. Through sustained partnerships, culturally grounded curriculum, and hands-on experiences aboard the canoe, KVA supports the growth of future stewards, leaders, and practitioners of maritime traditions and voyaging culture.
Annual Impact Snapshot
​SY24 – 25 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025)

1,31o

Students Served

757

Native Hawaiian
Students Served

12

Community Learning
​Days

406

Community and Adult
​Participants

24

School and
Educational Partners

61%

Native Hawaiian Participation
in ​Year-Round Programs

Support our programs

Make a gift today and help ensure this knowledge continues to be learned, practiced, and passed on both now and for generations to come.

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