Hālau Holomoana is designed to return Hawaiians to meaningful 21st century work on the ocean while also preparing them for a lifetime of leadership, learning, and teaching of the rich maritime and voyaging cultural heritage of their ancestors. The program will train 12-15 ‘ōpio in grades 11 and 12 per year in the baseline skills for entry into various maritime career pathways. It will also provide intensive guidance, kūpuna mentors, school placement and ongoing support to further the education of all participants as they pursue maritime careers after completing the vocational training program. Finally, Hālau Holomoana will embed this career preparation and support in a growing appreciation of the depth and breadth of traditional Hawaiian non-instrument navigation, canoe construction and maintenance, maritime cultural knowledge as well as the critical need for new leaders and lifelong learners to perpetuate and revitalize this knowledge for future generations.
Hālau Holomoana is a year long program that begins each fall, consisting of 180 hours of total instruction, culminating in a 10 day open ocean voyage (click here for images of the voyage). Hālau Holomoana having garnered planning input and commitments of support from retired kūpuna who fulfilled successful maritime careers as well as skilled seamanship professionals, cultural practitioners and master navigators, reflects a promising inter-generational, community-based approach. Most importantly, Hālau Holomoana prepares youth for careers that provide a comfortable livelihood while also affording ample time away from work to give back to the community through lifelong learning and perpetuation of Hawaiian canoe culture.
Hālau Holomoana is a year long program that begins each fall, consisting of 180 hours of total instruction, culminating in a 10 day open ocean voyage (click here for images of the voyage). Hālau Holomoana having garnered planning input and commitments of support from retired kūpuna who fulfilled successful maritime careers as well as skilled seamanship professionals, cultural practitioners and master navigators, reflects a promising inter-generational, community-based approach. Most importantly, Hālau Holomoana prepares youth for careers that provide a comfortable livelihood while also affording ample time away from work to give back to the community through lifelong learning and perpetuation of Hawaiian canoe culture.