Hālau Holomoana

Growing Hawaiʻi’s Next Generation of Maritime and Ocean Leaders​

Hālau Holomoana is a youth leadership and ocean-based career development program grounded in Hawaiian culture and voyaging traditions. Designed to return Hawaiians to meaningful 21st-century work on the ocean, the program prepares ʻōpio for maritime careers while fostering a lifelong commitment to leadership, learning, and the perpetuation of the rich maritime and voyaging heritage of their ancestors. The original program ran from 2013-2022, engaging 8 cohorts of students through the years. Currently, KVA is working with the HIDOE to develop new programming under a broader Oceans Academy initiative.  

Serving high school students, Hālau Holomoana provides foundational training for entry into a variety of maritime career pathways while cultivating a deeper understanding of Hawaiian non-instrument navigation, waʻa construction and stewardship, maritime cultural knowledge, and the kuleana to carry this ʻike forward from generation to generation.

Through more than 180 hours of instruction, participants engage in sail training, Hawaiian cultural protocol, voyaging history, maritime and ocean-based career exploration, college and career counseling, scholarship support, waterfront field experiences, and hands-on learning aboard Kānehūnāmoku. Along the way, students build practical skills, professional networks, and a stronger connection to the ocean, their culture, and their communities.

Hālau Holomoana draws upon the guidance of kūpuna who have fulfilled successful maritime careers, alongside skilled seamanship professionals, cultural practitioners, and master navigators. This intergenerational, community-based approach connects participants to both contemporary opportunities and ancestral knowledge, demonstrating that Hawaiian voyaging traditions remain relevant and essential in today's world.

More than a workforce development program, Hālau Holomoana cultivates future leaders who understand that ocean-based careers can provide not only meaningful livelihoods, but also opportunities to remain connected to community, engage in lifelong learning, and contribute to the ongoing revitalization and perpetuation of Hawaiian waʻa culture. Through this work, Hālau Holomoana serves as a model for how voyaging, education, and career pathways come together to prepare the next generation of leaders for Hawaiʻi's future.

College & Careers in Maritime

As ocean and ʻāina-based people, our connection to the sea has always shaped who we are. These pathways build upon that foundation, creating opportunities for the next generation to pursue financially viable maritime careers while staying, living, and working in Hawaiʻi or continuing their relationship with the ocean wherever they go. ​

Tounge point Job CorpS Center

Astoria, OR
Tuition-free residential workforce training with maritime and technical credentials.

Seafarers International Union

Paid apprenticeship leading directly to employment at sea.

Cal Poly Maritime Academy

Vallejo, CA (Formerly known as California Maritime)
Four-year maritime degree with leadership and licensing pathways.

Marimed Foundation

Hawaiʻi-based community pathway with hands-on training and career placement.

Lei Ānuenue – Episode 64: Hālau Holomoana

Featuring Bonnie Kahapea-Tanner, Loyal Kekahuna-Baisa, Keala Kahuanui, and special alumni guests.
Learn how we connect Hawaiian voyaging culture with college and career opportunities. ​For more information about the Lei Ānuenue series, click the button below.
Mahalo nui to Malia and Kanaeoakana for hosting this episode!

Learn more about our programs