Welina
We are middle school students at Kamehameha Schools, Hawai'i who promote aloha 'āina by designing Ka Wahī Pīlali Nalomeli (beeswax wraps), sustainable plastic replacers. Our designs are inspired by native and endemic plants and our culture. We're passionate about making a positive impact on the environment. Join us on our journey towards a cleaner planet and start replacing your plastics with our eco-friendly wraps. Mahalo for choosing Ho'onele 'Ea.
"We don't need a handful of people doing
zero waste perfectly. We need millions of
people doing it imperfectly."
-Anne Marie Bonneau
We chose the name Ho'onele 'Ea (refuse plastic or plastic-free) because we wanted a Hawaiian name that describes our mission in a few words. By using ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, we are perpetuating and utilizing the Hawaiian that we learn in school and sharing it with the world. ‘Āina is the Hawaiian word for land and literally translates into that which feeds. Taking care of our beautiful land is an essential part of our culture because it is where we came from, and it is something that has provided for our community and people for thousands of years and counting.
In 6th grade, our original club members had to opportunity to participate in a cleanup at Kamilo, Kaʻū, where we saw a lot of plastic pollution. Kamilo is often nicknamed the "Plastic Beach" because of the plastic covering the shores. We realized how plastic negatively affects our environment and decided to make this a mission: To give back to our communities while making a living doing something we love.
Beeswax wraps are a sustainable and reusable alternative to plastic wraps and single-use plastic. Its primary use is for covering and preserving food, allowing it to stay fresh for more extended periods of time. These wraps are made from organic materials such as cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin. Our wraps are completely decomposable, and when you can't reuse them any longer, they are safe to compost. Single-use plastic is not reusable, and most take around 1,000 years to decompose.
The students below are the founding members of Ho'onele 'Ea and have moved on to our Kula Kiʻekiʻe (High School). We are grateful for everything they have contributed to our little Entrepreneurship Club as they created the foundation for this to continue.
We are students of Kamehameha Schools, who embrace our Hawaiian culture and set goals for ourselves. We apply our learning and explore our passions through our digital media class.
Born in: Hilo, Hawai'i
Favorite Subject: Science
Best Asset: Technology
Aspires to be: Entrepreneuer
Born in: Hilo, Hawaiʻi
Favorite Subject: Math
Best Asset: Determined
Aspires to be: Trial Lawyer
Born in: Kamuela, Hawaiʻi
Favorite Subject: Hawaiian
Best Asset: Organized
Aspires to be: Graphic Designer/Educator
Born in: Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Favorite Subject: Math
Best Asset: Quick Learner
Aspires to be: Marine Biologist
Born in: Hilo, Hawaiʻi
Favorite Subject: Innovative Technology
Best Asset: Experienced Photographer
Aspires to be: Freelance Photographer
Role: Club Advisor
Born in: Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi
Best Asset: Optimism
Passion: Living life to its fullest