ʻĀina-Based Service Learning & Leadership Development

ALO is a leadership program for Native Hawaiian and other youth of Pāhoa High School. We have after school programs, camping retreats, and a summer program. ALO partners with multiple community organizations and leaders to provide 

ʻāina-based service learning and culturally-relevant leadership training.

 Once a student joins ALO, we will provide mentorship 

throughout their high school careers. 

After school Program

The ALO after school programs are at Pahoa High & Intermediate School in room U103, around various locations on campus and within the community! Students are transported to off-campus locations with the PHIS short buses.  Program runs from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.  School bus transportation from school to home Is provided at 5:00 p.m.  Snacks and all tools/materials needed are provided.  We are working on these four ongoing project areas:

• Makahiki Games Events 

Students will set up and host makahiki games events for Pāhoa High & Intermediate School, Pāhoa Elementary School, Keonepoko Elementary School and at community events.  To prepare, students will create and maintain game equipment, be familiar with all the games, learn how to score and run tournaments, develop public speaking and leadership skills.

Community Partners:  Pāhoa Elementary School, Keonepoko Elementary School, Men of PAʻA 

• Nā Mea Kanu & Media Production 

Students will become familiar with many native and other plants that have importance in Hawaiian culture, in addition to making a website that link to QR code signs for the plants.  We are continuing our Project Hoʻonani (PHIS Campus Beautification planting project) and working with community partners to improve community education resources by creating and installing signage for plants in our school and community. 

Community Partners: County of Hawaiʻi, Kīpuka Farmacy

• Papahana Pilikahakai

Students will spend time in various areas of shoreline around Puna and Hawai’i Island to form a pilina with these places, kilo, conduct scientific and historical research,and learn lawaiʻa/resource gathering practices and protocols, articulate loina/proper lawena for these places to share by creating community education resources and signage.  

Community Partners: Puna Makaʻala, Nā Maka Hāloa o Waipiʻo, Pōhaku Pelemaka, Kealoha Estate

• Papahana Hōlua

Students will work with Uncle Keone Kalawe to learn about the practice of hōlua, visit and map slides around Hawaiʻi Island, work in small groups to construct three papa hōlua, develop the resources needed to practice hōlua, construct a kāhua hōlua (slide) at PHIS, and educate others about the practice of hōlua.  

Community Partners: Keone Kalawe, Kamehameha Schools ʻĀina Ulu 

Camping retreats

Fall Retreat: Kahuwai Village, Puna

Friday October 6 - Sunday October 8, 2023

This fall, ALO participants will be staying in Kahuwai, Puna from Friday, October 6 to Sunday, October 8, 2023.  Up to twenty students will work with Kahuwai caretaker Uncle Keone Kalawe in the historic village of Kahuwai, working in small groups to complete construction of three papa hōlua.  At this point, all three papa hōlua are ready to be lashed and oiled.  The intention is that by the end of the retreat, all three will be ready for use this makahiki season.  The students will also make short videos and compile information for educational resources for hōlua.  This project entails learning ʻike kūpuna from a kūpuna, sharing the practice, and ensuring the practice is continued by and for future generations.  Students become leaders in this initiative, as they will assume the kuleana of practicing hōlua, educating others and bringing the hōlua to makahiki games for the schools in Pāhoa area.

On the first morning, students will hike to Kumukahi before sunrise.  We will “E Ala E” as the sun rises.  While hiking, Uncle Keone will share the history and moʻolelo of Kumukahi.  This is an amazing opportunity to develop deeper understanding and pilina to our ʻāina and sacred sites, our function as Puna makai people, our daily piko wehena at school, and our beautiful 100-ft mural (our schoolʻs Mele Mural project) dedicated to Kumukahi, Kula, and Kapoho.       

Students will also work with certified lifeguard Bronson Toledo as he guides them in lawaiʻa practices.  They will  become familiar with shoreline safety, and holoholo! They will learn how to set up and mālama their tackle boxes, make their poles ready, tie knots, and catch/use bait.  If possible, they will also learn about what they catch, by identifying the iʻa, cleaning, scaling and preparing to eat.  Students will also have a special lesson and learning experience about the mahina and her impacts on the kai, lawaiʻa, and mahi ʻai practices.

Community Partners: Keone Kalawe, Kamehameha Schools ʻĀina Ulu 

Spring Retreat: Kona

Thursday March 28 - Saturday March 30, 2024

In the spring, up to twenty ALO participants will travel to the west side of the island for a three-day camping trip in Kona.  From Thursday, March 28 to Saturday March 30, 2024, certified lifeguard Bronson Toledo will join us again to develop ocean safety skills and practice various ocean activities. This retreat is part of Papahana Pilikahakai, so will involve plenty of kilo and research.  It is a special opportunity for our students, as we have not had safe open-ocean swimming accessible in our entire district since the 2018 eruption.  This is a chance for students to learn to snorkel, learn how to use a three-prong spear, practice ʻupena hoʻolei, and other lawaiʻa practices.  They will also huakaʻi to Puʻohonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park and to Amy Greenwell Garden.  We will invite kūpuna from the area to come talk story and share moʻolelo with the haumāna. 

Summer program

Kauwela 2024: Community Cultural Education

June - July, 2024 

The ALO summer program (“Kauwela 2024”) will be once again offered as part of PHIS Summer School in 2024. ALO participants will continue to focus on developing community cultural education for five-weeks in June-July, Mondays-Fridays from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm.  Huakaʻi is a defining aspect of the ALO summer program.  Students will experience travel to various ahupuaʻa and wahi pana in Puna Makai to continue their ʻāina-based service learning activities and Papahana Pilikahakai.  They will meet and work with cultural experts and community leaders.  Students that meet the attendance threshold (no more than three absences) earn 0.5 Elective credit.   Program participants that graduated in 2024 will be eligible to apply to serve as alakaʻi with a paid internship.  During the summer program, it is expected that we will need to rent a minivan (and hire an additional employee to drive) in addition to using the 14-passenger bus in order to accommodate all participants.  ʻOhana of ALO participants are invited to join us for the final day of the program for a hōʻike and luncheon at Isaac Kepoʻokalani Hale Beach Park in Pohoiki.  

Community Partners: Keone Kalawe, Nā Maka Hāloa o Waipiʻo, Pōhaku Pelemaka, Men of PAʻA