Our ‘āina (land), Hawai’i nei, has shaped and sustained our kūpuna (ancestors) in our unique home for centuries. Hawaiian cultural values, practices and ‘ike (knowledge) collected and passed down for countless generations are our most precious resources. These resources are part of the foundation of our modern day Hawai’i; they are the reason why Hawai’i is such a truly special place!
We believe that all who have lived in Hawai’i have learned from and been affected by the values and ‘ike of our kūpuna. All of us are on a journey in our life of learning and understanding, some farther along on the road than others. Yet, we all have something to share and the essential kuleana (responsibility and privilege) is to respectfully (and with sincere humility) gather the ‘ike from those around us and carefully pass it on to the next generations. Regardless of whether we view ourselves as cultural and educational resources or not, we all have learned something here in Hawai’i that we can pass on! The precious 'ike that we still have with us today was freely handed down, passed to us with the hopes that we would carry on this tradition of cultural learning and teaching.
Ka Waiwai No Nā Kūpuna (Treasure from the Ancestors) Hawaiian Culture-Based Education For All is a conference that was created for the sharing of Hawaiian culture-based knowledge for all who seek to learn and freely share what they have gathered. With that said, please help honor “ka waiwai no nā kūpuna” and join us as we continue down our respective paths of learning and sharing 'ike together.