"I grew up in the ocean, and ever since I was little, I have always felt drawn to waʻa (canoes). The idea of building a waʻa kaulua for my school, Punahou, was introduced to me by Kapana Thronas, a crew member of Nāmāhoe in September 2017. From that seed the project has taken off. I strive to make positive change here in Hawaiʻi by protecting our oceans and ʻāina, and perpetuating our culture to not just keep it alive, but allow it to thrive. I want to create opportunities for people to create their own intimate connections with the ocean, and our pae ʻāina. This is why I started project Ka Hālāwai Hou. Without waʻa and a the ocean, a part of me would feel missing.”

​-Dillyn Kiana Lietzke '20

​Founder