Koholālele ʻŌpio ʻĀina Camp (KOʻA)

Mentor: Uakoko Chong

STEM Fields: Place based: restoration, agricultural, and harvesting practices in Hāmākua Hikina. 

Internship Research Goal: ʻŌpio develop their understanding of kuleana through engaging with communities on ʻāina in our native forest, food forest, and near shoreline of Hāmākua Hikina.  Throughout the week, ʻōpio will be engaged in hana noʻeau and moʻolelo and spend time reflecting on their own kuleana and gifts that can be shared within ʻohana and community.  At the end of the week, ʻōpio envision where they see themselves thriving on ʻāina.

Hui Mau logoAbout Koholālele ʻŌpio ʻĀina Camp (KOʻA)

 This is an overnight program and participants will be staying on ʻāina at Koholālele, a 10-acre ʻāina restoration location. There is minimal cell phone reception on site, but a huiMAU satellite phone will be available for emergency use only. 

Internship duties and responsibilities

 ʻŌpio are expected to be responsible and accountable for their belongings and behaviors during KOʻA camp.  We ask for full participation throughout the week and understand that this is an opportunity to be in Koholālele and spend time with our community. During this week each participant will share values of aloha, kuleana, and ʻohana to ensure a safe space for everyone.

Interns should be able to:

huiMAU’s KOʻA (Koholālele ʻŌpio ʻĀina) Spring Camp is a 4-day immersive overnight program primarily focused on empowering Hawai’i youth (ages 13-17) who are particularly drawn to growing practices that cultivate aloha ʻāina.  Guided by huiMAU staff and the ʻāina of Koholālele, Hāmākua, participants will spend the week together learning moʻolelo of Hāmākua Hikina and engage in activities that  include:

  • Hiking on the ala kūpuna from uka to kai & exploring shoreline/kai community
  • Hana noʻeau: kaula, lei, ulana, kapa, wai hoʻoluʻu 
  • Kilo hōkū & moʻolelo ʻāina
  • Place Based Ancestral Agricultural Activities: pā pōhaku, pā kukui
  • Restoration of ancestral food forests & native ecosystems
  • Food preparations & practices – imu, kuʻi ʻai, puaʻa kālua

2025 Internship Schedule:

Summer 2025:

  • June 3 – June 6 (Tuesday – Friday), 7 am – 9pm (10 hour days)
  • Breakfast, activity, lunch, activity, dinner, reflection & activity
    • Tuesday: Drop off, Set up camp, introductions, swim test, mālama ʻāina, reflection
    • Wednesday: Hike up to native wet forest, mālama ʻāina, set imu, food prep for imu, reflection
    • Thursday: Close imu, Shoreline walk, kilo, survey, open imu, reflection
    • Friday: Clean up and break down camp, hana noʻeau, reflection, pick up.

*Schedules are tentative and are subject to change. Interns will be required to work 40 hours in the Summer 2025.

Internship Meeting Locations:

  • Drop off is at 8:00am on Tuesday at huiMAUʻs HUB (next to Paʻauilo Store and Post office)
    • 43-1353 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd #2
      Paauilo, HI 96776  
  • Pick up is at 3:00pm on Friday at huiMAUʻs HUB.