Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

The Sanctuary's Hawaiian Cultural Program

The 12th national marine sanctuary has the privilege of being connected with the most isolated chain of islands in the world--the Hawaiian Islands. These islands are filled with natural beauty, unique environments and fascinating culture. Such special qualities have not gone unappreciated, particularly with the establishment of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.


During the Sanctuary's dedication ceremony, the entire community was invited to participate in a Native Hawaiian fish gathering activity known as a "hukilau."

As a result of this mission to serve and educate people about Native Hawaiian culture, the sanctuary has created several projects within the past several years. In 1997, the sanctuary sponsored a Native Hawaiian internship project through the University of Hawai`i at Hilo's Sea Grant Program. The project focused on the cultural and historical importance of whales in Hawai`i. This resulted in informative posters, brochures and lectures for the public.

The sanctuary is also involved in the restoration of a Native Hawaiian fishpond, named Ko`ie`ie Loko I`a, which is located adjacent to the Maui sanctuary headquarters office in Kihei, Maui. The three-acre pond is one of the last remaining intact traditional fish ponds along the South Maui coastline. The sanctuary is working with the nonprofit organization `Ao`ao O Na Loko I`a O Maui (Association of the Fishponds of Maui) to protect, educate and refurbish Ko`ie`ie Loko I`a. This restoration project has piqued the interest of many people in the community including the Pacific American Foundation; a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Pacific Americans such as Naïve Hawaiians. The Foundation is managing Project Kahea Loko, which develops curriculum for Hawai‘i’s Department of Education. This curriculum, geared for grades 4-12, uses fishponds as a learning model in social studies, science, language and art classes. In 2001, Ko`ie`ie Loko I`a was chosen as the Maui field site by Pacific American Foundation for further development and utilization of Kahea Loko’s curriculum. This extraordinary partnership between the Sanctuary, Pacific American Foundation and `Ao`ao O Na Loko I`a O Maui provides a wonderful opportunity for young adults to learn about one of our sanctuary’s submerged cultural treasures…..Native Hawaiian fishponds.

Volunteers Experience a Cultural Wonder

Our sanctuary has the ability to enhance the public’s understanding of its connection to the Hawaiian culture by thriving off the learning experiences of our own volunteers. These meaningful cultural experiences in turn allow volunteers to gain more understanding, respect and reverence to a culture, which has survived for centuries.

Student looking into microscope

From tuna sandwiches to ahi poke salad, Sanctuary staff and volunteers present recipes using Sanctuary resources at a Hawaiian Cultural workshop.

Each year, the sanctuary hosts a bi-annual Volunteer Appreciation Day to show our gratitude to our loyal volunteers. In the winter a wonderful whale watch cruise is held which builds their excitement for our resources. In the summer, another appreciation day is held to reinforce the cultural values of Hawai`i. For the past three years, the volunteers have enjoyed an evening of mythical legend at Maui Myth and Magic’s `Ulalena play and have enjoyed tours of the East and West Maui mountains. They have soaked their feet in a lo`i (taro patch), swam in a natural fresh water stream, have planted their share of taro, visited other fishponds in Maui and have visited one of Hawai`i’s largest heiau (temple). All of these activities have enhanced their appreciation for living in Hawai`i and have added cultural insight to their volunteering activities at the Sanctuary.

Volunteers also have the opportunity to get a dose of the culture during the Sanctuary’s Hawaiian Cultural workshops. These workshops include anything Hawaiian which has a connection to the Sanctuary and its resources. In 2002, the workshops covered the usage of the Hawaiian language, the ahupua`a system, local recipes using Sanctuary rescources, lei making and the art of ulana launiu (coconut leaf weaving). New and exciting cultural workshops are being developed for the upcoming year.

Students Immerse Themselves into the World of the Kohola

Student looking into microscope

A student from `Iao Intermediate examines plankton found in Ko`ie`ie Fishpond during a visit to the Sanctuary Headquarters as part of Project Kahea Loko.

Like any other thriving culture, the Hawaiian culture lives through its language. On Maui, the Punana Leo Hawaiian Language Immersion schools and after school care programs have participated in the Sanctuary’s Whale Discovery Program. This program, co-sponsored by Windjammer Cruises, Maui, has enabled over 300 students to experience our kohola (humpback whales) in their marine environment by providing complimentary whale watches to Maui schools. As the students watch the kuala (dorsal fin) of the kohola lu`u (dives) into the moana (ocean), the hi`u (tail) pa`i (slap) the surface or the bright white pekekeu (pectoral fin) as it waves aloha, the Sanctuary’s Hawaiian Cultural Educator narrates in Hawaiian. The students walk away with excitement and minds that are intrigued to learn more. This program has been extremely popular with Hawaiian language instructors as they seek out activities instructed entirely in Hawaiian.

If you have an interest in helping out the Hawaiian Cultural Program with translating materials into the Hawaiian language, creating new and interactive cultural materials/programs, extending the program to your island or have new ideas, please contact the Hawaiian Cultural Educator, Joylynn Oliveira at the Headquarters office 1-800-831-4888.

For more information on Hawai‘i Culture, download information (pdf) from the Sustainable Seas Expedition.