Ke Kula ‘o ‘Ehunuikaimalino is a Hawaiian immersion school in Kona. After beginning our māla (garden) project in August 2008, The Kona Outdoor Circle was there to provide us with much needed financial support. This year, the Honor the Earth grant is supporting the project; last year it was supported by the Yes to Carrot grant. Somehow, we are honored with a grant each year to keep us not only alive and thriving but expanding. We are grateful. The project began as a vision to embrace outdoor knowing, learning, teaching, and leading for the purpose of sustaining cultural knowledge and resources within the learning community.

Clare Loprinzi, a kumu and garden coordinator at Ke Kula ‘o ‘Ehunuikaimalino, and Kamuela Meheula-Naihe, a parent volunteer, spearheaded the project. Initially, involvement consisted of parent volunteers, a few kumu and the keiki. Presently, the whole school is actively involved. Now, in 2011, 90% of all kumu are actively involved, some bringing their haumana in several times a week. Clare Loprinzi is a full time garden coordinator and now has three outdoor classrooms in the midst of lovely gardens. The PTA is involved with grant writing and supporting the school’s wellness project.

Located in Kealakekua, we are part of what is known as the “Kona Field System” in the gardens of Lono, the god of agriculture. We have been studying our ways on a deeper level and producing more much needed food. Last year we had over 3,000 pounds of food grown.

We originally started by clearing raw land and currently have over 10,000 square feet of planted areas. Each year we have added more compost piles and healthy soil to the gardens. We have many raised beds and pathways that connect the many varieties of kalo, ‘uala, ‘ulu trees, banana trees, fruit trees, ‘ōhi‘a trees, hāpu‘u, maile, and many other plants. We are also growing fruit and vegetables—which we prepare with the full kitchen that we have in the outdoor classroom to bring back many traditional foods and other ethnic traditions.

Along with all the garden learning of healthy foods, we are also doing a lot of core subjects, math and writing, in the gardens. We work 100% with the moon calendar which is great as it sets the tone for either clearing and preparation work and planting. Hawaiian core values are talked about each time after na keiki come through the puka with their oli.

We also feel it is very important to work with other community organizations and families. Volunteers in this project have helped to make it a success. People have come to share about growing kalo in Kona, farming practices in Kona, land issues and place names in Kona, rock wall building, lei making, lauhala, Makahiki games and more. Students are encouraged to build strong relationships to the land and with people who are professionals in the community.

Makua, Leinani Navas-Loa and Momi Subiono are all sharing cultural practices and herbal preparations. Jennifer Mattila, also a makua and a kumu is actively helping and working in the mala too. Morgan from MI’s restaurant has come and made pizza with the herbs from the gardens. Two events for the entire school stemmed from the māla project. We had a Makahiki celebration on our campus for the past three years and many ‘aha ‘aina (feast of the land). All of these events are directly related to farming and harvesting. We are also honoring both the equinoxes and solstices which were universally honored. It has been truly magical to watch this project unfold.

To watch a video of the garden project, click here.

For more information, contact Clare Loprinzi at 808-323-1900.