Programs
About Kanu o ka ʻĀina Learning ʻOhana (KALO)
Kanu o ka ‘āina literally means plants of the land and figuratively refers to natives of the land from generations back.
As a native Hawaiian non-profit, Kanu o ka ‘Āina Learning ‘Ohana dba KALO wants to provide viable choices in education, which empower Hawaiian learners of all ages to remain natives of the Hawaiian islands inhabited by our people for over 2000 years.
KALO’s womb to tomb programs constitute a dynamic intergenerational family of learners made up of educators, students, parents, extended families, community supporters and partnering organizations dedicated to the perpetuation of Hawai’i’s native language, culture and traditions.
KALO is also a recognized leader in non-profit management and community development, promoting sustainability as a way of life intrinsic to Hawaiian communities, via the development of intergenerational learning destinations or kauhale. In that respect, KALO is laying the groundwork for a culturally-driven, family-oriented and community-based parallel system of education first advocated by the Native Hawaiian Education Council in 1997.
As a young grassroots organization, KALO has achieved unimaginable levels of success since its incorporation in 2000, directly related to the persistence and hard work of its spirited leaders and steadfast stakeholders. KALO’s rapid growth is also a direct testament to the extreme need for native-designed and controlled models of education not just in Waimea but throughout Hawai’i – and the world – and the remarkable impact of these programs in meeting the educational, cultural and socio-economic needs of Indigenous populations.