Ulu Ae Learning Center | Ulu Ae Learning Center

(UALC) Ulu A‘e was formed in 2014 with the vision to have entire communities knowledgeable and engaged in the place they live. We deliver culture and place-based education for keiki and families of Honouliuli through half day and intersession student days, other cultural community programs and volunteer workdays. Our mission is to empower and enrich lives through programs that develop skills, build confidence and promote healthy relationships based on the values and customs of our kūpuna. No'eau Boxes A box filled with Hawaiian Books, games, and hands-on activities. Delivered to your doorstep for at home and on-the-go learning. Now available to teachers, community organizations, and families. Nene‘e is our intersession program where keiki ages 5–14 are given opportunities to explore their ‘āina from ma uka (mountain) to ma kai (sea). The program’s curriculum is place-based meaning that special focus is made to highlight the history and culture of the students’ community. Students engage in moʻolelo (stories), hana noʻeau (Native Hawaiian art and practices) and kuleana (land stewardship). HANA ‘I‘O is a hands-on, food preparation program for middle school students who want to grow their knowledge, skills and relationship to the animals they eat. Students explore the role their mountain plays in food production. They take part in the respectful and humane process of killing a pig. They participate in animal husbandry and learn safety and sanitation guidelines, knife skills, and about meat production here in Hawaii. By taking part in this program, students begin to think critically about waste and humane animal practices. They gain a deeper understanding of food abundance and begin to evaluate what they put in their bodies. Papa Kuʻi ʻAi & Pōhaku Loan Program If your ‘ohana wants to ku‘i ‘ai for Lā Kūʻokoʻa, but you don’t have a papa kuʻi ʻai, pōhaku or kalo, we can help. We have 2 papa ku‘i ‘ai with pōhaku to loan out to 2 ‘ohana. The Kapu‘uola Hula Festival celebrates Hawaiian storytelling through hula and new mele (compositions) at Pu‘uokapolei. The festival features performances by several hālau hula (hula schools) and live Hawaiian music entertainment. Hana Hei Hana hei (Hawaiian string figures) is a form of Hawaiian storytelling and mnemonic device. Keiki learn hei in each of Ulu A‘e’s programs. Hana hei engages the young minds of our keiki in a way that encourages the use of our native language and the practice of a traditional conginitive form of memorization. After School Program is Now A Full Day Program and includes transportation for students from certain schools in Kapolei, ‘Ewa and Nānākuli. Students are transported from their schools to our learning center in Kalaeloa. Homework help, hana no‘eau enrichment lessons, and stewardship visits are provided. Ulu A‘e Learning Center uses a high touch, personalized approach in growing the hearts and minds of children during the out of school time though storytelling, Native Hawaiian practices and stewardship experiences. Aloha ‘Āina Love for our places Students are taught traditional names of places that exist in their community. They learn history through stories and mele. And they dig their hands deep into the soil, healing, restoring and rejuvenation the ‘āina. It’s through these unique experiences that they gain an appreciation for the place they live and become stewards of our land before entering high school. ‘Ike Ku’una Workshops This community enrichment program is aimed at increasing the cultural knowledge and skills of kūpuna (elders), mākua (adults) and ‘ohana (families). Workshops are held in cultural practices and knowledge like lei making, haku mele (Hawaiian composition), ulana lauhala (weaving), Ni‘ihau shell jewelry assembly, kapa making, Hawaiian history lectures and more. The series allows participants to interact with storytellers and master practitioners like Shad Kane, Dalani Tanahy, and Nalu Andrade. The intent of the program is for community members to develop skills and feel more knowledgeable about the history and traditions of their community.