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ʻĀINA Highlights to Kickoff 2025!

It has been an exciting and busy start to the year for the ʻĀINA In Schools Program! In the first week of 2025, KHF staff and custodial staff from Kahuku Elementary School kicked off 2025 building 12 new garden beds for students to use for their upcoming ʻĀINA lessons. Mahalo nui to the amazing custodians at Kahuku Elementary for their hard work and dedication, we can’t wait to see these garden beds flourish! We also hosted the Q2 ʻĀINA Program Training on the Kōkua Learning Farm where ʻĀINA Lead Teachers, classroom teachers, & volunteers gathered for a day filled with learning and sharing in preparation for the new semester. Participants prepped Tops & Bottoms (Grade K) and Good Buddy (Grade 1) garden beds, cooked ʻuala leaves (Grade 4), and dove into subjects such as irrigation and Native Hawaiian plant propagation.

In preparation for their Quarter 3 ʻĀINA Lessons, ʻAikahi Elementary and Sunset Beach Elementary hosted Garden Parties where students, parents, teachers, and community members came together to assist with weeding, fixing garden beds, turning soil, and many other tasks. 

KHF staff also participated in STEAM Night at Mililani Uka Elementary School and brought a “Produce Petting Zoo” of both familiar and exotic fruits and vegetables. Students were encouraged to kilo (closely observe) each type of produce 

and could even pick them up. Mahalo piha to everyone who attended these events!

If you have any pictures to share from the ʻĀINA Program at your school, please send them to [email protected]!