ʻImi Naʻauao 2026: I Ola Ka Ulu Koa, I Ola Ka Waʻa, I Ola Kākou

This past spring, participants from across the pae ʻāina gathered in the ahupuaʻa of Kalihi Valley, Oʻahu, for the 2026 ʻImi Naʻauao Crew Training. Hosted by ʻOhana Waʻa member Friends of Hōkūleʻa & Hawaiʻiloa , the gathering provided opportunities to deepen connections to waʻa, ʻāina, kai, and meaʻai through hands-on learning, ʻike exchange, and shared stewardship. 

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Photo Credit: Ivy Lagodlagod

Guided by the theme, "I Ola Ka Ulu Koa, I Ola Ka Waʻa, I Ola Kākou," this year's training focused on strengthening the relationships that sustain both voyaging and community. Participants learned from practitioners and subject matter experts through activities that included native forest restoration, invasive species management, food preservation, environmental observation, and koa waʻa restoration. Crews also explored how healthy forests, thriving nearshore environments, and local food systems contribute to the long-term vitality of voyaging traditions. 

Supported by the Kapapahuliau Climate Resilience Program, ʻImi Naʻauao is part of a broader effort to advance voyaging-based climate adaptation learning, documentation, and community engagement across the pae ʻāina. In the wake of a historic Super El Niño that brought significant impacts across Hawaiʻi, the gathering underscored the importance of ʻike, observation, and collective action. Through partnerships that connect mauka to makai, participants strengthened their capacity to care for the resources entrusted to them and carry forward the practices that sustain both waʻa and community for future generations. 

Drone imagery documenting flooding at the Friends of Hōkūleʻa & Hawaiʻiloa site documenting how changing environmental conditions are affecting the places and infrastructure that support Hawaiʻi's voyaging traditions and coastlines across the pae ʻāīna. Photo Credit MEGA Labs

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Mahalo to the Friends of Hōkūleʻa & Hawaiʻiloa, Hoʻoulu ʻĀina, Kapapahuliau Climate Resilience Program, cultural practitioners, volunteers, and all participants who contributed their time, ʻike, and aloha to make ʻImi Naʻauao 2026 a meaningful gathering dedicated to learning from place, strengthening pilina, and perpetuating voyaging traditions for generations to come.

Photo Credit: Ivy Lagodlagod