Our why & How
We care for this sacred place with humility and respect, guided by the understanding that ʻāina—the land—is alive and sustaining. To honor ʻāina is to nurture it, just as it has long nurtured us, listening to its needs and walking alongside it as it heals.
Meaning Behind
Our Name
ʻĀina is more than the word “land.” It reflects a living relationship—a reciprocal bond between people and the natural world—rooted in sustenance, stewardship, and care. To speak of ʻāina is to recognize the interconnectedness of all life and the kuleana (responsibility) that comes with belonging to it.
ʻĀina Hoʻōla—land in the process of healing—is the name of our Initiative. Our work moves at the pace of the ʻāina itself, guided by its needs and rooted in care and stewardship. The ʻāina sustains us, and in return, it is our kuleana to mālama (care for) it. This work begins with careful observation, hands-on effort, and a willingness to learn directly from the ʻāina.
Our Values
From the beginning, our work has been guided by ʻike kupuna—traditional wisdom of Hawaiʻi that reminds us of our deep kuleana to the ʻāina, and these values are at the heart of what we do.
He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka.a
The land is chief, the man is its servant.
Nanā ka maka; hana ka lima.
Observe with the eyes, work with the hands.
Ma ka hana ka ʻike.
In working, one learns.
E lawe i ke aʻo a mālama, a e ʻoi mau ka naʻauao.
He who takes his teachings and applies them increases his knowledge.
ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.
No task is too big when done together by all.
These values continue to guide our work at Lokowaka, shaping a journey that unfolds with each step we take alongside the ʻāina.
Humble
Beginnings
Our journey began quietly—
with two sets of hands, Kumiko’s and Patrick’s,
in 2021, during the COVID pandemic,
and the memory of a single aeʻo
(an endangered Hawaiian stilt)
seen at Lokowaka in 2011.
That brief encounter reminded us
of what once thrived here—
and what still could.
As invasive plants were removed,
and water began to flow again,
the ʻāina revealed its stories,
and birds returned—life followed.
The nēnē (threatened Hawaiian goose) appeared early on,
and in 2022, a pair of aeʻo landed once more—
a powerful sign of hope.
Soon, ʻalae keʻokeʻo (endangered Hawaiian coots) multiplied,
reflecting the recovery of the wetlands
and the many unseen species they support.
What began with two hands
has grown into many.
Volunteers now step into Lokowaka with us,
becoming part of its healing.
And still, the journey continues.
As water flows, native aquatic species thrive,
native plants flourish once again,
and birds return.
We will continue walking with the ʻāina—
helping Lokowaka rise and thrive
for generations to come.
The ripples are spreading.