Do you want to learn more about conservation? Would you like to help out your kaiāulu?
BECOME A PART OF LOKO EA TODAY!
Loko Ea is looking for enthusiastic, motivated, and hardworking individuals that want to learn and share Native Hawaiian culture, education, & mālama ʻāina while also learning more about the management, restoration, and care of our loko iʻa!
THE 2026 HOLOMUA SUMMER INTERNSHIP APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN!!
Our Holomua Summer Internship Program gives participants the opportunity to learn traditional loko iʻa restoration and management, paired with contemporary practices of aquaculture both in the fishpond and on land. Within these elements, interns will delve into where it all really begins and learn about the foundations of life cycles such as:
- Loko Iʻa – Foundation of aquatic life cycle starts with algae and phytoplankton. The loko iʻa is a place that helps produce an abundance of this resource for fish production as we explore pond health based on the management of our first organisms in the food chain.
- Limu – Culturally, limu is created shortly after the koʻa (coral polyps), ensuring food for various lifeforms that come after it. This element of the life cycle is highlighted to gain cultural knowledge of our familial connection to limu, and the ways we can enhance its growth at the loko.
- Soil – It is essential to understand soil health with regards to its impact on the ʻāina around the loko iʻa. This is an element that highlights dependance of ʻāina to wai, and wai to ʻāina. Healthy organic soil allows for healthier conditions for the loko iʻa, by growing and using native microorganisms for organic crop planting and maintenance.
This internship is designed to train members in native Hawaiian values through hard work, resiliency, and adaptability through the many facets of ʻāina based-learning. Every day will be spent outside working and learning various practices focused on the continued stewardship of Loko ea, both cultural and scientific. Interns will also help to restore various aspects of loko iʻa structures, such as kuapā (traditional rock wall) building and mākāhā (traditional wooden sluice gate) lashing in and around the loko.
This internship is 8 weeks long, starting June 10, ending August 1. A typical work week will be Wednesday thru Saturday from 7:30am - 3:00pm.
Holomua Summer Internship 2026
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The Goals of the HOLOMUA Program
Pūpūkahi i holomua. – ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #2758
Unite in order to progress.
Pūpūkahi i holomua. – ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #2758
Unite in order to progress.
PŪPŪKAHI
LEADERSHIP
Pūpūkahi – United, as in harmonious co-operation.
Nurture diverse leadership for a sustainable Hawai‘i. HAA aims to catalyze change by providing emerging leaders with the support and guidance they need to build new relationships through ALOHA, recognize the relevance of ‘ĀINA “that which feeds”, and practice MĀLAMA through rigorous ʻIke Hawaiʻi to ultimately rise to new levels of leadership.
PŪLAMA
MENTORSHIP
Pūlama – 1. Torch. 2. To care for, cherish, treasure, save.
Build a foundation on cultural practices of loko i‘a with ALOHA.
PŪKANI
CULTIVATE
Pūkani – Pu and kani, to sound. A sounding instrument; a trumpet.
To cultivate connections and relationships to the ahupuaʻa of Kawailoa through MĀLAMA.
LEADERSHIP
Pūpūkahi – United, as in harmonious co-operation.
Nurture diverse leadership for a sustainable Hawai‘i. HAA aims to catalyze change by providing emerging leaders with the support and guidance they need to build new relationships through ALOHA, recognize the relevance of ‘ĀINA “that which feeds”, and practice MĀLAMA through rigorous ʻIke Hawaiʻi to ultimately rise to new levels of leadership.
PŪLAMA
MENTORSHIP
Pūlama – 1. Torch. 2. To care for, cherish, treasure, save.
Build a foundation on cultural practices of loko i‘a with ALOHA.
PŪKANI
CULTIVATE
Pūkani – Pu and kani, to sound. A sounding instrument; a trumpet.
To cultivate connections and relationships to the ahupuaʻa of Kawailoa through MĀLAMA.
For more information or if you are interested in being a part of the Holomua Program,
please contact us at [email protected]
please contact us at [email protected]
