​KUPUOHI EDUCATION PROGRAM

Kupuohi means to flourish and grow.

Our Kupuohi Education program strives to teach students– pre-k to post college, about sustainability, science, language arts, Hawaiian Culture, and land-stewardship with exciting hands-on, experiential activities. Our goal is to inspire students to learn about and care for their environment while developing their sense of place.

Field trips generally begin at 9am and finish at 12:30pm (depending on bus availability).

Your day starts with protocol–a welcoming oli and then an introduction to Loko ea and loko iʻa–Hawaiian Fishponds. Each school group participates in a mālama ʻāina activity where your group helps the restoration efforts at Loko ea. They learn how their actions benefit Loko ea and in turn enhance a sense of place and the importance of stewardship. Restoration projects include anything from clearing invasive grasses from the pond, removing sand and debris from the channels, to the propagating and planting of native plants. The remaining lessons can be tailored to each group.

Teachers can select from the following fieldtrip themes and activities:

• Kilo (observation)-- Fishpond observations processes and cycles
• Wai (water)-- Watersheds and Ahupuaʻa, Water cycle, Water quality testing, Watershed pollution, Fishpond aquaculture & biological interactions
• Iʻa (fish)-- Body parts of a fish, Fishing regulations, Fish observations, Fish dissection, Lawaiʻa Pono (respected fishing practices)
• Mea Kanu (plants)-- Moʻolelo of Loko ea, Seed harvesting and/or dispersion, Plant scavenger hunt, Native plant propagation
• Puʻuhonua-- Various species ID and count (Limited availability)
• ʻĀina Momona (abundance of land resources)-- Fishpond ecosystem and Food webs
• Loko iʻa Implements—ie. cordage, mākāhā (sluice gate), rock wall building
• Waiola Project-- our year-long program where students perform monthly: basic water quality testing, take observations of Loko ea and fish behavior. Over the school year, schools will be synthesizing data from the last two years into a moon calendar for Loko ea. (Please inquire for more information, limited based on grant funding)

To request a field trip, please complete the online field trip application or email [email protected] for a PDF Application:

• Mālama Loko ea Field Trip Application—FOR SY 2024-25

• Tips for a Successful Fieldtrip

We work to accommodate all the groups who want to visit Loko ea! However field trips book up very quickly and we recommend reserving a date 3-5 months in advance. Dates are allocated on a first-come, first served basis. 

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Weather Cancellation Policy
Please note fieldtrips will be postponed or cancelled incase of forecasted lightening storms or severe rain (24-hours prior to your visit) or a state-issued hurricane warning (48-hours prior to your visit). Loko Ea will make every effort to reschedule your trip incase of weather cancellation.

He keiki aloha nā mea kanu

Beloved children are the plants
ʻŌlelo No‘eau, Tūtū Pukui