Hāna Limu Festival

Hāna, Maui – Nā Mamo O Mūʻolea, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Maui Hikina (East Maui), is pleased to announce the date and details of their Annual Hāna Limu Festival.

The 2024 festival will take place at Kapueokahi, Hāna Bay Beach Park on Saturday, July 20th, 2024 from 10 am to 4 pm.

‘O ka limu ka huli hoʻokawow ō honua

The limu is the huli that seeds the earth.

This year’s theme is inspired by the Kumulipo – Hawaiʻiʻs Creation Chant.

“The first wā of the Kumulipo presents the limu of our coastlines. This concept is taken directly from lines 113 and 114 of this first wā which describes the bountiful limu of our coastlines that grow like ocean vines and are the huli that grows in the ocean.”
-Dr. Huihui Kanahele-Mossman (Executive Director- Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation).

This year’s festival will feature live limu identification, hands-on activities for both youth and adults, Hawaiian music, a silent auction, handicrafts, ‘ono food, and t-shirts that once again feature the talents of Nā Mamoʻs president Hank Eharis Jr. Hāna residents and limu enthusiasts will conduct limu surveys at locations along the Hāna Coast in the early morning and be back in time to share their treasures and observations with festival goers!

Every year Nā Mamo designs the festival to provide a deeper awareness of our native limu species and hopes that people will be mindful of their kuleana and role in ensuring our ocean resources are here for generations to come.

Collaborating partners and co-sponsors help with the event, including the Hawaii Community Foundation, County of Maui, Maui Nui Makai Network, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and Kua ʻĀina Ulu ʻAuamo. The event focuses on how our kai + wai = the health of our nearshore fisheries. These things are inherently connected and foundational to a momona landscape. Native limu is essential, not only as an ‘ono, nutritious part of the traditional Hawaiian diet but for its vital role in the health of the nearshore ecosystem, serving as the base of the food chain and providing food and shelter for herbivore fish and invertebrates.

Each year, funds raised through a silent auction at the festival enable Nā Mamo O Mūʻolea to award the Isabelle Aiona Abbott Scholarship to Hāna students. Nā Mamo hopes to build capacity by encouraging them to follow in Dr. Abbottʻs footsteps by pursuing studies in marine biology, natural resource management, Hawaiian studies, and other Health and Environmental fields of study.

Mahalo to our sponsors include the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, and the Hawaii Community Foundation.