Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke - Hāna District Directory

The overarching vision of Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike (MKHKI) is to increase Hāna’s self-sufficiency by providing meaningful learning opportunities that strengthen intergenerational relationships, environmental stewardship, cultural practices, and life skills, while meeting real and urgent community needs. Our approach can be summed up as returning youth to their rightful role as caretakers of their community.

MKHKI’s programs work in a holistic way—providing solutions to urgent issues while working to create systemic change that targets the root causes of these challenges. Our Building Program installs handicap-access improvements for community members in need, while our Mahele Farm and Mālama Hāloa programs reintroduce healthy dietary and lifestyle choices grounded in Hawaiian culture and connection to ‘āina (land). Through Kahu ʻAi Pono (KAP), our culinary program, youth learn food preparation, nutrition, and culinary skills while working with locally grown ingredients and gaining hands-on experience in preparing meals that support community health and well-being.

Students are also actively engaged in the stewardship of our on-campus māla, where they learn to mālama the land, grow food, and deepen their understanding of sustainability and traditional practices. Across all of our programs, we are committed to strengthening and integrating ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi as a living language, weaving it into our daily work, learning spaces, and relationships.

We provide services at no cost to low-income families, while our youth earn educational stipends and vocational skills training that create meaningful opportunities in our isolated region. At the same time, we offer hands-on learning opportunities for youth who do not always thrive in a traditional academic setting, while providing our public school with an alternative educational approach that truly works.