Na Kama Kai

WE EMPOWER CHILDREN BY CONNECTING OUR KEIKI TO THE KAI AND 'AINA TO NURTURE A DEEPER SENSE OF ALOHA AND KULEANA FOR THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THEMSELVES.

NA KAMA KAI PRIMARILY SERVES CHILDREN AGES TWO THROUGH EIGHTEEN AND AIMS TO EMPOWER CHILDREN THROUGH EXPERIENCES WITH HAWAIIAN CULTURE, OCEAN SAFETY, MENTORSHIP, STEWARDSHIP, CONSERVATION, AND INTERACTIONS WITH THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH TO FEEL PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY, BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND ESTABLISH A STRONG SENSE OF PLACE. OTHER GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDE REDUCING THE FREQUENCY OF DROWNING AMONGST HAWAII YOUTH, INCREASING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS, AND EXPRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.LONG-TERM PLANS OF THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDE ESTABLISHING OCEAN-FRONT EDUCATION CENTERS THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO THE OCEAN AND OCEAN MENTORS. THE GOAL OF THE EDUCATION CENTERS IS TO BUILD OCEAN EXPERTISE IN CHILDREN AND THE COMMUNITY BY INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF EQUIPMENT, CERTIFICATIONS, AND MENTORSHIP FROM OCEAN EXPERTS.THE ORGANIZATION'S MAIN TWO PROGRAMS ARE MONTHLY OCEAN CLINICS AND THE ALAKAI PROGRAM. IN 2021, CONTINUED CONCERN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND MEASURES TO COMBAT THE SPREAD OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS MANDATED THE POSTPONEMENT AND/OR CANCELLATION OF OUR MANY IN-PERSON EVENTS. DURING THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON BUILDING CAPACITY BY HIRING A CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST OCEAN-FRONT EDUCATION CENTER IN WAIANAE.DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS 20 ALAKA`I YOUTH WERE GIVEN THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THEIR OWN TRADITIONAL STYLE HOLUA SLED (LAND SLIDING BOARD) UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MASTER CRAFTSMAN TOM POHAKU STONE.SETUP WORK BEGAN ON THE HALAU NA KAMA KAI TO PREPARE IT FOR USE AS THE NKK HEADQUARTERS AND AS A YOUTH EDUCATION CENTER ON THE WEST SIDE OF O'AHU. OCEAN SAFETY AND CONSERVATION AWARENESS CLINICS: IN 2021, 2 ONE-DAY CLINICS WERE HELD, WITH A TOTAL OF 64 CHILDREN ATTENDING THE CLINICS. CLINICS ARE OFFERED TO CHILDREN 2-18 YEARS OF AGE. FIVE 2 HOUR SESSIONS ARE CONDUCTED WITH 15-20 CHILDREN IN EACH CLINIC. CHILDREN VISIT THE FOLLOWING 5 STATIONS IN EACH CLINIC: 1) HAWAIIAN CULTURE. 2) OCEAN SAFETY AND SAFETY SIGNS. 3) ONE-ON-ONE STANDUP PADDLE LESSON. 4) CANOE SURF/SAILING. 5) STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION. THE DELTA AND OMICRON VARIANTS PREVENTED HOLDING SOME CLINICS AS STATE AND COUNTY MANDATES WERE IN FLUX.A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS WAS COMPLETED FOR OUR LESSONS FROM THE SEA ANIMATED VIDEO SERIES. WE SELECTED TWIDDLE PRODUCTIONS AND BEGAN PRODUCTION OF 5 ANIMATED VIDEOS THAT TEACH OUR 5 LEARNING PILLARS, LS 1. KAI PALEKANA (OCEAN SAFETY) STATION; LS 2. HOOKELE (WAY-FINDING) STATION; LS 3. HOLO KAI (OCEAN EXPERIENCE) STATION; LS 4. WAA (OUTRIGGER CANOE PADDLING) STATION; LS 5. MLAMA KAI (CONSERVATION/STEWARDSHIP) STATION. THIS PROJECT WILL COMPLETE IN JULY OF 2022 AND WILL BE USED TO FURTHER ADVANCE OUR MISSION BY REACHING KEIKI AROUND THE STATE, COUNTRY AND WORLD.OCEAN EQUIPMENT RECYCLING: RECYCLE USED OCEAN EQUIPMENT, REPAIR ITEMS, KEEP THESE ITEMS OUT OF THE LANDFILL, AND REDISTRIBUTE RECYCLED ITEMS BACK TO HAWAII CHILDREN.

WE BEGAN PROTOTYPING A LAWAIA PONO FISHING PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES THE KEIKI EDUCATION IN SUSTAINABLE FISHING PRACTICES AND LEARNING HOW TO CREATE FISH PRINT ART. WE PLAN TO HOST THIS PROGRAM MONTHLY OUT OF OUR HEADQUARTERS.