Hoʻāla ke Kilo is our fall/spring program that focuses on sharpening our skills needed to make keen observations leading to accurate predictions in the ahupuaʻa o Kahana (specifically Huilua loko iʻa, Kalehualoa, and Trout Farm Road loʻi kalo), and Hakipuʻu loʻi kalo.

This year's program will focus on growing our kilo skill by using the ʻaukuʻu, black-crowned night heron, as an example of a keen observer of its surroundings. Hoʻāla ke Kilo Fall 2022 will observe and learn as much things as we can about the ʻaukuʻu we will observe in Kahana ahupuaʻa, their characteristics, dwelling, diet, and habits. The ʻaukuʻu is one of many native birds that we hope to learn about and learn from. Our Native birds are an integral part of the indigenous and endemic Hawaii ecosystem that inform us of the health of the native habitat around us. 

We will use the words and phrases hoʻā, hū ʻā, and kō ʻā to lead our daily lessons:

Hoʻā, to turn on and ignite. We have turned on and ignited our kilo lens to observe through our senses of nānā ka maka (look with our eyes), hoʻolohe ka pepeiao (listen with our ears), hāhā ka lima (touching with our hands), honi ka ihu (smelling with our nose), hoʻāʻo ka waha (taste with our mouth), and pā ka naʻau (allowing to feel from our gut/naʻau sense) and have learned to formulate questions based on what we gather with our senses. We will continue to grow our skill to kilo by exercising.

Hū ʻā, hū meaning to burst and overflow and ʻā that which has been lit and ignited. As we grow our desire and interest to learn we will introduce our learners to the categorizing foundations of Papakū Makawalu. As we grow our ability to see our world with a kilo lens, we will also practice the inclusivity of universal life from all maka (eyes) that we view from to answer the questions we ask and wonder about.

Kō ʻā, kō to fulfill, complete, accomplish and succeed in whatever we chose/choose to ʻā. Just as the ʻaukuʻu observes their surroundings for their efficiency to survive, we will kilo our surroundings and use the foundations of papakū makawalu to become better kahu (caretakers) of and in our kaiāulu (community).