Kaʻelemakule was on display for the Community Visit Day, welcoming Hōkūleʻa to Hilo.  We also displayed a Lauhala Peʻa recently completed by Gina Maguire, after weaving for 9 months. Hōkūleʻa is preparing to set sail for Tahiti in the first leg of a 3 year voyage around the Pacific.

We trailered our 18-foot waʻa kaukahi "Hanakalima" to the Kamehameha Preschool in Pi'ihonua Hilo.   Preschool students sat in the Waʻa, pulled on the Kaula Paepae and learned the names of the major parts of the Hawaiian Canoe. Aunty Jody talked about Star Navigation and had all the students follow a star path around the canoe.

Kupa ʻĀina O Keauhou held a celebration of Native Plant Month by hosting cultural display and free plant giveaway at Kailiilinehe Beach at Keauhou Bay. Kaelemakule was on display and our description of the Hawaiian Canoe presented to attendees. The Double Hull Canoe Kinikni provided free rides around Keauhou Bay to all attendees.

Five Middle School Students from Innovations Charter School participated in our first 2025 Ocean experience.  Students learned the basics of Pe'a (sail) handling, Man Overboard actions, life jacket care and we did a little fishing.

Kaʻelemakule was trailered to Reedʻs Bay on Banyan Dr. in Hilo as part of a multi Hawaiian Canoe cultural display in which 4th and 5th graders from Hilo and Puna DOE schools attended. Ten sessions with 20 students per session attended the Kaʻelemakule display per day.  The particular construction features that make the Hawaiian Canoe unique in the world were described to the students. Hōʻākea is a DOE sponsored event managed by Malamaʻaina Foundaiton.

Twenty-eight (28) 11th graders and four Kumu from the Nāwahī Hawaiian Language DOE school in Keaʻau Puna came to Keauhou Bay as part of their visit to the Keauhou/Kahaluʻu Cultural Complex visit.  Students were split up into groups that rotated between a Costal Sail on Kinikini and a look at the historical sites from the ocean and a walking tour of the cultural sites in the Keauhou/ Kuamoʻo Historical area. We were so excited to have Nikko Allen, a graduate of our Nā Peʻa pro

We trailerd our 18 foot waʻa kaukahi "Hanakalima"to the Waimea Punanaleo Campus at the Waimea Hawaiian Homes Office site in South Kohala.  Pre School Students sat in the Waʻa, pulled on the Kaula Paepae and learned the names of the major parts of the Hawaiian Canoe.

Five Middle School Students from Innovations Charter School participated in our second 2025 Ocean experience.  Students refined their  Pe'a (sail) handling, Emergency equipment use and maintenance, rope (line handling) and useful knots. There was also time for a little fishing.

Five Middle School Students from Innovations Charter School participated in our Ocean experience  'Oihana Kai program.  Focusing on boat handling and setting the Sails along with a little fishing.

The ʻOhana Wa'a group organized and invited the Nakoa Foundation to participate in the ʻIkuwā Festival Fill the Bay with Hawaiian Canoes. Seven canoes from various Sailing Canoe Organizations provided canoe rides to  interested people at Reeds Bay on Bayan Dr. in Hilo.

Five Middle School Students from Innovations Charter School went on a  Huaka'i  to Honokohau Harbor in Kealakehe to see the Sailing Canoe Kinikini in Dry Dock.  They also visited the Coast Guard Office, the Officer Of DLNR Boating. They visited the fishing supply store and Boat Yard operations and had the overall operational process for these commercial operations explained.

Five Middle School Students from Innovations Charter School learned how to properly use life jackets and also practiced the Man Overboard procedures.  They then continued developing their boat handling skills on the canoe Kinikini.

Five Middle School Students from Innovations Charter School learned of the significance of Keauhou Bay in Hawaiian History and the importance of Kauikeauoli (Kamehameha III) birthplace and his impact on the history of the Hawaiian Nation. They then set sail on the double canoe Kinikini learning the intricacies' of running a sailing canoe.  They also  took some time to go fishing.

The Nakoa Foundation Seamanship Training held its first meeting for the 2024/25 school year with a new cohort of middle school students from the Innovations Charter School. Five (5) 7th and 8th grade students ran through a safety briefing aboard the Sailing Canoe Kinikini in Keauhou Bay.  All students successfully completed the required swim test.

The Nakoa Foundation had a great weekend at the festival, showcasing the Koa Canoe Alapiʻi for a static display and offering Sailing Canoe Rides on Moana. We partnered with the Hoemana Canoe Club,  who is home based at ʻOhaiʻula, and used their paddling canoes to provide rides to festival attendees.  Mahalo to the Hoemana crew for their warm hospitality.

The Nakoa Foundation brought the canoe Malolo to Waipio Valley for the Waipio Valley Summer program. The students and Kumu from the program were taught how to rig and paddle the canoe in the Wailoa River. Malolo will be staying in Waipio for the rest of the summer to be used by the program. Each program cohort will be camping in the valley for two weeks, learning about the history of Waipio, working in the Kalo Lo'i, and doing beach clean up along Waipio Valley's black sand b