Education during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed drastically for both students and instructors. Here in Hawaii, educators that teach on ʻāina (land)-based educational sites are coming together to share challenges and lessons learned. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa American studies department has organized the Huakaʻi Education Initiative (HEI) and will host a webinar, “Planting Pilina Amidst a Pandemic” on July July 23.

The event is open to the public and can be accessed through Zoom. Leaders from various ʻāina organizations will be featured as panelists.

“We trust that participants in our series will be inspired by the deep relationships shared between our panelists and the ʻāina that they steward,” said Logan Narikawa, an American studies graduate assistant. “It is our wish that attendees will commit themselves to take care of ʻāina and nurture reciprocal relationships with organizations that manage ʻāina. We further hope that attendees will understand this dual commitment to be a way of clarifying our priorities in this moment of tremendous societal transformation.”

July 23, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

• Sayo Constantino (Mālama Loko Ea)
• Noʻeau Peralto (Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili)
• Andre Perez (Hanakēhau Learning Farm)

During the 2020–21 academic year, the Huakaʻi Education Initiative funded by the UH Mānoa Strategic Investment Competition will reorganize a large, undergraduate lecture class around students’ relationships to ʻāina and build relationships with ʻāina-based educational sites across Oahu.

Join Zoom Event: https://bit.ly/huakai2020