About Kamāwaelualani

Kamāwaelualani originated organically in 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 gave us the opportunity to work together to rethink our place in leading Kauaʻi’s future through education, arts, and culture.

Kamāwaelualani is one of the ancestral place names of Kauaʻi.

A moʻolelo (story) of Ka-māwae-lua-lani (from Carlos Andrade, 2008): After Papahānaumoku gave birth to Hawai‘i and Maui, she left Wākea for another lover named Lua. Lua and Papa gave birth to O‘ahu. Papa went back to Wākea and rekindled their relationship. Papa and Wākea then gave birth to Kaua‘i . Māwae means to split or separate. Lani means heaven/ sky. Thus, the name Ka-māwae-lua-lani commemorates the separation of Lua and Papa and Papa's reconciliation with Wākea.

To share Kauaʻi’s Native Hawaiian and place-based culture to strengthen community and ‘āina connectedness for our future generations.

All programs and projects through Kamāwaelualani is aimed at perpetuating what makes Kauaʻi special— our Indigenous, Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) culture, our multicultural culture, our ʻāina, our communities, and our values.

We operate guided by the following four core kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) values:

Kuleana: The value of responsibility. Specifically, the value of balancing privilege with burden to oneself, family, local and global community, and the environment

ʻImi Loa: The value of seeking deep and broad knowledge through one’s relationships with all of Kaua’i’s human and nonhuman life forms

Ma ka hana ka ʻIke: The value of learning through doing

Hoʻomana Kaiāulu: The value of empowering the community