‘Our youth learned the importance of kuleana to their roots’

A program that connects indigenous youths from Hawaiʻi and abroad in an effort to share cultures and learn about each other recently celebrated its second year with a visit to the Big Island by native youths from British Columbia, Canada.

Eight students from Konawaena, Kaʻū, Honokaʻa and Hilo high schools were picked to participate this year in the ʻAle Lau Loa Youth Ambassador Program in a cultural exchange with the Penticton Indian Band of British Columbia.

The program is focused on building lasting relationships between indigenous youth through meaningful cultural exchanges.

The Big Island youth ambassadors first went on a 5-day visit to Canada to share the Hawaiian culture through hula and chants. Their Penticton Indian Band counterparts taught them about their traditions during the visit as well.

The Hawaiʻi students also had the opportunity to meet with Penticton Indian Band elders, who shared powerful origin stories and lessons embedded within them.

Penticton Indian Band youth ambassadors then traveled to Hawaiʻi Island last week for a 4-day visit.

The British Columbia natives immersed themselves in the local culture while they were here, learning how to prepare traditional Hawaiian meals, working a loʻi kalo (taro patch) in Waipiʻo Valley and discovering the art of navigation at ʻImiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo.

They also visited several culturally significant sites, strengthening the bond between the two indigenous communities.

“Through hula, chants and sharing our moʻolelo, our youth learned the importance of kuleana to their roots,” said ʻAle Lau Loa Youth Ambassador Program Cultural Advisor kumu Keala Ching, reflecting on the significance of the cultural exchange. “The exchange with the Penticton Indian Band is a living example of how our cultures, though miles apart, carry shared values of respect for land, ancestry and community.”

Hawaiʻi County Mayor Mitch Roth said the program is a “wonderful example” of how cultural exchanges can bring communities closer.

“Through sharing traditions, our youth are not only keeping their heritage alive but also creating lasting connections that will endure for generations,” said Roth.

Jane Clement, Hawaiʻi County Sister City program director, said the program’s broader impact is a transformative effect on youth, giving them a deeper sense of identity and an appreciation for the connections between indigenous cultures.

“These experiences allow them to grow as individuals while developing a global perspective that they will carry with them throughout their lives,” said Clement.

Yuko Kakazu, education and outreach manager for the Thirty Meter Telescope, added the ʻAle Lau Loa program exemplifies the power of cultural exchange in nurturing the next generation of global leaders.

The Thirty Meter Telescope provides funding for the program and is proud to support it.

“Through these hands-on experiences, our youth are learning to appreciate the interconnectedness of our world and the importance of collaboration,” said Kakazu.