Celebrating Lā Honua, Earth Day at Waimea Valley
Volunteers helping mālama ʻāina in the Valley.
Each year in April, Earth Day invites communities around the world to pause and reflect on our
relationship with the natural world. In Hawai i nei, that reflection carries deeper meaning, rootedʻ
in ike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge), and the enduring practice of aloha ‘āina. This year,ʻ
Waimea Valley welcomes the public to gather in celebration of Lā Honua, offering an
opportunity to mālama āina, care for the land, while strengthening the pilina (relationships)ʻ
between people, place, and community.
Waimea Valley, on the North Shore of O ahu, is more than a scenic landscape. For generationsʻ
of Kānaka Ōiwi, it was a place where ike was cultivated and practiced, where kāhuna nuiʻ ʻ
carried out specialized work, and where abundant wai nourished thriving systems of lo i kaloʻ
and cultivated māla.The āina sustained both people and knowledge. The Valley’s rich waterʻ
resources and fertile lands supported centers of learning, healing, and ceremony. Today, the
Valley continues to carry this legacy as a living landscape where ike kūpuna, cultural practice,ʻ
and care for the āina remain deeply intertwined.ʻ
Volunteers helping mālama ʻāina in the Valley.
As Lā Honua approaches on Saturday, April 25th, Waimea Valley invites the community to join
us and our sponsor Geotech Solutions. Whether you are a longtime resident or a first-time
visitor, your presence and participation help carry forward a legacy of aloha ‘āina that has
defined the Valley for generations. This celebration serves as a powerful reminder of what is
possible when a community comes together in the spirit of aloha, actively stewarding and
honoring the environment that supports us all.
Waimea Valley has long served as a gathering place where culture, science, and community
intersect. At a time when environmental challenges–from climate change to biodiversity loss-
can feel overwhelming, community-based events like Lā Honua offer a hopeful reminder that
collective action matters. Every hour of volunteer service contributes to the well-being of the
Valley’s ecosystems. Every volunteer who learns about the importance of caring for our natural
environment and watersheds becomes a potential steward in their own community.
On Lā Honua, Earth Day and every day, Waimea Valley reminds us that when we care for the
land, the land cares for us. As we mālama āina together, we practice both a traditional kuleanaʻ
(responsibility) and a modern necessity and privilege.
Hālau performance on Earth Day 2025
Check-in for Lā Honua begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Visitor Center, with cultural protocol and
welcome at 9 a.m.. Volunteers will walk to various worksites throughout the Valley and work
until 11:30 a.m. Closed-toe shoes are required. Please bring a refillable water bottle. A free
lunch will be provided by our sponsor Geotech Solutions for the first 200 volunteers who
register. In addition, our Sustainability Village will feature local organizations and vendors
sharing their missions, activities and products along with performances by hālau hula and
keynote speakers from the local conservation community. Minors must be accompanied by an
adult. For more information, please contact Malia Evans at mevans@waimeavalley.net.