Recognizing that education is a key component to the growth of our lāhui and kaiaulu, our mission is to promote and increase the visibility of our Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders here in Oregon and SW Washington. Prince Kūhiō knew the importance of education and believed in the fundamentals we would gain as a lahui. With that being said, here in the state of Oregon, although limited, we have a very unique opportunity to engage in high education so that we are able to give back to the community that raised us.

As much as we recognize Hawaiʻi as having so much to offer, the lack of education about Hawaiʻi, or the Pacific for that matter, is one of the key reasons we see the misrepresentation of our students in the education system. Unlike Hawaiʻi, our students represent less than 10% of the student demographic. Although low, those numbers are high when we are able to desegregate the data and show the increasing disproportionate support our community received in the education system here in Oregon.

Haloa was created through the love of culture that can be found in Ka Lei Haliʻa O Ka Lokelani, a local hula school that was founded in 2009 by our executive director, Leialoha Kaʻula. Haloa brings the cultural connection to ʻāina for all our lahui and kaiaulu living here in the diaspora. Haloa creates a space for cultural practitioners of all generations to bring their ʻike to our community, who are eager to learn and stay connected. Having grown up away from our homeland, we see the disconnect of identity and the yearning for more.