"Makaliʻi doesnt belong to any one person, yes we built her and we are the guardians of her, but she doesnt belong to us. What we hope to do over the years of training and teaching is to have people that can take up the responsibility to take care of this canoe after Iʻm gone. She doesnʻt belong to any one person, she belongs to everybody."
Clay Bertelmann
Holokai Photo Gallery
The Holokai Education Program reconnects our communities with coastal and ocean environments—cultivating a new generation of ocean-minded individuals who are passionate advocates and stewards of ʻāina and kai. While holokai means “to travel upon the sea,” for our students that voyage begins with gaining the tools, confidence, and mentorship needed to chart their own futures. Holokai blends cultural values with hands-on learning, career exploration, and real-world skill building—preparing youth to become self-reliant workers, responsible community members, and future leaders grounded in aloha, kuleana, and laulima. Through internships, sail training, and mentorship, Holokai equips participants with practical skills while nurturing cultural identity and community connection. Students learn to repair canoes, work with tools, sail with purpose, and serve their communities—all while discovering the personal strengths that will guide their own life voyages. Holokai activities serve Pre-K through grade 12 students, their families, and communities. Offerings range from large community presentations to cohort-based, yearlong experiences in voyaging and land stewardship.