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Keiki and families across Oʻahu

Artists and educators guiding workshops

ʻĀinaQuest team collaborating to integrate characters into the game

Stakeholders

Chloe Lavigne – Visual Artist & Designer; project lead, workshop coordination, integration of keiki artwork.

ʻĀinaQuest – Partner organization; provides educational framework and ensures cultural/ecological grounding.

Kera Rasa – Graphic Designer; designs workshop materials and exhibition elements.

Belen Leon – Photographer & Videographer; documents workshops and showcase through images and short films.

Jonavan Gonzalez – Financial Manager; oversees budget and transparent fund allocation.

Hana Yoshimura – Community Outreach & Marketing; develops communications strategy, promotes workshops, and supports public engagement.

State council and country - allowing this whole project to happen at these public sites

Participants

Keiki & Families – Core participants; engage in place-based workshops, create original characters, and contribute to the final showcase.

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A series of art and play workshops where children observe plants, insects, and organisms

Participants turn their observations into characters through drawing and storytelling

Characters will be displayed in a final showcase and may become part of ʻĀinaQuest’s card game

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🌲 Hoʻoulu ʻĀina (Uka / Mountains)

Has a hale (open-air pavilion) and covered spaces used for group gatherings and workshops.

Shaded forest trails also provide natural cover.

You could plan to do sketching and character-making inside the hale after observation walks.

🌱 Ka Papa Loʻi o Kānewai (Loʻi)

Includes a hale used for educational sessions and cultural activities.

Shaded spaces by the stream and loʻi banks, but hale is the most practical for art activities.

🍠 Waimea Valley (Mala)

Offers cultural hale structures near the entrance and along the valley trail where workshops are often held.

The visitor center has shaded areas and sometimes classroom-style meeting rooms.

Plenty of tree canopy for natural shade.

🐚 Mālama Maunalua (Shoreline)

This one is more exposed since much of the work is on the bay and beach.

A good option is to bring pop-up tents or partner with a nearby school or community center (like Koko Head Elementary or Hawaiʻi Kai schools) for indoor backup space.

🌊 Kakō‘ō ʻŌiwi / Paepae o Heʻeia (Kai / Fishpond)

Has open-air pavilions and hale where groups usually gather before and after wetland or fishpond activities.

Shaded structures make it easy to transition from outdoor work to indoor art sessions.

🏛️ Entrepreneurs Sandbox (Showcase)

Fully indoor creative hub with AC, Wi-Fi, and flexible seating.

Ideal for exhibition, art display, and playtesting the ʻĀinaQuest community deck.

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To create an engaging and fun way for keiki to learn about the ahupuaʻa system and how land connects from the mountains to the sea

To encourage youth and families to visit different areas of Oʻahu and experience the unique ecosystems in each zone of the ahupuaʻa

To help children see that organisms in the ʻāina are alive and have value, moving beyond “plant blindness” toward a Hawaiian perspective of kinship

Have hands on learning that will create lasting memories and knowledge with kinesthetic learning

To strengthen pilina with the environment and community through playful art-making, storytelling, and interactive gameplay

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Shortened Verion:

Ahupuaʻa Levels of Life is a year-long series of keiki art and play workshops across Oʻahu created with ʻĀinaQuest. Each event takes place in a different part of the ahupuaʻa — mountains, loʻi, shoreline, and ocean — where children study plants and creatures, then turn them into original characters through drawing and storytelling. These designs reflect the Hawaiian view that ʻāina is alive and may be added to ʻĀinaQuest’s educational card game. The program helps combat “plant blindness” by teaching children to see overlooked details of their environment as kin. A final showcase will present the keiki’s work and debut a community-inspired deck of cards, nurturing pilina with land and fostering future stewardship.

Full Version:

Ahupuaʻa Levels of Life is a year-long series of keiki art and play workshops across Oʻahu created in collaboration with ʻĀinaQuest. Each event takes place in a different part of the ahupuaʻa — from mountains to loʻi to shoreline and ocean — where children observe plants, insects, and organisms in their environment and bring them to life as original characters through drawing and storytelling. These characters reflect the Hawaiian understanding that ʻāina is alive and filled with spirit, and may be integrated into ʻĀinaQuest’s educational card game to expand its universe with designs created by the community. The program combats “plant blindness” by encouraging children to notice the overlooked details of their environment and see them as kin. A final showcase will celebrate the keiki’s artwork and introduce a community-inspired deck of ʻĀinaQuest cards. Through art, play, and cultural storytelling, the project nurtures pilina with land and fosters stewardship for future generations.

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The project will run for one year, aligning with the Ho‘akea Source Grant timeline

Events will be spread out seasonally, giving time for families to engage without being overwhelmed

Spring: First workshop in the mountains or botanical gardens (uka level) to explore new growth and forest ecology

Summer: Second workshop in the loʻi kalo (kula level), connecting to water cycles and food systems during the growing season

Fall: Third workshop at the shoreline (kahakai level), paired with a community beach cleanup to highlight stewardship and resilience

Winter: Fourth workshop at a fishpond or tidepool (kai level), focusing on ocean ecosystems and the flow of the ahupuaʻa from mauka to makai

End of Year: A final community showcase in a public art center, where keiki artwork and characters are displayed and a community-inspired ʻĀinaQuest deck is playtested

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For Keiki and Families

Children will create original characters inspired by plants, insects, and organisms, developing both observation skills and creative expression.

Families will experience multiple ecosystems across O‘ahu’s ahupua‘a, building deeper connections to place through hands-on activities.

For ʻĀinaQuest

A new set of community-inspired characters will be tested and possibly integrated into the educational card game, expanding its universe with designs rooted in Hawai‘i’s ecosystems.

Connect with people who would normally not have heard or interacted with Aina Quest

The game will grow into a stronger tool for teaching pilina (kinship) with ʻāina.

For the Community

A final showcase will share keiki artwork in a public art space, giving visibility to young voices and celebrating collective creativity.

The project will model how art, play, and cultural storytelling can be used to strengthen stewardship and environmental awareness.

Long-Term Impact

Moves children beyond “plant blindness,” nurturing a mindset that sees all organisms as kin.

Strengthens pilina between people, place, and culture — contributing to future generations of caretakers who carry forward respect for ʻāina.

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Project Milestones

1. Kickoff & Planning – Confirm project team, finalize sites and seasonal schedule, secure ʻĀinaQuest partnership roles.

2. Curriculum & Materials Approved – Workshop structure, art-making prompts, and learning goals reviewed and ready.

3. Designs/Marketing created, approved, sent out

4. Outreach & Recruitment – Community outreach launched by Hana Yoshimura; keiki and family participants confirmed.

5. First Workshop Successfully Delivered – Pilot session completed; process evaluated and adjusted as needed.

6. Seasonal Workshop Cycle Completed – All four workshops (mountain, loʻi, shoreline, ocean) delivered with documentation.

7. Integration with ʻĀinaQuest – Selected keiki characters prepared for potential inclusion in the card game.

8. Final Showcase Approved – Venue secured, designs finalized by Chloe & Kera, and event logistics confirmed.

9. Showcase Event Delivered – Public exhibition held; photography and videography completed.

10. Project Documentation Finalized – Belen’s photos and video compiled, budget closed by Jonavan, outreach report by Hana completed.

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Four seasonal keiki workshops across different parts of the ahupua‘a.

Design and production of workshop materials (Chloe & Kera).

Documentation through photography and videography (Belen).

Community outreach and marketing (Hana).

Financial management and reporting (Jonavan).

Integration of selected keiki-created characters into the ʻĀinaQuest card game.

Final showcase event with exhibition design, installation, and documentation.

🚫 Out of Scope

Related activities, tasks, and deliverables that are not included and will not be worked on:

Development of a new game system outside of ʻĀinaQuest’s framework.

Large-scale or permanent exhibitions (project limited to temporary showcase).

Production of physical merchandise beyond workshop and showcase needs.

Expanding workshops beyond Oʻahu (this cycle limited to Oʻahu sites).

Ongoing staffing or programming after the grant-funded period ends.