Kahu 'Aina - a Chance to Show off Your Art!

Caring for the land, earth, and all its beauty

Kahu 'Aina Awards Ceremony, Princeville Center, Sept 15, 2007 • 1pm-4pm

Kahu `Aina Art seeks to connect our youth to the beauty and uniqueness of our native and cultural flora through art. The word kahu means caretaker, and `aina, often referred to as land, literally means that which nourishes us. Our hope is that, through this process of creativity, the students and their guardians will grow a greater appreciation for, understanding of, and pride in Hawaiian plants, as well as the environment that is home to both them and us. Many of these plants are endangered, threatened, and/or found nowhere else in the world, and are therefore, in desperate need of caretakers. May each child with the values of art, nature, and culture become a Kahu `Aina.

Theme: Hawai‘i’s Native and Cultural Plants

Native Plants & Useful Websites

What do we mean by Native Plants?
Native species are those that arrived here on their own, before humans, by one of the 3 W’s: Wings, Waves, and Wind. Once they arrived here, many of them evolved into unique plants and animals. Hawai`i has many endemic species, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world! Our island, Kaua`i, even has species that are not found on the neighbor islands. Here is a sample list of native plants:

What do we mean by Cultural Plants?
Cultural plants are ones used for various practices, such as in making kapa cloth, agriculture, hula, healing, building, making lei, etc. Often called “canoe plants,” many of these species were brought on the Polynesian voyaging canoes, so that the people would have these important plants upon settling in Hawai`i. Here is a sample list of cultural plants that you may use for this competition:

For more information and ideas about plants, check out these websites:
www.botany.hawaii.edu/FACULTY/CARR/natives.htm
ntbg.org/gardens/limahuli-virtualtour.php
ntbg.org/plants/kids_corner.php#
www.hoolono.org
www.canoeplants.com

Workshops

The workshops offer children and their guardians an opportunity to directly experience the native and cultural plant subjects of this program at some of the special, natural gems of our island. Please join us on one of these days to learn more about the plants from local experts and receive guided art instruction from a trained teacher. Outside and under the sun, kids can touch, smell, closely observe, and draw and/or paint right in front of rare and endangered plants to connect with the real, living thing!

Additional workshops may be added. Please check www.gardenislandarts.org for the latest workshop schedule.
Please email jkozak@hawaii.edu or call 826-5231 to register for one or more of these events.

Mahalo to Princeville Center and Aloha Center for generously donating space for Kahu ‘Aina’s meetings and work sessions.

Click here for a printable entry form for Kahu 'Aina

Sponsors & Partners

	Princeville Center is north shore Kaua‘i’s premier community center, home to some four dozen large and small businesses. As a caring and responsible neighbor, Princeville Center is committed to helping the community cultivate an environment conducive to creative growth, self-discovery, appreciation and understanding of culture and the arts.
	Honu Group is a local real estate company. It is committed to the thoughtful ownership and management of Princeville Center. Honu Group works to build partnerships involving the environment, cultures, the arts, sports, education and human services which benefit the community.
	Garden Island Arts Council Bringing arts to the people and people to the arts.
	Kaua‘i Conservation is a project of Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development. Its mission is to strengthen the conservation network, facilitate cooperative projects, and raise awareness in the community about the importance of conservation on Kauai.
	Kaua‘i Children’s Discovery Museum provides educational adventures for residents and visitors of all ages to cultivate a life-long love of learning. With the support and participation of the community, KCDM is a uniquely fun, educational destination, and a practical investment for those who wish to encourage and sustain the important public services the museum provides.
	The National Tropical Botanical Garden’s mission is to enrich life through discovery, scientific research, conservation, and education by perpetuating the survival of plants, ecosystems, and cultural knowledge of tropical regions.