Papa ʻEkahi recently completed their unit on Hawaiian canoes (waʻa).  Students investigated the Hōkūleʻa and their journey around the world to share the message of mālama honua. The haumāna learned the types and uses of waʻa for navigating, fishing, sporting, and warfare, while observing the differences of traditional canoes across the Pacific. Students compared traditional practices of making waʻa to modern day methods, such as tools, like the koʻi (adze) vs a chainsaw.

Students were exposed to nonfiction texts and specific features, like diagrams, maps, and photographs, as well as fictional stories, like Hawaiian legends about constellations and menehune.  To end the unit, we used our navigational skills by playing Simon Says.  The haumāna used nothing but the sun to determine North, South, East, or West.  Students documented their learning on Book Creator.

Submitted by: Alana Kaopuiki-Pellegrino, Grade K-2 Resource Kumu

Kumu Kalehuawehe’s class looks down at the cardinal directions and determines where each location is by using the sun.

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Kaipuolono Article, Maui Newsroom, Maui Elementary School, Maui campus

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