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Ke Ala Nu`ukia,
Our Mission

Our mission is to protect, perpetuate, and honor the indigenous Hawaiian traditions and practices of waʻa culture through the Makaliʻi voyaging canoe programs, for the past, present, and future generations.

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Ke Kahua,
Our Foundation

Nā Kālai Waʻa (NKW) is a Native Hawaiian cultural and educational 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has provided high-quality voyaging programs for over 30 years throughout Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. Each year, NKW serves more than 2,000 participants—ranging from keiki to kūpuna—through programs conducted both on land (moku) and aboard our voyaging canoes (waʻa).

Makaliʻi ʻOhana making ready for Hanauna Ola Voyage to Mokumanamana.webp

Ka Nuʻukia, Our Vision

He Waʻa He Moku, He Moku He Waʻa — The canoe is an island, the island is a canoe.”

Updates from our Blog...

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Makaliʻi

ʻōpeʻa

spar

ʻpeʻa

main sail

Makalii_edited.jpg

kia

mast

kaula peʻa

tricing lines

manu ihu

bow

paepae

boom

kaula paepae

sheet lines

ʻākea

starboard hull

manu hope

'ōpe'a

spar

pe'a

main sail

stern

kaʻele

hull

hoe uli

steering paddles

Laulima

Collaborative Work

Na Kalai Waʻa and Makaliʻi has created many opportunities and experiences, but most importantly, we bring together, people. If we stand for anything, itʻs community.

ʻOhana Makaliʻi

Our ʻOhana Makaliʻi is a network of more than 800 crew members, volunteers, and community partners, spanning across the ocean. “Nā Kālai Waʻa” means “The Canoe Builders.” As students of Master Navigator “Papa” Pius Mau Piailug, our founders learned that voyaging begins in the canoe shed—by building and caring for the canoe.

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