Causes: Education, Educational Services

Mission: To nurture a healthier native hawaiian male population by eliminating psychosocial, health, and educational disparities founded on traditional cultural practices and building sustainability in the community. To increase our awareness and empower native hawaiian males to fulfill our roles and responsibilities amongst ourselves, as well as within our families and our respective communities. To strengthen the native hawaiian community through nurturing and perpetuating the traditional male roles and responsibilities that contribute to the physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being of hawaiian males, their families and communities.

Programs: The hale mua initiative addresses the issues of socio-cultural disconnectedness and increased health risks among native hawaiian kane by establishing hale mua (men's houses) in three native hawaiian communities- -keaukaha, papakolea, and waianae. While the hale o papa (women's house) and hale aina (women's eating house) were the spaces where females gathered and reared little boys, the hale mua was the socio-cultural institution for religious services, political matters concerning the community, and perpetuation of traditional cultural practices and beliefs. This included customary rituals associated with boys growing into productive, contributing men in society. It implies teaching gender roles and responsibilities, customs, life skills, proper behavior and conduct, and guidance and support of spiritual growth. The hale mua was the institution where hawaiian men learned the roles and responsibilities of being a successful father, husband, and warrior, and basic occupations like farming and fishing. Elders and master practitioners served as educators. This emphasized moral character development and adherence to kapu (taboos) governing forbidden or inappropriate behavior. The education received in the hale mua also encouraged the preservation and maintenance of mana (power). By sustaining one's mana, each kane fulfilled his kuleana (responsibilities) by honoring his kupuna (elders). This project aims to proactively reestablish intergenerational traditions in contemporary hawaiian communities so today's kane prepare opio (young men) for roles as contributing members of society.