02/18/2026
For the first Mālama ʻĀina service initiative of 2026, Maui Health partnered with Nohona Health for a volunteer workday at Hoʻōla in Waikapū—a two‑acre space dedicated to learning, healing, and cultivating essential lāʻau for local families. The day opened with introductions and intention‑setting, grounding our team in the history and purpose of the ʻāina. From there, volunteers worked together harvesting and cleaning ʻolena, gaining a deeper understanding of its cultural importance and healing uses along the way.
Together, we harvested over 70 pounds of ʻolena. A portion of which was shared with volunteers, while the remainder was packaged into half‑pound bags and distributed during Nohona Health’s community plant distribution event—further extending the impact of our collective efforts.
Mahalo to Nohona Health for welcoming our team and sharing their knowledge. Through Mālama ʻĀina, we continue to build meaningful bridges between healthcare and cultural preservation—one workday at a time.