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A rare opportunity to explore and preserve Native Hawaiian cultural heritage awaits youth and community members in Upcountry Maui this summer, with the launch of Project ʻUKO HOU, a hands-on archaeology work weekend set for July 26–27, 2025.
Led by local nonprofit Pāʻupena Community Development Inc. (CDC) in partnership with ʻĀina Archaeology, this free two-day overnight event invites participants ages 16 and older to work alongside professional archaeologists and cultural practitioners to clear, identify, and map ancient Hawaiian sites within a 102-acre cultural preserve in the Kēōkea-Waiohuli region.
Meals, snacks, drinks, and tools will be provided throughout the weekend. Youth participants—referred to as ʻōpio—who complete five out of six monthly campouts through the end of 2025 will be eligible for a $500 stipend, funded through a grant from the County of Maui Environmental Protection & Sustainability Division.
“Project ʻUKO HOU is about reconnecting ʻōpio with ʻāina through the lens of ancestral knowledge,” said Kekoa Enomoto, director of Pāʻupena CDC. “We are combining archaeology with cultural practice, stewardship, and community building—on land set aside for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.”
The July weekend marks the continuation of momentum built during a Spring Break Archaeological Intensive held March 15, 2025, where youth participants successfully identified and documented a historic site featuring a house enclosure and four agricultural terraces.
Principal Investigator Tanya Lee-Greig of ʻĀina Archaeology will lead instruction, supported by Pāʻupena CDC's WAI ʻĀINA project team.
Participants are asked to bring:
Tent and sleeping gear, closed-toe shoes, hat, sunglasses, water bottle, gloves, and optional items like sunscreen, hiking stick, or chainsaw.
Community members and visitors are welcome to participate in one or both days of the July weekend.
To RSVP or learn more, contact:
Email: paupenacdc@gmail.com
Call/Text: (808) 276-2713 (Kekoa Enomoto)
Pāʻupena CDC is a Native Hawaiian nonprofit committed to the advancement of self-determination and community-based development in Hawaiian Homestead communities. Through projects like Project ʻUKO HOU, Pāʻupena promotes stewardship, cultural preservation, and economic opportunities for future generations.
Maui Nui Strong is a program of the County of Maui Office of Economic Development that connects our residents, businesses, and visitors to useful information about Maui County, our diverse islands, and a variety of resources that help to promote thriving and vibrant communities.
