SECOND ANNUAL ʻALE LAU LOA YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM FOSTERS CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN HAWAIʻI AND PENTICTON INDIAN BAND
SECOND ANNUAL ʻALE LAU LOA YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM FOSTERS CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN HAWAIʻI AND PENTICTON INDIAN BAND
The ʻAle Lau Loa Youth Ambassador Program celebrated its second year by selecting eight exceptional students from Konawaena, Kaʻū, Honokaʻa, and Hilo High Schools to participate in a cultural exchange with the Penticton Indian Band (PIB) of British Columbia. During a five-day visit to Canada, the youth ambassadors shared their Hawaiian culture through hula and chants while also engaging with their PIB counterparts to learn about their traditions.
The program focuses on building lasting relationships between Indigenous youth through meaningful cultural exchanges. The Hawaiʻi ambassadors had the opportunity to meet with PIB Elders, who shared powerful origin stories and the lessons embedded within them.
Last week, the reciprocal portion of the exchange took place, with PIB youth traveling to Hawaiʻi for a four-day visit. During their time on Hawaiʻi Island, the PIB youth immersed themselves in the local culture by learning how to prepare traditional Hawaiian meals, working a loʻi kalo (taro patch) in Waipiʻo Valley, and discovering the art of navigation at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center. They also visited several culturally significant sites, strengthening the bond between the two communities.
“ʻAle Lau Loa is a wonderful example of how cultural exchanges bring communities closer together,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “Through sharing traditions, our youth are not only keeping their heritage alive but also creating lasting connections that will endure for generations.”
Kumu Keala Ching, the program’s cultural advisor, reflected on the significance of this exchange: “Through hula, chants, and sharing our moʻolelo, our youth learned the importance of kuleana to their roots. The exchange with the Penticton Indian Band is a living example of how our cultures, though miles apart, carry shared values of respect for land, ancestry, and community.”
Jane Clement, Hawaiʻi County Sister City Program Director, commented on the program’s broader impact: “Ale Lau Loa has a transformative effect on our youth, giving them a deeper sense of identity and an appreciation for the connections between Indigenous cultures. These experiences allow them to grow as individuals while developing a global perspective that they will carry with them throughout their lives.”
Yuko Kakazu, Education and Outreach Manager for the Thirty Meter Telescope, which funds the program, added: “We are proud to support the ʻAle Lau Loa program, as it exemplifies the power of cultural exchange in nurturing the next generation of global leaders. Through these hands-on experiences, our youth are learning to appreciate the interconnectedness of our world and the importance of collaboration.”
The Ale Lau Loa Youth Ambassador Program is made possible through the generous funding of the Thirty Meter Telescope, which remains committed to educational and cultural enrichment opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s youth.
