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Earth Guardian Explorers: Ohia Pod!
Creativity-Fueled Education for Mauiʻs Soveriegn Youth!
Integrative Project Based Learning with a Science & Cultural Lens
Child-Led * Mentor-Inspired * Multi Age * Community Values
An Outdoor Educational Enrichment for Homeschool or Alternative Schooled Students to foster the connection to themselves, their peers and the natural environment. Our program provides ecological knowledge, scientific investigation, imagination, games, wilderness skills, Hawaiian Cultural learning and emotional intelligence.
We are welcoming in a new generation pod of students for 2025-2026! Welcoming ages 7 to 12 years of age who are desiring a mix of indoor and outdoor learning! A blend of Waldorf, Montessori and Good and Beautiful Curriculum with the focus being on student well being holistically and following their natural interests.
We teach interconnected science, culture, wilderness skills and emotional intelligence outdoors. There are 4 “core” days for the group. Monday through Thursday. 9:00 - 3:00 based in Haiku. With Friday as a field day!
Guided Freedom & Supported Creativity to Foster a Sense of Self and Place. The power of inquiry comes from: prompting students to ask their own questions; providing experiences where those curiosities can be met; sitting and moving with them as they synthesize and communicate their findings; and then - support them to create products, projects or stewardship actions that support their findings
There is limited space for this program with our passenger van. Please sign up using this registration form and send deposit of first two classes ($100) to PayPal.me/KahuAina to reserve a seat (with a note with child's name and how many days of week). Please forward questions to earthguardian@kahuaina.org
We look forward to learning and growing with you and your 'ohana!
Outside of our daily curriculum lessons and basic learning blocks, our outdoor field trips allow for more creativity and exploration. Each month we will follow the cycle of learning and flow through the elements with the lunar cycle .The children will help to guide where we go, and why, as we walk the pathway from inquiry to action. The goal is to have an outcome each month - a stewardship action, building project, written document or event - that they create as a group - as a response to their own interests and experiences.
This is powerful because it fosters their sense of curiosity, voice, and their individual importance and creativity. And - having to figure out how to make decisions as a group and work together with their peers ;)
Home base for lessons in a private house with large yard and space to play and garden in Haiku at either Peahi Property (classroom, jungle pathways, orchard, greenhouse and playscape) or Door of Faith Property with yurt classroom, trampoline, treehouse and swimg. Opening circle and games followed by Indoor Lessons Lunch and recess mid day and outdoor projects and adventures in the afternoon.
The total tuition for teachers, space rental, transportation and materials monthly is between $680 for three days, $820 for four days or $950 for 5 days a week. Tuition is only for a full 4 week cycle of school. It is not charged over breaks (ie no cost during Christmas, spring break, etc). We are am looking for energetic commitment for the school year and will not force contracts or hold financials if not attending.
Child-Led, Mentor Inspired Education
Culture and Technology * Spirit and Science
A blend of Structure and Sovereignty
Core Principles for Supporting Freedom + Learning
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Loose Parts & Nature as Teacher: Provide open-ended materials and trust the land to inspire learning. Witnessing the childrenʻs interactions and their natural interests.
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Mentor as Guide, Not Instructor: Model curiosity, ask questions, and offer tools—but let the children lead. Suggestions and invitations are supportive.
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Emotional Intelligence Woven Through Everything: Use group check-ins, reflective questions, and co-regulation moments.
Self-Motivation & Curiosity
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When children choose what they engage with, they’re learning because they want to, not because they have to.
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This cultivates a lifelong love of learning, intrinsic motivation, and a strong sense of personal agency.
📚 How Children Get Their Academic Needs Met in a Mixed-Age, Child-Led Learning Program
Engaging, Fun and Educational
1. Individualized Learning Through Scaffolding
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Children are met where they are. Instead of being expected to fit a grade-level standard, mentors observe and support each child’s current stage of development.
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Mentors can adjust the complexity of questions, projects, and materials to meet different levels of readiness—offering challenges when a child is ready, and foundational support when needed.
2. Natural Differentiation in Projects
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In open-ended, project-based learning, the same project can yield different academic challenges for different learners.
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🌱 A 7-year-old might draw and label plant parts.
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🌿 A 9-year-old might research photosynthesis and measure plant growth.
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🌳 An 11-year-old might lead a planting project, creating a budget, plan, and journal reflections.
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Everyone is working on the same theme, but at their own level—like a beautiful tapestry of learning.
💡 The Magic of Mixed Ages
Rather than falling behind or getting bored, kids thrive:
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🧠 They’re not held back by age-based limits.
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❤️ They’re not pressured by performance or comparison.
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🌈 They’re inspired by real-life connection and relevance.
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Mixed-age groups mirror real-world communities, where we collaborate across generations and skill sets.
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Children learn empathy, patience, and how to function as part of an interdependent group.
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Older children naturally step into mentorship roles, reinforcing their own learning and practicing leadership.
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Younger ones learn from peers in a non-intimidating way, often absorbing more through observation and participation than direct instruction.
🌊 The Overall Impact
A program like this fosters whole-child development. It supports academic learning, emotional well-being, creativity, cultural connection, and community interdependence all at once. It creates not just learners, but engaged humans—confident, compassionate, curious, and connected.
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Dedicated to Sustainable Communities
Kahu ʻAina: Earth Guardian Network provides an enriched and diverse learning environment for our students. Founded in 2020, our Environmental Education Cooperative is based out of Haiku and reflects the various backgrounds and cultures of the area. Our teachers are passionate, experienced and eager to pass on their knowledge to their students.
At Kahu ʻAina: Earth Guardian Network, we do our best to prepare our students for a rewarding and fulfilling holistic life. We believe that great education means much more than acquiring knowledge, and attach great importance to maintaining a close relationship with the Hawaiian community.
Lead teacher Liana Auli'i was born in Hawaii and has been an educator and coordinator for 15 years. Liana has a Masters of Science in Oceanography, has taught science and mathematics at multiple Charter Schools and has been a project coordinator for other environmental non -profit organizations before creating programs for Kahu 'Aina. She has been studying with her Hawaiian Cultural Kumu, Kekuhi Kealiikanakaole, with Halau 'Ohia for the last 4 years.
Are you ready to weave into community with us? Get in touch!
