Goals

He Moʻolelo Kō ka Lei seeks to:

1. Teach respect and care of the land. Educate residents and visitors on sustainable practices for growing, harvesting and working with lei materials.
2. Foster small backyard agriculture. This reduces harvesting stress on the native forest during the peak lei-making season (April through June), reduces economic reliance on imported flora, and develops additional income for residents.
3. Help visitors find “the real Hawaii”. “He Moʻolelo Kō ka Lei” and the Hilo Lei Day Festival are venues where local residents and visitors create and participate in an authentic Hawaii tradition that is based in agriculture, native plants, and medicinal lore.
4. Strengthen HTA reputation through authentic cultural learning enjoyed by residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.

The core of “He Moʻolelo Kō ka Lei” is Hawaiian Cultural Practice, which aligns well with the HTA objective to honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and community.