Mana Moana Institute

Courses

Pacific Indigenous Astrophysics - Our flagship course about voyaging and the entire universe

Mālama ‘Āinamoana - Our newest course for leaders in Hawaiʻi

Learning Happens Together

Aʻo mai

We provide opportunities for curious minds to engage in topics about Indigenous knowledge, contemporary science and ways to bring aloha into research and education

Aʻo aku

Pacific Indigenous Astrophysics

Our flagship course “Pacific Indigenous Astrophysics” provides an entry point to learn about traditional voyaging around the Pacific Ocean, contemporary understandings of astrophysics and ways to be stewards of knowledge.

Pacific = The Pacific Ocean and the People of Oceania

Indigenous = The first peoples of place

Astrophysics = How the universe works

Join us when this course is offered to curious minds at the University of Washington, in Hawaiʻi and online

Next offering

Pacific Indigenous Astrophysics - Oʻahu Edition

Registration now open - https://forms.gle/gV3d82JVVuqKkds36

About the Oʻahu Edition

This course was initially developed by Dr. Brittany Lehua Kamai as a visiting professor at the University of Washington.

She always wanted to share this knowledge at home with her people. Now is your chance!

Who can join?

Anyone interested! Your curiosity, open mind and kind heart is all that we ask.

You do not need a science background, need to be in formal school, or need to be a certain age to join.

Everyone is welcome to learn about the knowledge of how our ancestors traveled across Oceania with humanity’s cutting edge technology of voyaging canoes.

What will we do?

We will learn from place, one another and the stories of our teachers and ancestors

The intention is to create a environment that engages each learner to understand themselves in a deeper way and connect with their kuleana to support a healthy, happy and loving future.

For 4 weeks, we will meet on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8:30PM at special locations around Oʻahu.

Week 1 - June 17th @ Kūilioloa Heiau in Waiʻanae

Week 2 - June 24th @ Camp Palehua in Makakilo

Week 3 - July 1st @ Lanaʻi Lookout near Hanauma Bay

Week 4- July 8th @ Kualoa Regional Park

We will learn about the stars, weather, ocean. We create a loving community of education and research. We will learn about our own histories and our connections with one another.

How much is it?

We do not want to create barriers to access

Our traditional system for exchange in Hawaiʻi ensured that everyone was resourced. It was not about taking everything. It is ensuring that we all can move and flow together. Importantly, that we are all nourished. At the Mana Moana Institute, we are striving to make this work in our modern society.

Our tuition for this course is based on what resources you can offer

We view resources as everything from presence, smile, ulu, mango, flowers, skills, etc are all acceptable. If you have capacity to donate monetarily, it helps support our team to be able to offer this kind of education to you all. You can contribute $20, $50, $100, or any other amount that you are able to through venmo @brittanykamai. (Adding in a note: ‘PIA - Oʻahu’)

Can I bring my friends and family?

Absolutely! The more the merrier :)

Join our Pacific Indigenous Astrophysics - Oʻahu Edition Course

https://forms.gle/gV3d82JVVuqKkds36

Can’t make it this time?

Fall 2026 - Our next Pacific Indigenous Astrophysics course will be offered as an online only course.

Winter 2027 - Pacific Indigenous Astrophysics will be taught hybrid at the University of Washington and online.

Contact us directly and let us know you are interested in joining!

Connect with us!

Our newest course “Mālama ‘Āinamoana” provides an opportunity for leaders in Hawaiʻi to root deeper in the practices of care, respect and aloha

Mālama ‘Āinamoana

Interested in bringing “Mālama ‘Ainamoana” to your space?

We are looking forward to learning and growing alongside leaders of different organizations based in Hawaiʻi.

Together we explore what it looks like to bring Hawaiian culture into everyday life in ways that feel genuine, respectful and rooted — not out of fear of getting it wrong, but out of love for getting it right.

Our hope is to walk alongside you as you become a more intentional steward of our home and culture.

Welina mai - Our door is always open

Aʻo mai,
Aʻo aku.

We canʻt wait to learn with you