Māla Kūpono
“Māla Kūpono” describes a garden where everything is in its correct place. In the same way, the planter box functions best when it has the necessary resources and the plants have the best conditions to thrive. This program and its resources were designed to teach the best ways to keep your planter box and its plants healthy.
This hands-on experiential learning platform assisted in student academic engagement and positive academic self-identities while leading more students to pursue STEAM careers that positively impact island agriculture and sustainability. The project was directed to expand the use of planter boxes and natural farming methods to help meet the state’s goals of increasing locally grown food. Additionally, this project aimed to meet students’ and their families’ immediate basic health needs by providing access to fresh food that can improve healthy eating habits and long-term health.
Fostering a love of healthy eating, one box at a time
Overview
Engage and support K-12 students in learning about and growing interest in agriculture-related STEAM fields
Increase the availability and consumption of locally grown healthy food
Provide access to curriculum, online recipes, and a menu of workshops
Goals
The Māla Kūpono program utilized pre-built, chemical-free, and self-contained system planter boxes to grow food and provide a tool to learn about sustainability and island agriculture. These garden boxes employed irrigation plumbing and timers, an aeration system, and microbe-rich soil to bring nutrient-dense food right to your garden.
Planter Box
Curriculum Downloads
Malama 'Āina Foundation has created and maintains ownership of the curriculum shared here, developed through its various programs funded by federal grants and private organizations. Aligned with Malama 'Āina Foundation's mission and purpose, it is our desire to make this STEM-focused curriculum available to our schools and educators in order to increase rigor and cultural relevance for all haumāna in our state. This curriculum is downloadable for educational purposes; however, we ask that Malama 'Āina Foundation be credited when used and the Malama 'Āina Foundation name and logo remain on the curriculum documents.
Māla Kūpono Videos
