Wisdom Circle Oceania

October 2025 - Newsletter

Aloha mai kākou,

Like many of you, we had a very busy summer! We hosted community events, and providing healing art spaces on O’ahu and Maui. From the huge crowd at Lā Ho’iho’i Ea, to the intimate gatherings for Lāhaina Fire survivors, we were able to provide in person programming to 1,000 Hawai’i residents this summer.

Our current climate has been increasingly harming more folks in our community and community organizers who are attempting to meet increasing needs with less resources, causing harsher strains than ever. As things continue to erode, we are reminded of Theaster Gates’ quote, “I am invested in illustrating the possible.” A necessary reminder during difficult times- when we are experiencing deep despair and pain, it is important to dream of a better future, because a better future is possible when we work together. As artists, dreaming up and sharing those dreams in the forms of art, can help communities usher in a more hopeful future.

Take care of yourselves and those around you, try to take time to ground, reflect, grieve and create in order to synthesize what’s happening inside of you as well as around you. You are not alone!

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As we continue to provide creative expression and healing programs to our community, we need your support. 

In addition to major gifts, small and consistent donations make a big impact on our ability to enact our mission. During a time of major funding cuts for youth and arts programming, we are most in need of community support through giving. 

If you are able to support our efforts as a donor, we humbly ask for your financial support through a tax-deductible one-time or recurring (monthly $5/month or more) donation. 

Your gift supports over 15 youth leaders, each year, in carving creative pathways and community-serving careers that bring healing to communities across Oʻahu and Maui. Each year, these youth leaders serve over 300 community members in collaborative arts and ʻĀina programs, contributing to the health and well-being of the pae ʻāina. 

Learn more about the types of youth leadership projects that your donation supports below.

ke aloha ʻāina,

The Wisdom Circles ʻOhana

Summer 2025 Recap

“As Wisdom Circles Oceaniaʻs Lead Youth Facilitator, I had such a meaningful and fulfilling summer. We worked with multiple different kinds of organizations, such as Kinai ʻEha and Hui o Waʻa Kaulua. Through our programs we were able to work with Kinai ʻEhaʻs bright and curious youth from Koʻolaupoko Oʻahu.

KINAI ‘EHA- We began our summer by introducing ourselves, our mauna (mountain) ua (rain) and kai (ocean). This gave us an introduction to the importance of place which was revisited all throughout the summer. Some of our activities included mālama ʻāina, art with ʻāina, lei making, eco art, natural dyes, stenciling, meditation, moʻolelo and so much more. It's shown me how great of a tool art is for the mind and body.”

“In doing these activities, so much learning took place. Which brings me to an ʻōlelo noʻeau, or a Hawaiian proverb “Ma ka hana ka ʻikeʻ (cite) This ‘ōlelo noʻeau means ʻin doing there is knowledgeʻ which ran true all throughout our summer. I believe that not only the girls in our program, but the staff as well as myself as a supporting youth, learned so much about the ʻāina that we worked on, and expressed that learning through the art that we created.

Our huakaʻi to Kualoa stands out in my mind, where we learned of the mountain names that surrounded us, as well as the moʻolelo of Hiʻiakaʻs journey through Kualoa. We followed that with working in the loʻi for the morning, and reflected our experiences through our art in the afternoon.”

“HUI O WA’A: Before our summer with Kinai ʻEha ended, we were able to work with Hui o Waʻa Kauluaʻs talented and creative Lahaina youth. We spent 3 days at the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Discovery Center in Kaʻanapali. Together we were able to design and create our own personal star compasses. We started our program with a discussion of the star compass and traditional navigation across Polynesia, which was followed by a kilo session outside of whalers village, where we could feel the slight rain and wind, orient ourselves with the place we were at, and take inspiration for our art.

All the ʻōpio as well as the mākua involved got to design and make a large star compass, the purpose I took from this activity was to think about ourselves as the center of the compass, and depict which direction we came, and which direction we were going. Some of the ʻōpio even had the idea of leaving some of the compass blank, so they could continue working on it as their life journey goes on. Everyone was able to design their compass and after 2 days of dyeing, drawing and painting, we were able to share our compasses with each other and explain the meaning behind our designs. The ʻōpio and mākua participants of this program were so bright and intentional with this activity, and it has been my favorite program yet!”

-Mima Field-Perkins WCO Youth Lead 

LĀ HO’IHO’I EA

This summer, we hosted a community arts area at 182nd Lā Ho'iho'i Ea, where Uncle Abel Simeona Lui and Uncle Liko Martin were honored for their contributions to the lāhui, and for their determination to stand for Ea.

The space was overflowing with creativity, connection, and aloha. From keiki to kūpuna, it was beautiful to see so many people know that they are welcomed and encouraged to express themselves, and to celebrate our EA through art.

Uncle Liko is one of Wisdom Circles Oceania’s advisors, so we honored him along with the lāhui by creating a tribute banner that he got to take home!

Our preparation for that day included restoring old and creating new stencils for folks to decorate their lole.

Folks had a ton of fun designing and painting their gear and helped us create our mauka to makai Lā Ho'iho'i Ea flag!

Thanks to generous donations, we were also able to provide blank shirts and patches for folks to design and take home.

Mahalo to everyone who joined us on that very hot, very special day in community!

Mahalo to all of the community organizations we have partnered with, trusting us to co-create creative and healing spaced:

Kinai ‘Eha - Hui o Wa’a Kaulua - Lā Ho’iho’i Ea - Hoʻopae Pono Peace Project - Olanana AcuOasis - Mauli Ola Sacred Spaces - Pacific Birth Collective - KAʻEHU - Mālama Nā Pua o Haumea - Ēwe ʻOiaʻiʻo - Maui Organizer Mālama Fund and many more!

UPCOMING EVENTS

In collaboration with Mauli Ola Sacred Spaces, we will be offering ‘ohana day events at Hanakaʻōʻō beach (Canoe Beach) in Lahaina.

Community of Care Workers - Maui

Since the Lahaina fires, WCO has provided valuable space to support the organizers and healing of fire survivors.

On a monthly basis we offer two online programs, and one in person program, for community organizers in Maui. Our programming brings organizers together to be in community, get hands in ‘āina (KAʻEHU) learn and share their expertise (Drop-in Coaching), and regulate their system and express creativity (Meditation + Art).

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about these programs, please email us at aloha@wisdomcircles.org

SUPPORT COMMUNITY ARTS & HEALING

Since 2016, Wisdom Circles Oceania has provided creative framework for individuals and groups to seek healing and community justice through artistic expression.

Your support is critical + will allow us to:

• Expand programs that provide care for the caregivers + Youth Mentorship initiatives.

• Strengthen our team + infrastructure to meet the growing demand for our services.

• Provide critical resources for Maui’s recovery + long-term well-being.

DONATE- Please consider a one-time donation or become a sustaining member of WCO, with as little as $5/month. As a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, all donations are tax-deductible- DONATE HERE.

VOLUNTEER- If you are an artist or facilitator who is interested in volunteering with us, please email sierra@wisdomcircles.org.