Kumulāʻau
Kumulāʻau
“The Kumulā`au game explores Hawaii’s trees, the needs of healthy trees, and the challenges that growing trees face. My second graders are studying about habitats and the needs of plants. This game enriches their learning experience. The students love playing the game and are highly engaged in their learning. Thank you for this educational gift.”
Ann Nakayama, Aina Haina Elem, Grade 2
Additional Information
Translations taken from Nā Puke Wehewehe ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
- auē means Oh no! or not good
- hoe paddles for canoes
- kapa is bark cloth
- kuahu is an altar
- kumulāʻau is tree(s)
- lā is sun
- lau is leaf
- lepo refers to soil
- māhuaola refers to nutrients
- maikaʻi means Good!
- mālama means to care for, protect
- mālama ʻāina means to care for the land
- meaʻai means food
- papa heʻenalu means surfboards
- pilikia means trouble
- waʻa means canoe
- wai refers to freshwater
Polynesian introduction
Native to Hawaiʻi
origin is undetermined if native or Polynesian introduced (example: milo)
Plant a forest by “winning” as many trees as possible. Follow the recipe on the tree card to win. After all of the resources are collected, you have successfully “planted” your tree. Keep only your tree card and return the remaining cards you have into the compost pile. Blindly pick a new tree card and continue play. Play will continue until there are no more cards to pick up or a player has won the majority of the tree cards. The winner is the person who collected the most tree cards – planted a forest with all the tree cards won.
Contributors
Hailey Campbell, Georgina Casey & Alexander Yee, Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience, City & County of Honolulu
Pauline Sato, Mālama Learning Center
Sam ‘Ohu Gon III, The Nature Conservancy
Debbie Milikan, Punahou School
Kim Cloward Drown, Citizen Forester Program
Smart Trees Pacific
Kevin Eckert, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, Arbor Global USA
Randy Ching, Sierra Club of Oʻahu
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Student Contributors
ʻAiea Intermediate School (Taylor Anderson, Kaia Crowley, Jurni Pires-Ashton, Kaisha-Love Naeole, and Valerie Steel)
Wai’alae Elementary School (Louis Macquoid, Elsa Macquoid, Logan Cloward Drown, Maxwell Cloward Drown)
PACT Community TRY Center at Puuwai Momi
Participants in the annual “We ❤ Trees!” Keiki Art Contest
Photo and Art Credits
Sherry Cassetta
Josh Atwood, Ph.D., Information & Education Specialist, Forestry & Wildlife Division, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai’i
Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience, City & County of Honolulu
Francisco Acoba
Olivia Poblacion
Jurni Pires-Ashton (‘Aiea Intermediate School)
Dylan Rich (Voyager Public Charter School)
Sophie Rich (Voyager Public Charter School)
Alexa Estrada Vares (Ewa Beach Elementary School)
Beatrix Stewart (Ala Wai Elementary School)
Masaru Nishi (Jefferson Elementary)
Local Nurseries
to purchase and/or learn about Hawaiʻiʻs trees and plants:
Hui ku maʻoli
Koʻolau Farmers
Mālama Learning Center
O‘ahu Botanical Gardens
Lyon Arboretum
Funders
Sherryʻs Mahalo message
Mahalo nui loa to my ʻohana and hoaaloha for your unwavering support and endless aloha during this journey to create Kumulāʻau. Your ahonui (patience) and encouragement gave hā, breath and life, to pursue this project and dive deeply into the creation and design of a game celebrating Hawaiʻi’s beautiful trees— a topic that fills me with passion and joy. My hope for this game is that it will bring hours of enjoyment while teaching and inspiring generations to appreciate the natural beauty of Hawaiʻi and to mālama our precious ʻāina and kumulāʻau. Our collective kuleana will protect and support the growth of Hawaiʻi, reminding us of the question, if not us, then who?
A big mahalo to Dan and Olivia of TFHF and Wai of STP for sharing the vision that our keiki are the changemakers. The three work effortlessly alongside educators like myself to teach haumāna (students) the importance of trees and to plant them, enhancing school campuses and green spaces. Thirty trees later, the haumāna of ʻAiea Intermediate transformed their campus for future generations to enjoy. As an educator, it is rewarding to see haumāna so interested in learning about planting trees and actively growing into responsible stewards of the kula (school) and ʻāina.
Mahalo to everyone in my life who has supported me in my tree-planting journey and teaching endeavors. I am truly grateful to have you all by my side.
Me ke aloha pumehana,
Sherry