Hawaiian Culture And Values

The Kumulipo chant teaches that the Ko’a, or coral polyp, was the first organism created.

The Ko’a was followed by sea stars, cucumbers, and urchins, each increasing in complexity. Early translators of the chant noted that the order of species closely matches the biological groupings we use today.

The chant teaches us that life in the ocean and life on land are interconnected. The Ko’a and the organisms in the sea are the building blocks for all of life on this shared planet we call Honua.

Our Kuleana for the ocean requires us to recognize this connection and to take responsibility for the impact we have on the ocean. At Kuleana Coral Restoration we return to the Ko’a, the beginning of life, and we work to restore what has been damaged and would otherwise be lost.