Illustrated wreath graphic representing Ka Hana Pono Preschool’s nature-based and aloha-centered learning approach

Learning in Pono

Living in Pono...

Ka Hana Pono means the work or practice of living in pono—in balance, harmony, and right relationship with self, others, and Spirit. We believe every child is born with light, curiosity, and the instinct to connect with the world around them. Our role is to protect and nurture that light by honoring childhood as a sacred time of growth and discovery.

Two preschool children sitting together and smiling at Ka Hana Pono Preschool in Haleʻiwa, Hawaiʻi

Pā‘ani me Aloha — Play with Love

Play is the natural work of childhood — the way keiki grow intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. At Ka Hana Pono, play is not a distraction from learning; it is learning. It is food for the body, mind, and spirit, nurturing the whole child in balance.

Teachers act as guides, not directors — cultivating curiosity, honoring autonomy, and providing the balance of freedom and gentle structure. This is not “pre-academics” in disguise. It is progressive, research-aligned education that prepares children for a life of creativity, resilience, and interdependence.

Through play, keiki:

Explore readiness skills in authentic, integrated ways — colors, shapes, patterns, numbers, early literacy.
Practice social responsibility through working, sharing, and friendship.
Develop language in living contexts — stories, songs, conversation, and drama.
Express creativity through art, movement, gardening, music, and imaginative play.

Outdoor play is equally vital: games, water play, bike riding, climbing, running barefoot, tending the garden. These experiences build confidence, cooperation, and stewardship of ʻāina. Research confirms what indigenous wisdom has always known: children thrive when they learn in relationship with the natural world .

At Ka Hana Pono, Pā‘ani me Aloha is more than a method — it is a cultural and spiritual practice. To play with love is to embody pono: to live in balance and harmony with self, others, and Spirit

Teacher playing ukulele with keiki at Ka Hana Pono Preschool, sharing music and aloha outdoors

Creativity & Expression

Children are born creators. At Ka Hana Pono, art, music, movement, and storytelling are not enrichment activities or “extras” — they are essential languages of childhood. Creativity is how children process experience, communicate emotion, and discover their place in the world.

When keiki paint, drum, sing, or dance, they are not just “making art” — they are cultivating emotional literacy, symbolic thinking, and embodied intelligence. A song becomes a way to practice memory and rhythm; a dance becomes a way to integrate balance and coordination; a story circle becomes a practice in empathy, perspective-taking, and voice.

These expressive practices are also cultural: they connect children to Hawaiian ways of knowing, where chant, hula, and mo‘olelo (storytelling) have always carried knowledge, values, and spirit across generations . By engaging daily in these practices, children learn that their voices matter, that beauty has meaning, and that their creativity is a gift for the community as well as for themselves.

In honoring creativity as a core pedagogy, Ka Hana Pono aligns with global best practices in progressive education: giving children freedom to explore, confidence to express, and opportunities to bring their inner light into visible form .

Group of preschool children learning and playing together outdoors at Ka Hana Pono in Haleʻiwa, surrounded by nature.

Keiki exploring nature and holding a fruit in the garden at Ka Hana Pono Preschool in Haleʻiwa.

Connection with Nature

At Ka Hana Pono, the classroom does not end at the doorway — it extends into the gardens, grassy fields, and the wider ʻāina that surrounds us. Children spend much of their day outdoors: planting kalo, climbing trees, studying clouds, harvesting vegetables, and running barefoot across the grass. These are not just moments of play, but formative experiences in belonging, stewardship, and wonder.

Research affirms what Hawaiian wisdom has always held: time in nature nurtures imagination, creativity, cooperation, and focus, while also reducing stress and building lifelong well-being . Unlike structured sports, unstructured outdoor play sustains healthy activity for longer periods and invites children into a state of embodied presence — the kind of balance (pono) that grounds learning for life.

Even the simplest encounters become profound teachers: observing the shape of clouds, gathering leaves and stones for a classroom “nature museum,” or tending a small garden box. These daily explorations cultivate curiosity, scientific thinking, and ecological awareness. More importantly, they help children fall in love with the natural world — the essential first step toward becoming caretakers of the earth.

In this way, outdoor learning at Ka Hana Pono is not an add-on; it is a cultural and pedagogical commitment. ʻĀina is teacher. To walk in balance with land is to grow in pono with self, others, and community

Small Group, Big Impact

Cottage #3: Ages 3–5 | up to 12 children

Cottage #4: Ages 2–3 | up to 6 children

Small groups mean each child is deeply seen. In this close-knit setting, keiki gain both the security of belonging and the freedom to explore.

Our scale allows for bigger adventures—gardening, cooking, creative arts, seasonal festivities—while ensuring every child’s voice and light is honored.

Children at Ka Hana Pono Preschool caring for plants and learning through nature-based play.

Living with Aloha & Pono

Our approach is rooted in values that are lived, not just spoken:

Aloha — Love and respect for self, others, and nature
Lokahi — Unity and harmony in community
Nahenahe — Gentleness and compassion
Mahalo — Gratitude for each day and each lesson
Hilinaʻi — Trust, honesty, forgiveness
Mālama — Care for ʻāina, one another, and community

These principles are not abstract ideals; they are daily practices. Keiki learn aloha by how they are treated, lokahi by how they play, and mālama by how they tend the garden. In this way, values are embodied through lived experience.

Our Commitment

Ka Hana Pono weaves Hawaiian wisdom, play-based learning, and child-development research into a daily rhythm that honors both tradition and innovation.

Here, keiki are safe, joyful, and deeply seen. Families are embraced as partners. Teachers embody aloha not only in their care, but in the way they listen, guide, and model balance.

This is not just preschool—it is a practice of growing in pono together, so that children carry both confidence and compassion into the wider world.

Preschool keiki at Ka Hana Pono in Haleʻiwa learning through hands-on activities and exploring Hawaiian traditions

Daily Rhythm (7:30am–4:30pm)

7:30 – 9:00am | Arrivals & Morning Play (puzzles, art, free choice)
9:00am | Morning Snack
9:30 – 11:00am | Gardening, Arts & Crafts, Outdoor Exploration
11:00am | Circle Time (songs, weather, counting, stories)
12:00pm | Lunch
12:30 – 1:00pm | Free Play
1:00 – 2:15pm | Rest Time (quiet music or stories)
2:15pm | Afternoon Snack
2:15 – 3:00pm | Outdoor Free Play
3:00 – 3:30pm | Story Time
3:30 – 4:30pm | Outdoor Free Play & Story Time
4:30pm | Departures (Aloha & Mahalo!)