O‘ahu Homeschool Science Series

O‘ahu Homeschool Science Series

2131 Makiki Heights Drive, Honolulu |  808.955.0100 x126 |  Homeschool@HawaiiNatureCenter.og

Hawai‘i Nature Center offers an on-campus science series in which every class builds upon each experiential lesson. Created to bring together homeschool students, ages 6 to 11, the weekly 6-hour sessions on Wednesdays are live, in-person and teacher-led. It includes learning in the Makiki rainforest as well as field trips. Topics include: animal lifecycles, freshwater ecosystems, food webs, sound, electricity, colors in nature, invasive species, volcanism and more.

Download the Spring 2026 Course Outline

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  • A young girl and boy working on their watercolor painting outdoors

Spring 2026 Homeschool Science Series | January 14 - May 13 | For Ages 6 to 11

Registration is closed.

2026: January 14 – May 13 | Weekly on Wednesdays from 8:30 am (drop-off as early as 8:15 am) to 2:30 pm
Full Semester: $1,375 + fees (covers all 16 weekly classes) | Individual weekly classes are not available

From Ocean Depths to Volcanic Heights: The Science of a Changing Pacific

Join Hawaiʻi Nature Center’s Homeschool Science Series and let your child explore the origins and future of our island home through four engaging units. In Discovering Geology, students uncover how volcanic forces and shifting plates created Hawaiʻi. Wondrous Wetlands and Estuaries explores habitats where fresh and saltwater meet, highlighting the wildlife and cultural importance of these ecosystems. Healthy Soils and Forests connects learners with native forests and the stories held within Hawaiʻi’s lepo. Layers of the Ocean takes students from tidepools to the deep sea to learn how ocean systems support life across the Pacific. Through hands-on activities, teamwork, and community collaboration, this series empowers learners to understand environmental change and take part in caring for the places they call home.

Read more about this educational series.

Open for enrollment now. When program is full, contact Homeschool@HawaiiNatureCenter.org to be wait-listed and include the number of children you wish to enroll, their ages, and your best contact phone number.  No program held on March 18 & March 25 due to Nature Adventure Camp. Field Trips do no include swimming and mayrequire families to meet at the field trip site due to limited access and funding for buses. More info shared with families prior to and during the course. 

 

Spring 2026 Lessons Overview

January 14 – May 13

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January 14: Discovering Geology in Makiki Valley
Welcome to Makiki Valley – where we foster relationships with the natural world and new friends. Get introduced to the geological forces that created Makiki Valley, our base camp.
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January 21: Hawaiʻi’s Volcanic Stories
Discover moʻolelo of the formation of the Hawaiian Islands, hotspots and current eruptions. From Pele to tectonic plates, we’ll tie together how modern science mirrors the moʻolelo of our islands.
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January 28: Have a blast at Lēʻahi: Secondary Eruptions
Explore Lēʻahi and secondary eruptions at Diamond Head State Monument. Our hosts from the Division of State Parks will share the origins of this iconic place and how we can mālama ʻāina.
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February 4: Exploring the Ring of Fire
Investigate the wonders of the Pacific Plate as we journey around the Ring of Fire. From volcanoes to fault lines, we’ll learn about the geological forces that shape the edges of the ocean.
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February 11: Estuary Ecology
Wade into our second unit to learn about the magic of estuary ecosystems – where saltwater and freshwater meet. Full of amazing animals and plants, explore these unique environments and biodiversity.
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February 18: Estuary Restoration at Heʻeia
At Heʻeia State Park, we investigate human impact on our estuaries and what’s involved to restore these special habitats. Mālama the estuary with our hosts from the Division of State Parks while learning about its history and cultural significance.
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February 25: Stream Explorations
Take a closer look at some of our favorite streams of Makiki Valley by testing water quality. Learn about ecology of the surrounding area. From high mountain tops to the depths of the valley, we’ll learn how to keep freshwater clean for people, plants, and animals.
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March 4: Wild Wetlands and the Changing Climate
Discover ho wetlands protect us from storms. By absorbing wave energy, cleaning runoff, and being a buffer, we’ll examine how important these habitats are to keep wildlife and communities resilient.
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March 11: Forest Foundations
The third unit introduces fantastic forests of Hawai`i and the world. We’ll take the day to appreciate how they provide essential resources to people and animals and act as a carbon sink.
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April 1: Lepo Lovers
Listen to stories told by the ʻāina through soil layers with Kristy Lam, a PHd in Soil Studies at UH Mānoa. We’ll get our hands dirty as we learn how real-life soil scientists dig into the history and health of Hawaiʻi’s lepo.
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April 8: Planting Seeds of Change
Learn the importance of our native forest ecosystem as it relates to the watershed and how we can respect and restore our forests. Talk story with Aloha Tree Alliance about restoration work on Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail, and help us pot native seeds that will get planted on Community Work Days.
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April 15: Forest Restoration and Collaboration
Outplant with Aloha Tree Alliance at Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail and learn about community collaboration – from mauka to makai. By practicing teamwork, we’ll create active change in the Niu Valley watershed.
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April 22: Moʻolelo at Mauliola
Our final unit shared with Mauliola Keʻehi. Hear moʻolelo of ocean ecosystems and tidal islands. Deepen our oceanic connections and experience how it contributes to our wellness and resiliency.
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April 29: Coral Restoration
Our reefs are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth but are increasingly threatened by human activity. We’ll explore some of the amazing work being done right here in Hawaiʻi to help protect and restore coral, both in our home waters and across the Pacific.
May 6: Deep Sea
Take a deep dive through the layers of the ocean, exploring the many strange and amazing creatures along the way. Learn how these incredible habitats are critical to healthy ecosystems from the shoreline to the open sea.
May 13: Semester Shellabrations
Even tiny ʻopihi play a vital role in tidal ecosystems, and we can make a big impact in our own communities. We’ll reflect on what we’ve learned this semester, look ahead to the positive change we can create, and celebrate with new friends on the final day.

Fall 2025 Lessons Overview

2025: September 3 – December 10. No classes on October 8 due to Nature Adventure Camp held during school breaks and is open to students, ages 6 to 11.

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September 3: Welcome to Makiki Valley
We start our semester by coming together and grounding ourselves in Makiki Valley by getting to know the spaces and places we’ll be learning from this fall. As we start to map our way throughout the nature center and the valley, we will begin building our cohort community and observation skills through movement-based games and exploration.
September 10: Explore Oceania
Unit 1: Oceanic Connections |begins with the study of and the “3 W’s” of Dispersal.” Wind, waves and wings move people, plants and animals across islands. Connect distant places to our home and classroom as student become acquainted and start their unit project on the scientific method through water quality testing of the stream.
September 17: Wild Wings of Oceania
Feathers, flight, and migration will shape our journey as we learn about birds such as the Albatross and others whose flights take them throughout Oceania. Join us as we learn how birds act as travelers, storytellers, and seed-spreaders across the sea.
September 24: Wayfinding
Chart a course through traditional Polynesian navigation and see how the stars, currents, winds, and seabirds guide voyagers. We’ll peek into how the long journeys across Oceania have shaped culture, community, and life across time.
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October 1: Looking Out for the Small and Leafy Things: A Close-Up with Leafy Sea Dragons
We’re zooming in on the delicate and fantastical world of leafy sea dragons as we celebrate camouflage, biodiversity, and life in miniature. This week we appreciate the small and often overlooked parts of our world, especially in the ocean, that play a big role in healthy ecosystems.
October 15: Sustainable Food Systems in Hawaiʻi – Past to Present
Unit 2: Mālama ʻĀina begins with the study of ancient fishponds to modern farms. Learn how the ʻĀina (land) nourished people through place-based food systems for thousands of years. Students learn how land feeds both the body and community. Unit project on compost.
October 22: What’s a Loʻi?
We’ll introduce the world of loʻi kalo (taro patches), where traditional farming meets ecosystem stewardship. The group will learn how water, plants, and people work together in these living systems of aloha ʻāina. We may even get the chance to see our local loʻi kalo.
October 29: Compost at Full Circle Farms in Waimānalo
Our field trip this unit will take us to Full Circle Farms in beautiful Waimānalo to see how modern farming and large-scale composting happens right here on the island. This field trip may take place during Week 6 or 7 and may be to a different farm depending on availability.
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November 5: Zero Waste
We’re thinking about the waste we create and how to reduce our impact and practice sustainable habits. It’s time to reflect on what we’ve learned about compost and sustainability, both in the past and present throughout this unit.
November 12: Climate Change – What, When, Where, Why, How
Unit 3: Contemporary Challenges begins on climate change, why it’s happening, what it looks like, and of course what we can do both as individuals and communities.
November 19: Sea Level Rise
Our knowledge of climate change will lead us as we learn how sea level rise is shaping how coasts, creatures, and communities are adapting to a changing world. This week connects real-world science with hopeful stories of resilience.
November 26: Ocean Acidification
Join us as we dive into another symptom of climate change: ocean acidification. Through hands-on investigations, they’ll explore how a shifting sea affects life along the coastlines and beneath the waves. This week takes us into our unit experiment on the impact of acidification on shells building creatures.
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December 3: Invasive Species – Aquatic Species in Hawaiʻi and Beyond
Invasive species are a common topic on this island, but this time we’re focusing on what’s happening in the water. Our exploration takes us to the invasives threatening our nearshore habitats and the champions fighting these changes.
December 10: Hope for the Future – Final Week of the Semester
For the final week of the semester, we reflect, celebrate, and imagine a future filled with thriving ecosystems and hopeful, empowered stewards leading the way! This week wraps our journey with joy, gratitude, and a look ahead to the positive change we can all create. Join us at the end of our final day to celebrate and share memories of our new friends from the semester.

Fall 2024 O‘ahu Homeschool Science Series | For Ages 6 to 11

This semester is sold out.
September 4 – December 11, 2024 | Weekly on Wednesdays from 8:30 am (drop-off as early as 8:15 am) to 2:30 pm
Full Semester: $1,200 (all 14 weekly classes) | Individual weekly classes are not available for purchase
No class will be held on October 9 due to Fall Nature Adventure Camp.

If sold out, please contact Homeschool@HawaiiNatureCenter.org to be wait-listed for the series. Include the number of children you wish to enroll, their ages, and your best contact phone number.

This semester is sold out.

Gear Up & Get Ready

  • Eat a hearty breakfast.
  • Wear clothes and closed-toe (hiking or athletic) shoes that can get wet and dirty.
  • Put on mosquito repellent and sunscreen at home.
  • Leave anything expensive, valuable, or fragile at home.

What to Pack Daily

  • Small backpack
  • Water bottle
  • Morning snacks and a big lunch (no refrigeration)
  • Extra change of clothes, raincoat/poncho and water shoes
  • Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
  • Swimsuit and towel
  • COVID facemasks (optional)

REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY – SEMESTER  If enrollment is canceled 7 days or more prior to the program’s start, you will receive a refund less a $100 cancellation fee per child and associated administrative-processing fees. If enrollment is canceled within 7 days of the program’s start or up to 6 weeks after the program has begun, Hawai`i Nature Center will refund 50% of the program fee per child. HNC memberships purchased during enrollment will not be refunded. There are no refunds after the end of the sixth week of the program. No refunds or makeups for individual classes missed.

THIRD-PARTY REGISTRATION POLICY  Hawai`i Nature Center does not accept third-party registration or registration on behalf of other friends or family. The registering child’s parent or guardian must be the individual to complete and submit all registration information. If we determine that a third party has completed your child’s registration, registration will be cancelled and we will refund your tuition. A $50 cancellation fee per child per week and administrative-processing fees will be charged.

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