Hawai‘i Tech Academy

Big to Small: Nature Connects Us All

Hawai‘i Nature Center presents Big to Small: Nature Connects Us All—a fun, hands-on program, exclusively for HTA Kihei students that will inspire curiosity about the natural world while teaching conservation and stewardship. Offered through Hawai‘i Tech Academy’s After School Program, students will mix science and art to explore their connection to nature—from big ideas like the water cycle and moku land management to up-close discoveries of local plants, animals, and even the tiniest life forms that help build healthy soil.

Contact Maui Program Director Rachael Taylor to learn more. Families can support our Maui-wide programs with a drive for items from the Maui Wish List.

Week-by-Week Overview

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Fall 2025 HTA-Kīhei After-School Series: Big to Small: Nature Connects Us All

2025: September 12 – December 12 | Weekly on Fridays from 1:30 – 2:45 pm
Full Semester: $216 + fees (all 12 weekly classes must be purchased)

Week 1

Big to Small Nature Connects Us All
Students will get to know each other and the Hawai’i Nature Center educators while creating a team “contract” for the semester. They will be introduced to our semester theme and participate in various games and educational activities.

Week 2

All the Water in the World
Discover how water moves through the water cycle—from clouds to rain to streams and oceans. Play sound charades to guess water’s stage by ear, then paint watercolor scenes showing your favorite form of water. Hawaiian word: Wai (freshwater).

Week 3

The Freshwater of Maui
Explore Maui’s streams, rivers, and aquifers, and learn how freshwater travels to our homes. Play a stream race game and create a yarn art hanging that maps our island’s waterways. Hawaiian word: Kahawai (stream).

Week 4

Your Ancestors and Nature
Trace your roots to see how your ancestors lived with the land, then explore why every culture has nature in its art and music. Make instruments from found materials and create a nature collage. Hawaiian word: Kūpuna (ancestors).

Week 5

Hawaiʻi Moku and Ahupuaʻa
Learn about the traditional Hawaiian land divisions that connect mountain to sea. Work together to draw a community ahupua‘a and role-play as farmers, fishers, and gatherers to see how sharing resources works. Hawaiian word: Ahupua‘a (land division).

Week 6

Fauna of Hawaiʻi
Meet the island’s animals and discover the difference between native, endemic, and invasive species. Play classification games, learn about their habitats, and draw your favorite Maui fauna. Hawaiian word: Holoholona (animal).

Week 7

Flora of Hawaiʻi
Identify native, canoe, and invasive plants, and explore why Polynesians brought certain plants to Hawai‘i. Make leaf rubbings, study canoe plants, and even try tasting some if available. Hawaiian word: La‘au (plant).

Week 8

Tiny Plants and Soil
Investigate how rocks form and change, and learn about the types of rocks found on Maui. Examine rock samples, then create a “mini planet” jar showing layers of sand, pebbles, and soil. Hawaiian word: Pōhaku (rock).

Week 9

Microverse of Mud
Zoom in on the living world beneath our feet to see how compost and microorganisms recycle nutrients. Use magnifiers to study soil life and start a compost jar in the classroom. Hawaiian word: ʻĀina (land/earth).

Week 10

What Fauna Are You?
Step into the role of an animal and explore its adaptations for survival. Move like your animal, learn what it eats and where it lives, then make a mask or headpiece to bring it to life. Hawaiian word: Kino (body).

Week 11

What Role Do Humans Play in Nature?
Discuss how humans affect ecosystems, both positively and negatively. Map our footprint on nature and brainstorm practical ways to care for Maui’s land and waters. Hawaiian word: Mālama (to care for, protect).

Week 12

Nature Band
Celebrate the season by performing as a class “nature band” using instruments made from natural materials. Create a musical journey from mountain to ocean and showcase your art from the term. Hawaiian word: Mele (song).