Project Lanui is the physical and spiritual vessel of our work — built from generations of lawaiʻa knowledge, powered by community, and designed for transformation.

We believe good design can change the course of a company. We believe a great boat can change the course of a bay.


Lanui is more than a boat. It is a response to the urgent need for:










We seek funding to cover the costs of the boat build, trailer, operations, insurance, and regulatory fees.


STATEMEnT
of Need

  • A dedicated vessel for transporting people, equipment, and cultural knowledge across Kealakekua Bay
  • Support for non-commercial, community-based projects — from educational excursions to scientific research
  • Fulfillment of the goals outlined in the 2022 Kealakekua Bay Community Action Plan

Work for THE BAY

Beyond fishing. Beyond restoration. Project Lanui is about building the future from our past — enabling Hawaiian cultural education to thrive in classrooms and on the water.


The operational plan will remain guided by our Board of Directors, with additional staffing added as capacity grows.


Our lead kupuna, Charles Kealoha Leslie, carries 79 years of lawaiʻa experience in Kealakekua Bay. Alongside educator and program designer Krista Johnson, and a team of artists, filmmakers, conservationists, and educators, this organization continues to serve the bay, its people, and its traditions.


Our legacy,
Our lineage

  • 1911–1980: Leslie Brothers Fishing
  • 1980–2004: Hana Like, Inc.
  • 2004–2024: Hana Like Fish
  • 2024–Present: Ike Lawaiʻa

Ike Lawaiʻa was officially founded in 2024 but has operated in spirit for over a century:


Lanui Boat Build & Launch — Vessel for educational and conservation use

ʻUpena (Net-Making) Workshops — Ongoing teaching in schools, homes, and festivals

Kānaʻe Cultural Study — Integrating cultural fishing knowledge into modern context

Kaʻawaloa Water Quality Testing — Focused on petrochemical exhaust monitoring

Ala Kahakai Trail Restoration — Support for NPS cultural stewardship

Pā Restoration — Traditional tools, pearl oyster growth, and coral support

Coral Restoration — Partnered with TNC and DAR for active ecological recovery

Roi Roundup — Invasive species fish count & spearfishing tournament

Our work

  • Hawaiʻi State Parks
  • State Historic Preservation Division
  • National Park Service: Ala Kahakai + Puʻuhōnua Hōnaunau
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • DLNR-DOBAR and DLNR-DAR
  • NOAA
  • Kapukapu ʻOhana
  • Hoʻāla Kealakekui Nui
  • Kai Kuleana Network
  • Hawaiʻi DOE + UH Hilo Invasive Species Unit
  • Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikaimalino 

Our partners

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