08/19/2026
The return of ʻAha ʻŌpio marked more than the revival of a beloved youth leadership program. It celebrated the continuation of a legacy first established nearly four decades ago, rooted in the belief that Native Hawaiian youth belong in the spaces where decisions are made and that cultivating future leaders begins long before they are old enough to vote.
Created by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in 1988, ʻAha ʻŌpio was designed to cultivate ʻike, leadership and civic responsibility through a culturally grounded legislative experience.
Conceived by OHA educators, kūpuna, community leaders and dedicated volunteers, the program blended parliamentary procedure with Hawaiian values, creating a space where ʻōpio could deepen their connection to lāhui, ʻāina and kuleana while learning how civic leadership can serve their communities.
Over the years, the program’s alumni have gone on to become educators, attorneys, public servants, policymakers and community advocates, carrying the lessons of ʻAha ʻŌpio into careers dedicated to serving Hawaiʻi and the Native Hawaiian community.
Read more at https://kawaiola.news/hoonaauao/aha-opio-one-stone-one-generation-at-a-time.
