‘Ohana healing series: Lā’au Lapa’au
Class info:
This is a space to slow down, learn together, and reconnect to practices that have cared for our people for generations. ʻOhana gather in a safe and supportive environment guided by caring adults and cultural practitioners.
Through hands on learning, cultural teachings, and exploration, ʻohana engage with Native Hawaiian healing practices and deepen their understanding of how lāʻau lapaʻau supports mauli ola. Learning happens side by side, across generations, in a consistent environment rooted in trust and belonging.
You will learn, make, listen, and share together. You can meet other ʻohana, try new practices, and reconnect to ʻike that lives close to home.
As part of the ʻOhana Healing Practices series, this program uplifts intergenerational learning and the vision of nurturing a healer in every home.
Program Details
Ages: 12-24
Schedule: Saturdays
Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Start Date: 9/19/26
End Date: 12/12/26
Enrollment required: Enroll in advance, with a set start and end, and regular participation is encouraged throughout the program.
*All are welcome to apply with preference given to Native Hawaiian Kamalei.
Meet the team
Learn more about the team behind the ‘Ohana healing sereis: Lā’au Lapa’au program.
Mara Pavich Garcia
Director, Kamalei Engagement
Mara Pavich Garcia
Director, Kamalei Engagement
Mara Pavich Garcia is the Director of ʻŌlino Pathways – Kamaliʻi Recruitment and Wellness at Liliʻuokalani Center and brings over 20 years of professional experience in counseling and education, working with youth ages 5-early adulthood.
She designs and leads youth-centered initiatives that support youth in developing a strong sense of self by integrating cultural identity, social-emotional development, and holistic wellness.
Born and raised in Kaimukī on Oʻahu, Mara returned home to Hawaiʻi in 2020 after nearly two decades of residing on the West Coast, where she worked at the Spokane Crisis Residential Center, YMCA of Greater Seattle, the Evergreen School in Seattle, and Viewpoint School and Geffen Academy at UCLA. Before joining the Trust, Mara served as the Director of Wellness and Professional Programs at St. Andrew’s Schools.
Mara is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Master’s degree in Community Counseling from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Redlands.
In her leisure time, Mara enjoys beach walks, hikes, yoga, and hosting ʻohana in her backyard. She and her partner, Javier, are raising two sons in Kailua and often can be found on the baseball field or basketball courts, cheering on their teams.
Hueina Hemaloto
Creative Art Therapies Specialist
Hueina Hemaloto
Creative Art Therapies Specialist
Hueina Hemaloto is a Creative Art Therapies Specialist at Liliʻuokalani center. She was born on Oʻahu, raised on the island of Tutuila in Samoa.
Hueina earned her master’s degree in social work, specializing in Behavioral Mental Health. She has experience providing therapy to children, adolescents and their families throughout Oʻahu as they navigate issues regarding grief and trauma. Hueina is passionate in exploring culturally grounded and accessible models of therapy for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations. Her approach includes incorporating music, dance, and art as methods for youth to engage in healing.
She is excited to collaborate with kamaliʻi at Liliʻuokalani Center to cultivate a safe environment for healing and learning. In her free time, she loves listening to music, dancing, and karaoke.
Maka Paracuelles
Creative Art Therapies Specialist
Maka Paracuelles
Creative Art Therapies Specialist
Maka Paracuelles is a Creative Art Therapies Specialist at Liliʻuokalani Center who loves creating movement-based, culturally grounded spaces for our kamaliʻi to feel strong, curious, and connected. Her style is down-to-earth, welcoming, and hands-on, blending yoga, self-defense, and Hawaiian values in a way that feels real and relatable for youth.
Maka grew up in Hawaiʻi and brings that local lens into everything she does. Before joining Liliʻuokalani Trust, she spent years teaching yoga across the island, hosting her own Hawaiian-themed retreats, and partnering with local businesses and practitioners to build community around wellness. Her classes focus on breath, body awareness, and trusting your own instincts; these are skills she believes every young person should walk with.
Along with yoga, she teaches self-defense grounded in boundaries, consent, pausing, and paying attention to your surroundings. Her goal is always the same: help people feel safe in their own body and confident in who they are.
When she’s not teaching, Maka is usually in the ocean, rolling at jiu-jitsu, spending time with her dog Mālie, or connecting with her ʻohana. She loves bringing people together, creating good vibes, and weaving Hawaiian culture with mindful movement in ways that feel natural and uplifting.
We’re here for you!
Our team can’t wait to get to know you. Connect with us to learn more and get involved.