Seeking excellence for the land of paradise: Integrating cultural information into an environmental education program in a rural Hawai’ian community

•Novel experiences, social connections and cultural knowledge connected youth to nature.•The qualitative evaluation methodology captured a wide range of outcomes.•Tailoring programs to community values can influence effectiveness.

The purpose of this case study was to: (1) assess whether a group of 12 students from a rural Hawai’ian community acquired local environmental knowledge through a place-based environmental education program, and (2) determine how integration of cultural information into this program affected participants’ views about their natural world. A tertiary objective was to develop and test a methodological approach for evaluating youth environmental education programs. Findings revealed a tripartite foundation of novel experiences, mentorship through social connections and learning about nature through a cultural lens facilitated a deeper understanding of nature and culture. Additionally, the mix of qualitative techniques effectively facilitated an in-depth understanding of program impacts on participants’ views toward the local environment.