WAIKAPŪ, MAUI — In the last quarter of the year, Nohona Health held a Dry Box Workshop, bringing together community members to build their own traditional-style dry boxes designed for preserving lāʻau lapaʻau (Hawaiian medicinal plants) and other household uses. The workshop was part of Nohona Health’s commitment to revitalizing Native Hawaiian healing practices and empowering families with hands-on skills to support their own wellness.
Guided by cultural practitioners and Nohona Health staff, participants learned the purpose and construction of dry boxes, which allow for the gentle air-drying of plants used in lāʻau lapaʻau, culinary preparations, and crafting. Each attendee left with a completed dry box, ready to use in their home to preserve herbs, fruits, or other items in a sustainable and culturally rooted way.
“The dry box is a simple but powerful tool in our lāʻau lapaʻau traditions,” said Cory Lehano, Executive Director of Nohona Health. “By teaching our community how to make and use these boxes, we’re helping to preserve not just plants, but the knowledge and practices that have been passed down through generations.”
The workshop offered an opportunity for hands-on learning, connection with ʻāina-based traditions, and conversations about how everyday practices can support individual and community health.
Nohona Health plans to continue hosting culturally grounded workshops to foster resilience, traditional knowledge, and community wellness throughout Maui.
For updates on future workshops and programs, visit nohonahealth.org.