(BIVN) – Ten Kau Stewards recently completed the Aina-based education and training program “Kau Hoa Pili Aina” as part of the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Destination Management Activities and Hawaii Island Community-Based Action Stewardship Program. Completed. .
The program was promoted by the nonprofit Ka 'Ohana O Honu'apo, a resource management organization based in Narev.
“The Ka'u community expressed the need to better manage the impacts of tourism on Punalu'u's natural resources through a place-based curriculum,” Mufi Hanneman said in a Hawaii Tourism Board news release. . Hanneman is his HTA board chair and has spent part of his career working in Pahala and living in Narev. “We thank Ka’ohana o Honuapo for facilitating this community effort and the efforts of local stewards to ensure the protection and preservation of this special place.” said Hanneman.
“It is important to HTA that we continue to listen to our residents and support the collaborative efforts they want to see in their communities,” said HTA Interim President and CEO Daniel Nahopii. . “Mahalo to the custodians for their rigorous training and dedication to managing our home moku (district), to Ka'ohana o Honuapo for their leadership and cooperation, and to the many kumu and organizations that provided Manao.” In this process. ”
Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo also shared a lengthy news release detailing the experience.
Ka'ohana o Honuapo (KOOH) has been awarded the Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP) Hawaii Community Based Action Stewardship Program (HI-CASP) contract and is one of 10 selected individuals. We are proud to have completed the Kau Hoa Pili Aina Training Program for Kau students from the Kau Tribe. KOOH would like to first and foremost pay tribute to the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the Hawaii Tourism and Convention Bureau (HVCB), and Rachel Kaiama, DMAP Manager for the Big Island of Hawaii. ”This is an opportunity for her to use the i Visitor Bureau (IHVB).
KOOH has an all-volunteer Board of Directors consisting of five active community members and one part-time Loco Oia Coordinator. Ka'a'ohana team members come from diverse backgrounds, each with an underlying tone of protecting Ka'u's ecologically and culturally sensitive resources. Our mission is to restore, care for, and protect the natural and cultural resources within the Honuapo region. Drawing on the values of marama aina (respect for the land), kupono (honesty and integrity), and kuleana (duty and responsibility), we work with the community to preserve this region for future generations. It is working. In short, we are a small grassroots team of hard-working volunteers dedicated to protecting the natural and cultural resources of Honuapo Bay and the adjacent coastline.
The Kau Hoa Pili Aina Training Program was a project focused on training local personnel in the practice of marama aina with a backbone of cultural practices and procedures, conservation and biological sciences, and communication skills related to Kau Mok. We hired her two seasonal staff to oversee and organize the training experience for her 10 stewards living in Kau. Malama Aina Coordinator John Reprugle and Assistant Coordinator Alexis Carver. Under the guidance and leadership of two part-time coordinators, from other local nonprofit organizations including the Hawaii Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy's Hawaii Program, Na Mamo O Kawa, Malama Pono Punalu'u, and many other individuals and agencies. With the support of , KOOH successfully achieved success. hosted this program from late October 2023 to mid-February 2024. This program empowers motivated local community members, perpetuates the Hawaiian lifestyle, strengthens nonprofit connections, and promotes ecological This was a great opportunity to maintain a resilient coastline. .
We work cooperatively and comprehensively with other local nonprofit organizations, state, county, and federal government agencies, and concerned landowners to provide managers with comprehensive training and management experience from coastline to forest. provided. In total, we hosted 20 guest cum (plus assistant) 13 different organizations/groupscoordinated 11 Huakai (field trip), what I learned 20 different main subjects related to conservation of natural and cultural resources.
Classroom and Hukai topics include safety (cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid training), marine debris and coastal habitat restoration, effective communication and skill building, introduction to mo'olelo and locations (all Hukai sites) ), community-based subsistence fishing area designation and communities were included. base management, loko ia (fish pond) restoration and kuapa (fish pond wall) construction, watershed and forest protection, Kihei extinction and ohe kapala (bamboo printing), rare plant conservation efforts, kuapa (fish pond walls); – Plantation era, current (and historical) history and impact land use, native plant planting and restoration, cultural resource management and procedures, Hawaiian phase training (Kaulana Mahina), Anialin Pool and Hawaii Coastal ecosystems, coral reef ecology and conservation measures, identification and collection of rimu and opihi (plus mo'olelo and management practices), as well as ori, mele and storytelling experiences.
Because KOOH is primarily run by unpaid volunteers from the community, we partnered with another local nonprofit, the Hawaii Wildlife Foundation. HWF staff assumed human resources for the paid coordinator position, supported administrative tasks, and provided initial funding for the establishment before the first checks arrived.
Once the 10 Ka'u residents, ranging in age from 18 to 60, have been selected, they will begin meeting weekly in late October 2023, offering classes in Kamehameha School's Kahuku Ranch-based classroom and classes from across Ka'u to Milolii and Volcano. Provided service learning opportunities with Huakai. . Throughout her four-month program, Cauhoapiliaina “trainees” have logged over 3,000 hours of participation, and she has also logged 313 hours of volunteer work with local non-profit organizations. did. KOOH Board members and community volunteers logged an additional 480 hours to support this collaborative effort, resulting in the cumulative impact of this program: Over 3,793 hours to improve your Cow.
“Volunteering allows you to connect with community members towards a common goal, and you get a lot out of it. You definitely get more out of it physically, mentally, and spiritually than when you went in. I’m going to take my stuff and leave.” – Colby Rand, Steward.
In addition to the class day, huakai, reflection, research, ori (chants), mo'olelo (stories), moomeheu (culture), and ho'oulu (hope for the future), trainees will summarize and host a final hoike on February 10th. I also participated in , 2024 at the Kau multipurpose room in Pahala. The hoike served as a graduation ceremony for the Kauhoa Piri'aina training program and an opportunity for trainees to share with their friends, family, and community the impact the program has had on their lives. There were over 75 participants, and many emotions (and tears) were shared. KOOH is very proud of Haumana for embracing this program wholeheartedly and is very grateful to HTA and the entire HVCB community for this opportunity.
“Participating in Takaraike was a very traumatic experience. I approached the event with a mixture of confidence and trepidation, and was eager to share the great insights and experiences I had gained. Audience As I stood in front of the company, I was overwhelmed with emotion as I reflected on the journey I have taken with my esteemed colleagues. It left an indelible mark on my soul.” – Crystal Leonards, Steward.
Ka'ohana o Honuapo is focused on bridging cultural knowledge and protocols with scientific knowledge and good communication skills; our focus and commitment to sustainable landscape management is I truly believe that you need to shift your energy into sustainable, intensive, quality training. Future conservation of the great coastline and watershed of Kau. While Punalu'u was certainly included and highlighted in this effort, this stewardship training program goes beyond the main numbers on the tax map and benefits many wahi panas (special places) within Kau. brought.
“The Kauhoa Piriaina Stewardship Program has been a tremendous blessing in my life. It has nurtured a yearning in my soul and led me to a life of purpose. It inspired me to come out of my shell. It gave me purpose, confidence, and a whole new perspective. I have deep compassion and understanding for all living things. And everything. ecological awareness. This program has provided me with knowledge that may someday be lost, so I feel very lucky to have been a part of that first experience. In the journey from being a classmate to becoming a teacher. , I made new friends. The best part was collaborating with other organizations to see what's available there. There's a lot of work to do. As a community, we're doing great things. I hope this program will be passed on to future generations. I want my children to experience the same magic that I have. Thank you for giving us this opportunity. Mahalo Nui Loa.” – Chelsea Kobji, Steward.
Again, this effort would not have been possible without the support Ka ohana o Honuapo has received from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the Hawaii Tourism and Convention Bureau (HVCB), and the Island of Hawaii Tourism Board (IHVB). We are pleased to share that over 82% of the grant funds will remain with KOOH and additional in-kind donations (volunteers) and match donations have been collected by KOOH to further ensure the success of the program. I'm proud of that. We hope this is just the beginning of our Kauho Apiriaina training program and look forward to seeing what the future holds.
“I think each of us has a deep sense of gratitude for this program and the rich experiences we have shared. We all need to respect the Aina a little more and respect the ocean that brings us life. Thank you for the forest, the water, and the wind. Mahalo, Mahalo Nui Loa, thank you for this journey that has enriched our lives with the true Hawaiian spirit. E ola mau ka āina, may this land live on. May the love we cultivate here resonate across the islands.” – Jimmy Cocalas, Steward