Kohala Center

Generational Spawning: Seven years of learning and growing
For the first time in seven years, our team of trained observers witnessed remarkable signs of generational spawning among newer corals at Kahaluʻu Bay. In past years, spawning events were typical among older more established corals that survived the unprecedented mass coral bleaching event in 2015. Fortunately, since 2019, many new baby corals have been observed growing in the bay, and after five years of continuous observation and monitoring, this year is the first time our team witnessed spawning among these younger corals.

“It’s a magical feeling to know that not only are the corals strong enough to reproduce, settle, and grow, but that the next generation of corals are also strong enough to reproduce themselves,” shares Kathleen Clark. For her, this experience was a full-circle moment of life and hope for cauliflower coral, demonstrating the importance of rest periods that have provided the time and space for these corals to grow and build generational abundance into the future.

Ohiohikupua & Lauhiki: Developing weavers as aloha ʻāina practitioners
Over the past few months, community members from Hawaiʻi Island joined us for Hoaʻāina Stewardship Days at Niuliʻi. Guided by moʻolelo (stories) and mele (songs) of place, participants learned about Niuliʻi’s hala groves and lauhala weaving. The moʻolelo of lauhala, shared at these gatherings, reveals the names of two kūpuna, Ohiohikupua (the lauhala) and Lauhiki (the first weaver), who inspire our efforts to cultivate aloha ʻāina practitioners. Participants engaged in the entire process of observing, cleaning, selecting, harvesting, and weaving lauhala, transforming simple lau into various items, from kūkaʻa (bundles of lauhala) to intricately woven products like apo lima (bracelet).

As taught to us in “He Mele No Haleola”, we strive to honor Kohala’s rich genealogy of lauhala and weavers by sharing this lauhala process until it is heard by all—puana lauhala a lohea ʻia. By perpetuating these practices, we ensure they remain sustainable—puana lauhala a paʻahia. This is the only way the traditions and wisdom of our kūpuna will live forever, passed down to future generations.

Kilo monitoring efforts in Kohala’s Cloud Forest
Ongoing kilo observations by our Cloud Forest team continue to yield valuable insights into Kohala’s seasons, weather patterns, and diverse forest family members. With steady rains and low-lying clouds, moisture levels have increased, prompting frequent stream flows in the summit regions of Kohala throughout April and May. We’ve also noted significant fruiting among ‘ākala, ʻōhelo, and ʻōlapa plants, alongside sightings and calls of many native manu (birds) like ʻelepaio, ʻapapane, ʻamakihi, and ʻiʻiwi, as well as the nananana makakiʻi (happy face spider). These kilo monitoring efforts highlight the importance of being present on ʻāina to observe the subtle changes in the environment to better preserve and protect our cloud forest.