Messages from Niuli‘i
Hawai‘i Island is a beloved place for many of us, our families, ‘ohana, ‘āina, and our environmental relatives. Our growing relationships with place, water, food, and people guide The Kohala Center in our mission to engage respectfully with Hawai‘i. For us, this is a journey that centers in Kohala and travels beyond and back along many pathways. The Leaflet is where we return to share some of our experiences, stories, and learnings from ancestral knowledge and new research in our work ma uka to ma kai across distinct yet interdependent ecosystems.
In this issue, we feature news from Niuli‘i and 48 acres donated to The Kohala Center in North Kohala. Listening and learning from ‘āina and the residents and descendants of this place is teaching us how we can be better stewards and build meaningful pilina (relationships) with ecosystems, wahi pana (sacred places), and communities in Kohala and beyond. As this journey unfolds and our kinship with Niuli‘i more fully develops, we hope to become more of this place and move beyond merely being in it.
Messages from Niuli‘i
ʻAuamo kuleana: A gift of responsibility
In January 2016, TKC was generously gifted kuleana (responsibility) to mālama ʻāina (care for the land) in Niuliʻi, Kohala. This land stretches nearly a mile across the coastline from Kēōkea Park to Neue Bay, which includes both coastal conservation and agricultural lands. Before being donated to us, this land had been listed as one of the top priority land purchases on Hawai‘i Island for open-space preservation. The previous landowners entrusted us with the kuleana to mālama (take care of) Niuliʻi, and we are grateful for the opportunity to protect, heal, and learn from this precious ‘āina.
Nā lau i ulana ʻia: Weaving the strands of Niuliʻi
In collaboration with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program, we formed the Mālama Niuliʻi team comprised of staff members interested in getting to know this ʻāina and kaiāulu (community) and understanding the kuleana that comes with being part of a community of stewards. As malihini (newcomers) to Niuliʻi, we began to kilo (keenly observe) as a way to introduce ourselves and become acquainted with ʻāina. We slowly began to build relationships with our neighbors, descendants, practitioners, and community organizations to get to know them and their pilina with this place. Our process of hoʻolauna (introduction) revealed many people with deep and fierce aloha for Niuliʻi and several important historical and cultural sites in need of protection. As we continue to strengthen our relationship with ʻāina and community, we invite anyone who is interested in learning more and sharing manaʻo (thoughts, ideas) to contact Mia Akau-LaClair, our community and resource relations manager, at makaulaclair@kohalacenter.org or 808-887-6411.
Hāpai pū: Planning with community and ʻāina
Along our journey of getting to know Niuliʻi, the significance of hala (Pandanus odoratissimus)—as lā‘au (plant) and kumu (teacher)—became apparent in the stories and knowledge shared by lauhala practitioners that deepen our understanding of the pilina that each person has for this ‘āina and its hala groves. This led us to focus on the preservation of the groves and the knowledge and practices of kānaka ulana lauhala (lauhala weavers) for future generations. We honor the value and importance of learning from those who have stewarded these lands for many generations to ensure the continuation of generational practices with hala, the kuleana of hala stewardship, and regeneration of the pūhala groves.
With support from Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through the Kūkulu Ola Program, administered by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, we embark on the journey to reintroduce the traditional process of hana lauhala (working with and caring for lauhala) to the immediate and extended community of Niuliʻi. As we strengthen relationships and increase our community stewardship capacity, we hope to see Niuliʻi respond with greater health and well-being.
Other happenings
For six weeks last spring, Kahinu Payne dedicated himself to being a student in our Ōhāhā Mahi ʻAi Agricultural Training and Education Program and learning the different aspects of being a mahi ʻai (cultivator of food and ‘āina). “Ōhāhā was… a brilliant blend of culture and science,” he says, speaking to the diversity and multi-faceted learning opportunities in the program. At Nāmoku, The Kohala Center’s demonstration farm in Honoka‘a, we use different knowledge-based systems like ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge) and western science to learn more about ʻāina and help guide the work that we do.
“It’s been a rewarding experience and it keeps giving,” says Kahinu as he reflects upon his experience in Ōhāhā Mahi ʻAi. Since the completion of the program, Kahinu has centered his work around feeding ʻāina. In doing so, he’s been able to reconnect with us, his ʻohana (family), and community members by hosting his own Aloha ʻĀina work day, planting nearly 300 trees to reforest his ʻāina. We look forward to what the future holds for Kahinu as he continues his pathway of learning and growing.
E hele mai! Join us in our next Ōhaha Mahi ‘Ai cohort starting Saturday, February 26, and start your journey to deepening reciprocity with ʻāina, feeding community, and supporting ʻohana. To learn more and download an application, visit koha.la/ohaha-mahiai or call us at 808-887-6411. Applications are due Monday, February 21 by 5 p.m.
Kohala Stewardship Program team members Mahina Patterson and Jake Merkel recently participated in a virtual presentation as part of the South Kohala Coastal Partnershipʻs speaker series. This effort provided an opportunity for a deeper understanding of our ʻEke Project, which aims to protect and sustain source waters of Kohala by combining ancestral wisdom and modern technology to provide access to clean and abundant water for the communities it supports. In addition to these efforts, we will be hosting community talk story sessions on March 17, 24, and 31 to offer more insight into our ʻEke Project and solicit valuable feedback from community members. For those that are interested, please contact Mahina Patterson, ‘āina-based education specialist and ‘Eke project manager, at mpatterson@kohalacenter.org or 808-887-6411 with questions or for more information.
As we continue our efforts to mālama Hawaii’s delicate coral reef ecosystems, we celebrate the passing of Maui County Council Bill 135, which prohibits the sale and distribution of all non-mineral sunscreens in Maui Nui. Cindi Punihaole, director of our Kahaluʻu Bay Education Center, was invited to conduct three virtual presentations in November with 70 students from Kīhei Charter Middle School about the benefits of mineral sunscreens and ways to support the health and regeneration of our corals. All of the students were inspired to write letters in support of Bill 135 just days before the bill unanimously passed. We are proud to witness ʻōpio (youth) taking the initiative to support the protection of Hawai‘i’s coral reefs and make a difference! To learn more about mineral sunscreens and how you can support similar efforts on Hawai‘i Island and all of Hawai‘i, email Cindi Punihaole or call 808-887-6411.
Residents of the Kailapa Hawaiian Homestead community recently joined our Ahupua‘a ‘o Kawaihae team at Keawewai for a Hoaʻāina Stewardship Day. We collectively focused on envisioning the future of the 14.32-acre unit of protected land on the Kohala side of Kilohana Stream. During the experience, we planted koaiʻe (Acacia koaia, a native tree similar to koa) along the Waimea side of Kilohana in two different zones with different planting conditions in order to better understand the efforts needed to regenerate native forest along the riparian corridor in the new unit. By coming together to engage in this hana (work), we strengthened our relations with one another as ma uka (toward the uplands) and ma kai (toward the sea) community members who are working together to ensure the long-term health and well-being of the ʻāina and ahupuaʻa (land division, usually extending ma uka to ma kai) that we share.
Upcoming events
Growing Hawai‘i Cooperatives Together: Cooperative Basics and Panel Discussion
Thursday, February 17 • 5–6 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Learn more and sign up
Hoa‘āina Stewardship Day: Ahupua‘a ‘o Kawaihae
Saturday, February 19 • 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
Learn more and join waitlist
Ōhāhā Mahi ‘Ai Agricultural Training and Education Program
Saturday, February 26 – Saturday, April 16
Honoka‘a, Hawai‘i Island and online
Applications due Monday, February 21
Learn more and apply
‘Eke Project Talk Story Sessions
Thursday, March 17 (The Kohala Center) • 5–6 p.m.
Thursday, March 24 (Online) • 5–6 p.m.
Thursday, March 31 (The Kohala Center) • 5–6 p.m.
Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
Learn more and sign up
Growing Hawai‘i Cooperatives Together: Members Are the Foundation
Thursday, March 17 • 5–6 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Learn more and sign up
Hoa‘āina Stewardship Day: Koai‘a Tree Sanctuary
Saturday, March 19 • 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Learn more (Registration opens March 7 at 9 a.m.)
The Kohala Center in the News
Hawaii Schools Are Buying Less Local Food During The Pandemic (Honolulu Civil Beat, December 19, 2021)
Kona coffee farm gives back (EIN Presswire, January 4, 2022)
Several Big Island Organizations Awarded Funding to Help Preserve Natural Resources (Big Island Now, January 6, 2022)
Hawaii Tourism Authority to provide $1.5 million to 30 cultural programs (Pacific Business News, January 12, 2022)
Senate Bill Aims To Restore Kahaluʻu Beach Park (Big Island Video News, January 30, 2022)
Quality control: Hawaii Wai Ola provides community access to water testing data (Hawaii Tribune Herald, January 31, 2022, account required)
20 for the Next 20 2007: Where Are They Now? (Hawaii Business Magazine, February 4, 2022)
