Kākoʻo Kaʻū
Learn how you can get involved and keep updated on the ongoing effort to protect, preserve, and perpetuate the wahi pana of Kaʻū.
our ongoing projects in Kaʻū
As a trail organization we recognize that the protection of these landscapes requires a biological-cultural approach to stewardship that integrates the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of the communities that reside within them. Our efforts to protect the lands of our ancestors could not be successful without the strong support we have received from the Kaʻū community. The Kaʻū community hopes that the entire Kaʻū Coast will one day be protected. Our current efforts build on historic community efforts to protect a substantial length of coastline - all connected by the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail.
Important Dates:
Kiolaka’a
Conservation Purchase
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to fulfill the dream in Kaʻū’s Community Development Plan of a conserved coastline, both for our kupuna who came before, and our keiki who will in inherit this legacy and kuleana.”
At its January 22, 2021 meeting, the State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) deferred approval of funding to conserve Kaʻū coast lands at Kiolakaʻa, threatening to award Legacy Land Conservation Program funding to Maui projects. After some members of the community testified against the projects, the BLNR gave the applicant Ala Kahakai Trail Association (ATA) additional time to reach out to the Kaʻū community to determine whether residents and community members support the preservation of the Kaʻū coastline, or whether the funds should go to Maui.
A Zoom community meeting was held on Tuesday, February 16 at 4:30 p.m., hosted by ATA, which is working with landowners and potential funders to raise the funding to purchase the lands for community stewardship and management and to prevent the subdivision and development of the lands. The Trust for Public Land, which helped with successful preservation of Honu`apo, Kāwā, and Wao Kele O Puna, is assisting ATA.
“If BLNR does not approve funding for Kiolaka`a and Manaka`a, the two Kaʻū parcels already have subdivision plans and surveys that the landowners could implement right away. ”
“We apologize if anyone in the Kaʻū community feels left out of the preservation and planning efforts – that was not ATA’s intention. We had hoped to engage the community more fully last year but we were severely affected by the COVID restrictions. We want to save the land for community based management and stewardship led by Kaʻū residents and the community. These are the community’s lands, not ATA’s,” said Keoni Fox, ATA board member. “ATA invites all organizations and families in Kaʻū to join ATA’s stewardship committee to lead and play integral roles in the stewardship and management planning process. Protecting these lands cannot happen without your mana‘o, participation, and active stewardship.”
STATE LEGACY LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM FUNDING: APPROVED
On Wednesday, March 31, 2021 the BLNR asked the Legacy Land Commission (LLC) to review and reconsider its recommendation for the fiscal year 2021 grant to fund the preservation purchase of Kiolakaʻa lands. The commission supported its previous ranking, provided that ATA should invite non-profit organizations in Kaʻū to participate in the planning and stewardship of the property. These organizations would include but not be limited to the Hawaiian Civic Club of Kaʻū, Kaʻū Kupuna Council, Kaʻū Multicultural Society, Kaʻū Kuleana and Pele Defense Fund.
The agenda and written testimony submitted to the commission can be found on the Legacy Land Commission website. The program specialist will be uploading a video of that meeting soon.
On Friday, April 23, 2021, the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) voted to approve the State Legacy Land Commission grant award for the preservation purchase of Kiolaka‘a at Ka‘alu‘alu Bay. Mahalo to all of you who participated and supported this effort by attending our community meetings, sharing ideas, submitting testimony and speaking with friends and neighbors about the importance of preserving this ʻāina.
We are grateful to the BLNR for approving the grant funding including the Legacy Land Commissioners and the Legacy Land Conservation Program staff for all of their hard work and dedication towards protecting our islands’ cultural and natural resources. We also want to acknowledge that there was opposition by those who care about Ka’u passionately. We hear and respect their mana‘o and welcome all on future community based planning and stewardship.
Together, we are one Kaʻū and we are prepared to holomua as one community, one ‘ohana. Our shared goal has always been to protect Kiolaka‘a and our entire coastline and to return the ʻāina to community stewardship. For decades, our kūpuna have fought to protect our coastline for future generations. We stand on their shoulders as they have laid the groundwork for all of us to continue this work today. Our community is so close to realizing this vision, and we cannot do it without you. We ask for your continued support as we make amends, find our common ground, and unite to protect and mālama our ʻāina.
Kaʻū community meeting
February 16, 2021
Protecting kiolakaʻa & manakaʻa
The Ka‘ū community has been working for years to preserve its beloved 80 mile coast. Ala Kahakai Trail Association has partnered with The Trust for Public Land, descendants, and community organizations to protect Kiolaka‘a and Manāka'a. Both of these coastal properties are at serious risk of subdivision and development.
Ala Kahakai Trail Association invited the Ka‘ū community to participate in a dialogue about:
• Protecting Kiolaka‘a & Manāka‘a for conservation, agriculture, and cultural preservation
• To hear suggestions about how ATA can partner and collaborate with the community
• To listen to the community’s vision for community-based management and stewardship of these lands
kAʻU Stewardship Committee
Ala Kahakai Trail Association is committed to community-based stewardship and management of the trail as well as the associated cultural and natural resources of these ʻāina. A Stewardship Committee comprised of Ka‘ū leaders and residents has been formed to guide our stewardship and Community Management Planning process for Waikapuna. In the next few months, we hope to grow our committee as we initiate and implement the action items outlined in the community management plan.
Members: Keoni Fox, Shalan Crysdale, Nohea Kaawa, Michelle Galimba, Kaohi Mokuhalii, Jodie Rosam, Megan Lamson, Pele Harman, and Leilani Rodrigues
Join our Stewardship Committee
We welcome one representative from any Ka‘ū-based nonprofit and one representative from each family with generational ties to join our Stewardship Committee and partner with us on community-based stewardship and management.
Partner with us
“ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.
No task is too big when done together by all.”
We would love to partner with any community group or ‘ohana who wants to do a stewardship project on Waikapuna (e.g. lead a huaka’i or conduct ʻāina-based education with students, take care of family iwi, house sites, or heiau, do agroforestry, host beach clean ups, mālama the springs, monitor native bird colonies, restore native dryland forest, etc.). This is the beauty of community-based management, we all have the right to practice our kuleana to this ʻāina.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For more information on the ongoing projects in Kaʻū, please contact fox@alakahakaitrail.org
