Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 12, 1 December 2010 — At Pahua heiau, planting seeds of future land management [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

At Pahua heiau, planting seeds of future land management

As part of a vision for landscape restoration at Pahua heiau, members of OHA's Land and Research lālā (branches) went on a short huaka'i (trip) to collect seeds andcuttings of lama, an endemic hardwood tree, and ko'oko'olau, an endemic herbaceous shrub. The concept of landscape restoration compels us to strive for species' genetic integrity, whieh is in many cases for plants, plaee specific. In our case, the plaee lay nestled along Hawai'i Loa Ridge trail, a valley ridge home to a variety of native life. Native plants are those that naturally occurred in ka pae 'āina (the archipelago) before human contact. They reached the islands in perfect isolation via wind, wing and water over millions of years. Culture and ecosystems evolved from and are dependent on relationships with these plants. From groundwater protection to spiritual practice, tool making to providing an ecosystem in whieh pūpū kani oe (native snail) ean thrive, native plants are a key component. Non-native, introduced species alter this community structure and the functions and benefits they provide. From increasing erosion and homogenizing the landscape (taking over and eliminating biodiversity), alien species are detrimental to culture and

watersheds. When we decided to hike Hawai'i Loa Ridge, I remembered the native forest being easily accessible, and not far from the trail head. As we hiked, however, there was a recurring question from the

group, "How mueh further until we get to the 'good stuff' (native predominated forest)?" We passed the drier portion of the ridge dominated by introduced Norfolk pine and ironwood with patches of indigenous 'ūlei, whieh were shrouded by tall, dense stands of strawberry guava, a highly invasive native Brazilian plant introduced to Hawai'i in 1825. I would answer the group's questions with: "Almost there. Around the corner." An hour later I admitted I must have glazed over this part, deleted it from my memory and just remembered the "good stuff." Then, among the leaf litter, there are glimpses of maile. The further up we elimh on slippery, gnarly roots of the strawberry guava, sparingly we eome across carex, 'uki'uki, 'ie'ie and progressively kōpiko, 'ōhi'a, hāpu'u - almost there. Some 1.27 miles in, we are in the presence of a majestic 'iliahi, hō'awa; and a winged 'elepaio visits. The 'elepaio, endangered on O'ahu, proved to be a hō'ailona (sign). The native forest had begun... This begged the questions: How far did our kūpuna walk to be among a native forest? How mueh further will our mo'opuna have to drive, trek and elimh? Strawberry guava and other invasive species diminish our sense of plaee, our unique biodiversity and with it aspects that are the foundation of culture and the health of our watersheds. As climate changes, these special places will further retreat to the heights of our landscapes, perhaps even disappearing. Can we keep the same Hawaiian vertical land divisions based on plant community types if they are displaced or extinct? We visited Pahua after the hike for clarification. Our huaka'i accomplished more than our gathering mission. Time in the kuahiwi (mountain area) strengthened our vision and goal to make visible, integrate and reconnect a native forest into Pahua and the broader community. Along with lama and ko'oko'olau, we will propagate intimacy in people. For our keiki, we ean excite them with science and culture through "ma ka hana ka 'ike - learning by doing." For our kūpuna, unahle to hike, they ean be part of a sacred space, rejuvenated by the good work of the community and the life of the lā'au, a form of therapy, if you will. Seedlings and intimacy, regenerated between generations. OHA is planting the seeds of future land use management at Pahua. When we care about the environment here in Hawai'i, we're compelled to care for native life - plants and people - to heal, remember and rej uvenate our sense of plaee even if this means breaking our habits and the norm Grow into an 'alahe'e instead of a Norfolk pine; a lama instead of strawberry guava. ■ Alex ConneUy, a Student Helper in OHA's Land and Property Management Program, is pursuing her bachelor's at the University of Hawai'i Department ofNatural Resources and Environmental Management, with an eye toward obtaining a degree in law. Kevin K.J. Chang, OHA Land Manager, contributed to this pieee.

Ua ho'omakua ka lā'au. The plant has heeome a tree. This 'ōlelo no'eau is often used to describe a habit, onee easily overcome that becomes steadfast and difftcult to change. In OHA's Land Program, we acknowIedge the habits of the near past hardened in all ofus and we look to encourage new habits that consist of a hybrid of today 's evoh>ing views on sustainability and the time-tested wisdom ofka po'e kahiko.

www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

The group hikes up Hawai'i Loa Ridge, surrounded by native forest. Inset: 'le'ie. - Courtesy photo: Kamoa Quitevis

By Alex Connelly

From the forest to the nursery, collected seeds of lama and other native plants waiting to sprout. - Photo: Alex Connelly