Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 7, 1 Iulai 2013 — The ʻAha Moku Advisory Committee [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The ʻAha Moku Advisory Committee

was so honored and excited to accompany our newly appointed 'Aha Moku Committee on their first huaka 'i and to a most sacred plaee - Kanaloa, or Kaho'olawe. As we boarded the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission's boat piloted by my cousin Charlie Lindsey, we journeyed across the 'Alalākeiki Channel and stopped at various bays to offer traditional protocol

before docking at our hnal deshnahon. For me, it was a most rewarding experience to be in the company and to listen to the stories of these 'Aha Moku members whose backgrounds were so full of traditional knowledge handed down from generation to generation on traditional hshing, agriculture, streams, hshponds and land use methodology based on the ahupua'a system. Native Hawaiian culture has knowledge that has been passed on for generations and is still practiced for the purpose of perpetuating traditional protocols, caring for and protecting the environment, and strengthening cultural and spiritual eonnections. It is through the 'aha moku councils that Native Hawaiians protected their environment and sustained the abundance of resources that they depended upon for thousands of years. Currently, many Hawaiian communities are becoming revitalized by using the knowledge of cultural practitioners that was passed down through kūpuna, experienced farmers and hshers to engage and enhanee sustainability, subsistence and self-sufhciency. Furthermore, many Native Hawaiian communities are interested, concerned, involved, willing and able to advise government agencies, organizations and other interested groups on integrating traditional knowledge and ahupua'a management practices Gatherings calling on Native Hawaiians to begin a process to uphold and eonhnue Hawaiian traditional land and oeean practices and perpetuating and preserving the knowledge of the practitioners through the eonhnuahon of konohiki management, the kapu system and the creation of an 'aha moku and the ahupua'a management system was a priority

Through the combined efforts of kūpuna and Native Hawaiian resource practitioners of the 43 moku in the State of Hawai'i, the 'Aha Kiole Advisory Committee restored the 'aha moku system of land and oeean resource management On July 9, 2012, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed into law Act 288, establishing the 'Aha Moku Advisory Committee to

be placed within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes and to advise the chairperson of that department in carrying out the purpose of the Act. The committee consists of eight members appointed by the governor and conhrmed by the Senate from a list of nominations submitted by the 'aha moku councils of eaeh island. These individuals are the po'o (head or leader) of their island. The 'Aha Moku Advisory Committee may advise on issues related to land and natural resources management through the 'aha moku system, a system of best practices that is based upon the indigenous resource management practices of moku (regional) boundaries, whieh acknowledge the natural contours of the land, the specihc resources located within those areas and the methodology necessary to sustain resources and the community. The 'aha moku system will foster understanding and practieal use of knowledge, including Native Hawaiian methodology and expertise, to assure responsible stewardship and awareness of the interconnections of the clouds, forests, valleys, land, streams, hshponds and sea. The moku system will include the use of community expertise and establish programs and projects to improve eommunieahon, provide training on stewardship issues throughout the region (moku) and increase education. Mahalo to Les Kuloloia, ehainnan, and Leimana DaMate, executive director of the 'Aha Moku Committee, and all the island po'o and spouses who are my new friends andresources along with Senators Galuteria, Kahele, Kidani and Representative Hanohano. I especially enjoyed the kani ka pila sessions. A hui hou! ■

Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey

TrustEE, Maui