Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 7, 1 Iulai 2016 — Traditional practices help Molokaʻi communities shape a better future [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Traditional practices help Molokaʻi communities shape a better future

By Cheryl Corbiell / I esource man- * * I lagement helped our I A ancestors to I %not just survive, but thrive," said Kauwila Hanchett, Ka Honua Momona International's executive director. "Traditional wisdom does not mean we follow in our ancestors' footsteps, but we need to walk the path they walked." Kelson "Mae" Poepoe, founder of Hui Mālama o Moloka'i, said, "A hundred years ago, we used traditional resource management, but

we stopped. Today, resource management using traditional practices is our future." Dozens of Hawai'i communities are planning to protect oeean resources using proven Hawaiian traditional practices. "Resource protection is protecting our food supply," said Poepoe. "We need to ensure our children ean depend on the oeean for food." The first Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) at Hā'ena, Kaua'i, was announced last year. Kevin Chang, Executive Director of Kua'aina Ulu 'Auamo (KUA), said, "Since 1994, the work by Mae Poepoe on Moloka'i and Hā'ena paved the way for Hawai'i communities to protect their oeean resources using traditional practices." KUA helps communities improve their quality of life by assisting as they care for their natural and cultural heritage and encouraging learning networks throughout Hawai'i. Hui Mālama o Moloka'i has sought the CBSFA for the marine waters off the northwest coast of the island for 20 years. In 2013, Poepoe submitted a draft management plan to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). The plan includes a moratorium on lobster harvesting and puts a halt on night diving and commercial activities, among otherrestrictions. "Effective resource protection needs to be area specific versus statewide because one size fits all doesn't work," said Poepoe. "Our ancestors learned about their loeal resources to manage them effectively. Long-term observation means we ean project when a species is headed to the threatened stage and intervene," said Poepoe. Although Poepoe has studied the north shore resources all his life, he has kept paper

records since 1993. "Traditional resource management works if given a ehanee," said Poepoe. Ka Honua Momona International (KHM) is a Moloka'i organization using traditional wisdom to protect and nurture fisheries, ancient fishponds, native forests and landscapes. Lounded in 2003, KHM holds the license for two Department of Hawaiian Home Lands fishponds along with a 1 .5 acre site, whieh includes a small office, a restroom with toilets and showers, a large 20 foot by 40 foot traditional thatched hale, a 20 foot by 30 foot outdoor kitchen area, a 40 foot storage eontainer and a large grassy area dotted with gardens and native plants. The facilities are 100 percent powered by solar and wind energy built by youth volunteers. More than 10,000 volunteers hand-re-moved 3.5 acres of mangrove fromthe fishponds; cleared shoreline areas, whieh they continue to maintain; reclaimed native species habitats and

restocked species; removed 20 tons of gorilla ogo and rebuilt 750 linear feet of fishpond walls. "The heart of the restoration is rebuilding two 15th century fishponds along Moloka'i's south shore, Ali'i and Kaloko'eli," said Hanchett. "The fishponds are both classroom and teacher, while the

iessons ieamea are grounaea in culture, stewardship, and kuleana." In 2015, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs awarded KHM $200,000 to assist in the community-based restoration. KUA has a network of 40 community-based fishpond restoration projects statewide, including KHM, whieh has adopted adaptive management strategies such as building fishpond walls higher in anticipation of sea level rise, accelerating restoration efforts to decrease vulnerability to climate change and planning the restoration of the entire ahupua'a with increased community

partnerships. "Watershed restoration is a massive task because 6,000 tons of sedimentation yearly flows to the oeean," said Hanchett. KHM offers a year-round paid internship program to young adults ages 18 to 24. "Interns learn about fishpond restoration, data tracking and monitoring, working with visiting groups, engaging in community outreach activities, and to grow their own capacity as leaders. More than 100 youth interns, both year-round and summer, have gone through KHM's internship program," said Hanchett. "KHM youth learn new tools to complement their traditional practices, " added Josh Pastrana, intern team leader. Kaylor Bishaw, an intem since January 2016, said, "The fishpond needed help from humans to heal itself. The sediment was knee-deep and now is mid-calf. The shoreline was muddy and now is sandy. Mullet spawns in the fishpond and native limu is growing. Onee again the fishpond is producing food." Another intern, Kalehiwa "Kale" Dudoit, said, "I'm learning work values and life lessons. A work day doesn't feel like a job because I enjoy the work, and I ean see progress." "More communities are walking the resource management path using traditional practices. Ancient wisdomis alive and well," said Poepoe. ■ Chervl Corhiell is an instructor at the University ofHawai'i Maui College - Moloka 'i. and coordinator for TeenACE and ACE Reading programs.

Kua'aina_Ulu 'Āuamo volunteers after an ogo removal session. - Photo: Courtesy of KUA

Ka Honua Momona is focused on restoring a Moloka'i fishpond. - Photo: Courtesy Ka Honua Momona