Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 9, 1 September 2016 — Indigenous networks share manaʻo with each other and the world [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Indigenous networks share manaʻo with each other and the world

Yes, this is the first time the World Conservation Congress is being held in the United States and the first time its host is a region instead of country, but sharing ideas on how to sustain natural resources and protect the 'āina is nothing new for Hawaiians like Unele Mae Poepoe. Poepoe has long believed in sharing ideas and learning directly from one another how to better mālama 'āina (care for resources). In 2002, this belief led him to the creation of E Alu Pū. What started as a network of 13 communities coming together for the first time on Moloka'i in 2003 has blossomed into a network of about 50 communities banding together to share ideas.

Unele Mac's hope is the world not only takes away ideas and techniques other indigenous people ean apply in their homelands, but also that the world helps Hawaiians get the state to use and support tried-and-true traditional Hawaiian methods that have been proven to help sustain Hawai'i's natural resources. "I hope somewhere in there someone ean help us get tradihonal practice back on map," Poepoe said. "Traditional practice ean make our resources better. I know it. I don't just practice it, I study it. One reason I'mlooking forward to the World Congress is hopefully I ean learn how other indigenous people sustain their natural resources." Together, the indigenous groups ean bring their conservation practices to the world stage. "I really want them to help us get the state to understand how important our methods are in sustainability," Poepoe said. "Hawai'i is surrounded by oeean and we rely on fishing. We have ways we do it and the state has ways and they ean be very different. We need to get them SEE INDIGENOUS NETW0RKS ON PAGE 16

I U C N . World ' Conservation Congress Hawai'i 2016

Community members, including Unele Mae Poepoe, share mana'o on how to best protect their natural resources. - Photo: Courtesy ofKua'āina Ulu 'Auamo

to listen and understand why we do it our way." Poepoe points to the overfishing of Hawaiian spiny lobsters as an example of why communities need to have control of their resources. After a significant decline in the lobster populahon in the 1990s, Poepoe and other subsistence fishers worked together to protect their fisheries. In response, the state added new regulations banning commercial lobster fishing and the use of spear guns, but divers ean still catch the clawless crustaceans by hand during lobster season and nets are still allowed. Poepoe will be among the Kua'āina Ulu 'Auamo (KUA) leaders who are leading a 3-night camping retreat on Windward O'ahu at the end of August for World Congress attendees who wanted to get a taste of traditional Hawaiian ways. E Alu Pū facilitated the creation of KUA, a non-profit organization developed for the purpose of gath-

ering the network and creating a safe space for learning, dialogue and empowerment. KUA has also begun to facilitate two other networks: the Hui Mālama Loko I'a (traditional fishpond restoration network) and the Limu Hui (traditional seaweed gatherers). The eamp outing includes sharing ideas between the visitors and kama'āina, huaka'i (excursions) and hands-on stewardship work. Approximately 50 to 100 guests were expected to participate, along with another 100 from KUA's network.

Unele Mae plans to have some of the campers test their skills with catching lobster so they ean learn how the Hawaiian way is the best way to sustain without the use of nets. "It takes a lobster three years to reach one pound," Unele Mae said. "I don't think the state studies lobster like I do. At my age this is my contribution, it's not about myself. Lor every pound a lobster grows, that's three more years. Think about that. Right now the state allows nets and you ean fish wherever you want with no limits. And yet, they ban spearing them but you ean only get one at a time with a spear. I believe in sharing, but there are Hawaiian ways. "I hope the (world congress) ean learn from us and help us, we're trying to help ourselves, too. Maybe go back and draw up support or something of indigenous people." ■ Dave Dondoneau, a Honolulubased freelance writer, is a former editor and reporterfor the Honolulu Advertiser.

INDIGENOUS NETW0RKS Continued from page 14

Community members gather limu at Ka'ūpūlehu. - PAo/o;