Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 36, Number 7, 1 Iulai 2019 — United Nations recognizes Moloka'i and Kaua'i organizations as climate leaders [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

United Nations recognizes Moloka'i and Kaua'i organizations as climate leaders

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Two grassroots mālama 'āina groups have been selected for the UN Development Programme's (UNDP) 2019 Equator Prize awards, highlighting their decades of eonservation efforts as well as the important role that Native Hawaiian knowledge ean play in the current era of climate change. The UNDP selected Hui Mālama o Mo'omomi of Moloka'i and Hui Maka'āinana o Makana of Kaua'i based on their "innovative, nature-based solutions for tackling climate change, environmental and poverty challenges using the collaborative power of eommunities." Representatives from the Hawai'i hui will join

those from 20 other selected eommunities for a week-long summit during the 74th United Nations General Assembly in New York. A celebratory gala honoring Prize recipients will also take plaee on September 24, 2019.

Hannah Klhalani Springer of Kua'āina Ulu 'Auamo (KUA), a "backbone" organization that supports networks of mālama 'āina community groups including the two selected hui, expressed the delight felt by

many of KUA's constituents. "It is very encouraging to everyone to see | their efforts lifted up in this way. We are connected to indigenous communities around the world, all I doing very impor|tant work in the face of tremendous challenges, in some cases, even threats to life, and to the land." "To be among the

22 selected from a pool of 847 nominations across 127

countries is an incredible honor," she added. The Equator Prize winners were chosen by an independent Technical Advisory Committee of internationally renowned experts, through a four-stage selection process emphasizing community-based models for addressing the climate crisis. Supporters of the Equator Prize awards include several former heads of state, Nobel Prize winners A1 Gore and Elinor Ostrom, indigenous rights leader Vicky Tauli-Corpuz and a range of other notable figures including Jane Goodall, Jeffrey Sachs, Richard

This aerial of Hō'ena shows the Makua Pu'uhonua area, whieh would be created under the rules, in foreground. ■ Courtesy: Joel Guy

Hannah Kīhalani Springer

Branson, Alee Baldwin, Edward Norton and others, as well as a long list of of partner governments and organizations. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been a longtime advocate for community-based resource management, where subsistence communities' intimate knowledge of and deep connection to their plaee ean perpetuate both Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices, as well as the natural and cultural resources they rely upon. OHA also understands that Hawaiian resource management perspectives and approaches may hold the key to our islands' self-suffi-ciency and climate resiliency, with potential lessons for the entire world. 1

"The United Nations' recognition of Hā'ena and Mo'omomi reflects the growing understanding of how Native Hawaiian and indigenous knowledge ean ensure the heahh and well-being of not just our loeal communities, but potentially of our planet

r and its future generations," stated Dr. Kamana'opono Crabbe, former Ka Pouhana 1 and CEO of OHA. "That not one, but two 1 of just 22 communities selected from the : entire world are from Hawai'i, reflects the 1 particular value that Hawaiian knowledge brings to the global discussions on climate 1 change, food security and environmental 1 sustainability." l "OHA commends these Native Hawai5 ian communities and all others seeking > to perpetuate and apply their cultural knowledge, values and practices as a 1 means to mālama 'āina and care for the resources and people of Hawai'i nei." ■

The United Nations' recognition of Hā ena and Moomomi reflects the growing understanding of how Native Hawaiian and indigenous knowledge ean ensure the health and well-being of not just our loeal communities, but potentially of our planet and its future generations." — Dr. Kamana 'opono Crabbe, former Ka Pouhana and CEO of OHA

Kelson "Unele Moe" Poepoe feaching the young. ■ Photo: /M. Ramsey

p, EXHIBIT A. MAP OF THE Hi'ENA COMMUNITY-BASED """ SUBSISTENCE FISHING AREA, KAUA'I ■ Area of . — I detail April 16, 2014 V1 1 0 OA IMM 1 # / / /mif\ J ,V-i" / y x I \\ / ^ y — '** M'rmRrmhhr* XV r^-Ck#i»»n»ar*ntV0i V yy """ i jIBVraCOSFA J mrvsbtrwii (, Source: State Board of Land and Natural Resources

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^ ~ ^ 4M, HhfIW 1 Mo'omomi Lawai'a 'Ohana Camp. - Photo: Kehau Springer