Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 1, 1 January 2020 — 'ĀINA SUMMIT REPORT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'ĀINA SUMMIT REPORT

'ĀINA | LAN D b WATER

Coinciding with Earth Day 2019, OHA released E Ho'olou Kōnaka: 'Aina Summit Report and Call to Action 2018-2019. The report was a summary of the inaugural E Ho'olau Kōnaka: 'Aina Summit, held in June 2018. Jointly sponsored by OHA, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and Kamehameha Schools, the summit brought together more than 120 participants representing over 80 community groups, non-government organizations, traditional Hawaiian practitioners, private companies and government agencies. The report details the current challenges of protecting the aina and offers recommendations to improve the sustainable management of Hawoi'i's natural and cultural resources. "The goal of this report is to pull the 'ike (knowledge) of leaders from across our communities, government agencies and the private sector into one voice, one vision for how we care for our home today and into the future," said Kamana'opono Crabbe, then OHA CEO. We must integrate traditional stewardship techniques of our kūpuna with modern science and best management practices to tackle global challenges."

The 'Āina Summit was designed to be a eommu-nity-public-private partnership to convene experts and create a eall for integrated action across and between sectors. The summit aimed to build on the collective aina-based work of these diverse groups by better coordinating efforts and resources across organizations and agencies, sharing information, and setting collective goals to address accelerating threats to Hawai'i's lands and waters. "Our vision wos to bring the people stewarding the land together with those who make policy for the land. We eome together so those of us in our own little ahupua'a and moku, and our entire pae aina, become more sustainable and resilient," said Dr. Davianna McGregor, co-chair of the summit and a professor of ethnic studies at the University of Hawai'i, Mōnoa. As issues like climate change, elean energy, food security and affordable housing become increasingly dire, land use decision-making in Hawai'i in the 21 st century must include meaningful Native Hawaiian representation, and respect for and consideration of oiwi cultural knowledge and ties to the land. For more information and to read the report, visit www. oha.org/ainasummit.

Inaugural E Ho'olau Kanaka: 'Aina Summit held in June 2018. - Photo: Kawena Lei Carvalho-Mattos