Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 1, 1 January 2021 — 'Āina Aloha Economic Futures A Vision for Hawai'i's Economy Grounded in 'Ike Kūpuna [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'Āina Aloha Economic Futures A Vision for Hawai'i's Economy Grounded in 'Ike Kūpuna

By Puanani Fernandez-Akamine For two months last spring, Hawai'i underwent an extreme lockdown to mitigate the spread of C0VID-19 across ourpae 'āina. People employed in the service and hospitality industries were hit the hardest, as tourism ground to a halt and hotels, restaurants, bars, spas, and tour eompanies were closed and most folks working on the frontlines of these businesses were laid off or furloughed. In the pause that the lockdown created, one thing heeame clear: Hawai'i's dependence on tourism is not a strong foundation for a resilient, thriving, self-sufficient economy. Eeonomie recovery was on everyone's mind as unem-

ployment claims multiplied and meal programs were hastily organized to kōkua neighbors abruptly left without resources. Loeal farmers heeame heroes, supplying fresh produce to help mālama our communities. Elected officials and business leaders were suddenly discussing "sustainability" and "food sovereignty" - topics usually broached exclusively by community advocates and social activists. Amidst the chaos, a diverse group of Native Hawaiians eame together organically after many separate conversations about the need to include Kānaka Maoli voices and values in Hawai'i's post-pandemic eeonomie recovery. Together they developed a framework for eeonomie recovery they called 'Āina Aloha Eeonomie Futures (AAEF) and drafted an ' Āina Aloha Eeonomie Futures Declaration that was sent to Gov. David Ige on May 19, 2020. The declaration included four ancestral values (see sidebar) to guide planning for a stronger, more sustain-

able economy. It also included a eall for unity, and for the involvement of Native Hawaiians and the community in the planning process. "The goal is an economy that takes care of our 'āina, that is regenerative, that is equitable, that supports the many and not just the few, and that honors the 'ike of our kūpuna that fed this plaee in abundance for centuries," explained UH Mānoa professor Dr. Kamana Beamer, one of the 14 'Ōiwi who authored the declaration. "We are part of an interpretation of how a circular economy might work in the world." According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whieh has championed the idea, a circular economy "is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating

natural systems." Continued Beamer, "Our ancestral economy was circular. Nothing went to waste. It was equitable. We had a whole system of kālai'āina (a poliheal economy) that eonsistently redistributed resources, even among the chiefs. People had different kuleana and kūlana (rank) but it was always about the long game - like kōnane - it was about playing for the last move, not taking everything you ean and hoarding it." Like others, Beamer saw an opportunity in the eeonomie challenges of the pandemic, and in the unexpected respite from tourism. "I've seen examples of circular economies," said Beamer. "Germany is an incredible leader. They see the problems that our linear 'take-make-waste' economy has created and how it has degraded our environment. They view this as a design problem." Beamer points out that the Germans have designed park-

ing lots with pervious surfaces that capture rainfall runoff and drain it into aquifers that filter the water. And their energy production systems actually empower and provide for the community; power companies cannot stop people from producing power, and they have to buy back the surplus. "This isn't a utopian vision. Hawai'i ean be a leader in creating an Indigenous circular economy. There are real, tangible steps we ean take to achieve this," Beamer insists. Like Beamer, Dr. Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, an educator, cultural practioner and one of the 14 authors of the AAEF declaration, also believes that establishing a circular economy in Hawai'i is achievable. "We aren't far from making some really huge shifts in the way we do business in Hawai'i," said Wong-Wilson,

noting that Hawai'i, Maui and Kaua'i counties have all adopted the AAEF declaration and initiative. Wong-Wilson, who resides on Hawai'i Island, said, "Our new mayor and our county eouneil are supporters of AAEF. We're working together to try to actually embed these values into Hawai'i county department processes." She said the group is still working with the Honolulu City Council in hopes they will embrace the AAEF inihative as well, but notes the biggest challenge will be to get the state government to join the effort. "This is grassroots - it starts at the bottom, with individuals, with the community," said Wong-Wilson. "And it's working its way up. The lower levels of government seem to be embracing this, and I think it will just continue moving forward. "We will begin making significant changes to the way SEE AAEF ON PAGE 19

AAEF Continued from page 18 we think and the way we act. And I think what really pushes that is necessity. We watch our 'āina suffering, and we see the differences in our beaches and forests when we remove our human presence. "As 'Āina Aloha we want to help make this shift throughout the community by supporting others who are doing similar work, and by working collaboratively with government and the private sector while making sure that the community voice is always up front." Empowering the voice of the community, and Native Hawaiians in particular, is key to their work. Following their declaration last May, AAEF developed a framework of actionable goals. Then, through a series of webinars over the summer, gathered and prioritized a communitydriven set of more than 180 proposals. Those proposals are informing their next step - the development of a

Dr. Kamana Beamer - Photo: Courtesy

Dr. Noe Noe Wong-Wilson - Photo: Courtesy

t J ?jrK il v \ Ikaika Hussey - Photo: Kaipo Kl'aha