Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 9, 1 September 2022 — 'Ōiwi Resources: What Are They and Why Should You Care? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'Ōiwi Resources: What Are They and Why Should You Care?

By Keoni Kuoha and Cody Pueo Pata On November 8, Maui County voters will be asked whether or not to approve a charter amendment to establish a Department of'Oiwi Resources. To inform civic discussion, we offer questions and responses on the topic for the readers ofKa Wai Ola.

'Oiwi resources provision Howoiion culturol proctices ond worldview. All the tongible ond intongible resources ore included - such os the moteriols used to odorn this hulo oltor - ond beyond thot, the 'ike embedded in these proctices. - Photos: Courtesy What does 'Oiwi mean? 'Ōiwi is primarily defined as "indigenous, native." Core to the concept of oiwi is "iwi" whieh, along with meaning "bone," also expresses the concepts of "familial relation," "durability," and "identity." Things considered oiwi are intrinsically tied to a plaee and eaeh other through environmental, genealogical, cultural, eommunal, and/or experiential relationships. Today, all that are native to the pae aina, waters, and skies of Hawai'i are 'Ōiwi. What are 'Ōiwi resources? 'Ōiwi resources provision Hawaiian cultural practices and worldview. As tangible and intangible resources, Hawaiian culture does not exist without them. In the charter amendment ballot question, 'Ōiwi resources are briefly described as "the Hawaiian language, plaee

names, historical and archival materials, cultural sites, iwi and burials, and the variety of natural resources used in cultural practices." Delving further into whole and thriving cultural practices, 'Ōiwi resources include the places at whieh practices may be conducted in their fullest expression, the names of places that lend context to practices, the cultural knowledge_ and perspectives that are embedded in practices, the 'Olelo Hawai'i used to convey knowledge and perspective, and the materials that enable practice, such as the koa resources used to build canoes, craft 'ukulele, and even adorn hula altars (whieh include the bodies of hula dancers). Why manage 'Ōiwi resources? A government's decision to manage a resource indicates that the resource has value to society, and failure to manage that resource could lead to negative consequences like decline, degradation or disappearance, including extinction, of the resource therefore negatively impacting society. The underlying questions before Maui County voters in November will be: 1) Are 'Oiwi resources valued by our society? and; 2) Will failure to manage these resources lead to negative consequences? To both of these questions, we believe the answer is a resounding YES. To the first question, we need_only to look to the value that our communities plaee on 'Oiwi resources. They sustain and enrich our lives. At a minimum, the widespread enjoyment of practices like he'e nalu (surfing), hoe wa'a (eanoe paddling), hula, and mele (song) show that, across society, we value 'Oiwi resources. To the second question, our contemporary history is full of failures to properly manage 'Oiwi resources, the consequences being matters of life or death. Mismanagement of the oeean, shoreline, and freshwater resources that feed and sustain our families has forced many to move ffom their beloved 'āina, some leaving Hawai'i entirely. Unlike previous generations, most Hawaiians ean no longer live off the resources that are currently managed simply as "natural resources." It is clear that the

framework of natural resource management alone is not adequate to maintain 'Ōiwi resources to meet the sustenanee and cultural needs of Hawaiians, let alone all who eall Hawai'i home. With effectively managed 'Ōiwi resources, cultural continuity and prosperity ean be ours now and for generations to eome. Imagine a Hawai'i where access to 'Ōiwi resources is no longer threatened by overdevelopment and lawsuits; where wai is treasured, mauna are reserved for our highest pursuits, and fisheries are managed by those who depend on them. Where our government utilizes millennia of accumulated cultural knowledge to craft decisions that consider far more than property lines and shortterm outcomes. This is all possible if we simply take the steps needed to infuse our governance with the knowledge and skills necessary for the proper management of 'Ōiwi resources. In Maui County, we are on the cusp of taking this step forward - but only if we collectively chose this for ourselves in the November election. ■

Keoni Kuoha serves as vice-chair of the Maui County Charter Commission. Cody Pueo Pata is kumu hula ofKa Malama Mahilani and serves as the Hawaiian cultural advisorfor the mayor ofMaui County. The mana'o shared in this article is their own.

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