Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 11, 1 November 2022 — Waipi'o Kūpuna Seek Support from Hawaiian Community [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Waipi'o Kūpuna Seek Support from Hawaiian Community

By 'l'inimaikalani Keali'ikua'āina Kahakalau Waipi'o kūpuna are putting out the eall to the community to eome and kōkua their efforts to protect the sacred valley on Hawai'i Island. Since Sept. 19, Waipi'o Valley kūpuna along with Protect Waipi'o Valley 'ohana members have manned a 24/7 Kūpuna Checkpoint at the Koa'ekea Lookout to eall attention to the county's failure to address important safety issues. "We need kāko'o (supporters) at the checkpoint," said Kupuna Nellie Thomas Angelo who was born and raised in the valley. The Waipi'o 'Ohana asks the puhlie to please show their aloha and respect for the valley by not going into the valley until repairs on the steep Waipi'o road are completed. "All we are asking is to allow the aina, the kai, the kahawai and the muliwai to rest while the road is repaired," said Waipi'o lineal descendant Kahea Ka'aihili. Road access into the valley has been an increasingly dangerous situation for years. In February, Mayor Mitch Roth issued an emergency declaration closing the road because it "presents significant safety risks." "Mayor Roth promised us we would get a plan and a timeline for repairs at a community meeting scheduled for Oct. 5 in Honoka'a. But we eame for nothing," said Waipi'o taro farmer Hi'ilei Toledo. "If the road posed 'substantial endangerment to puhlie heahh and safety' in February, how eome absolutely nothing has been done to fix the road or give us a plan? Instead the mayor has now opened the road again, as if the safety issues magically disappeared." On Sept 19, pressured by a lawsuit, Mayor Roth amended his emergency order to allow tour operators and residents to descend, while keeping restrictions impacting Waipi'o farmers and valley residents in plaee. "It makes no sense to allow tourists and outsiders into the only plaee on our island where wetland taro is produced, while restricting how farmers and resident access the valley," Toledo declared. So far, the Waipi'o 'Ohana has collected over 5,000 signatures in person and online asking Roth to rescind the provisions that infringe on the rights of farmers, residents and kuleana land owners. Waipi'o's Sacred Resources Waipi'o's estuary is the entry way for hinana, who turn into muhiple species of 'o'opu (native goby fish) as they make their way up into the river and its tributaries. In fact, Waipi'o is one of a few places in all of Hawai'i that still has 'o'opu alamo'o, also known as hi'ukole, eonsidered threatened by the American Fisheries Society. Alamo'o, who elimh Hi'ilawe, a l,450-foot waterfall, are an endemic species found nowhere else in the world. "Until the road is fixed, all who really love and respect

Waipi'o should allow her to rest," said Waipi'o taro farmer and kupuna Jason Moek Chew. 'All of us need to put our personal wants aside and think of what's best for Waipi'o. That's the Hawaiian way. That's what our ancestors did - put a kapu (prohibition) on places that needed to rest and rejuvenate." The group is looking forward to collaboratively work out guidelines and preventive actions to conserve fish populations and their habitats, as well as to protect and manage the many other cultural and historic resources of the valley. They hope the emergency proclamation will allow for the development and implementation of a community-led, government supported management plan for the valley and prioritize the mueh needed road repairs. Since the checkpoint was established, the kūpuna and 'ohana of Waipi'o have been requesting community support to pressure the county to take care of their kuleana. "We are not blocking access to the valley," said Ka'aihili, "We're asking the mayor to begin fixing the road and for people not to access Waipi'o for personal pleasure and

gratification until repairs are completed. That way we ean allow Waipi'o to breathe." Respected Waipi'o educator Kū Kahakalau agrees. "It's time for the county and the large private Waipi'o landowners to work with the community to address the many issues that have been ignored for muhiple decades. This includes not just fixing the dangerous road - neglected for decades by the county - but also curbing illegal activities and unsanitary conditions in the valley and at the heaeh, and dealing with ongoing trespassing issues involving locals and tourists lured to the valley by the tourist industry." "Waipi'o is not a destination. We have seen the eommunities in Hā'ena and Maunawili successfully protect their taro-growing lifestyle. We know it ean be done." Kahakalau encourages kānaka to eome and show your support for the aina. "The kūpuna invite all to eome to the Koa'ekea Lookout, and listen to their mo'olelo of growing up in the valley, to kanikapila and learn about the unique history, cultural practices and stories of Waipi'o, onee the seat of Hawaiian civilization. Waipi'o is an important wahi pana to the Hawaiian people. We need kānaka to eome and kāko'o Waipi'o." ■ 0hS:M0 For more information visit www.pw- '■ :r-W .• tectwaipiovalley.ore: v n . •:• *. . ss~" .:. r J ° r. ,«t. v ••• •|srll::s:.n JP;^ yss|jf The Petition ean he signed online •" Jj;L;'ir • at www.protectwaipiovalley.org or in-person at the Kūpnna Checkpoint. •r:r «• ::"••• t 'I'ini Kahakalau is a social entrepreneur, educator, taro planter, cultural practitioner and soeial media influencer raised in Waipi'o Valley. A lifelong resident at the Koa'ekea Lookout, 'I'ini and her 'ohana have spent the past three decades planting taro in Waipi'o, providing Hawaiian culture-based educational programs, and working with the community to protect this sacred wahi pana. Since 2017, she has heen co-owner and senior project director of Kū-A-Kanaka LLC.

Waipi'o Kūpuna are asking ull to enjoy the beauty of the valley from the Koa'ekea Lookout while Waipi'o rests. - Photo: Courtesy