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  • Hōkūala Community

    Partners in Preservation

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October 24, 2023

Prioritizing our connection to the community and preservation of our natural resources, Hōkūala is proud to partner with a number of Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i nonprofits to mālama ʻāina.

The power of community continues to astound us as we partner with more incredible organizations on community workdays and educational initiatives to prioritize our dear home island. Whether you are visiting, or call Kauaʻi home, there are a number of opportunities to immerse yourself in local culture and conservation. We welcome you to join us on this mission to kōkua. Here are some recent and upcoming events with some of our favorite partners in preservation:

Waipā Foundation

For over 20 years, Waipā Foundation has stewarded the 1,600 acre ahupua’a of Waipā, under a lease from the landowner, Kamehameha Schools. Located along Hanalei Bay, Waipā is one of the nine ahupua`a in Kauai’s Halele`a district. Waipā is a place where folks can connect with the ‘āina (that which feeds us – the land and resources), and learn about our Hawaiian values and lifestyle through laulima (many hands working together).

> Eat the Invasives 2023

On September 23rd, the Waipā Foundation once again hosted their dinner series to raise awareness of invasive species and raise funds for the Waipā Foundation to continue their important work of educating the community and nurturing the land.

With 95% of plants and animals on Kaua‘i threatening the ecosystem, it’s necessary to get creative on how best to manage the surplus. This year, in its fifth iteration, MAKANA Waipā continued the tradition of gathering the greater community to celebrate the abundance of our ‘āina and learn about our wahi (place). Hualani’s contributed a wild goat potsticker with paepae o he’eia paepae gorilla ogo, tomato and masala by Chef Alex and team.

Hawai‘i Land Trust (HILT)

Hawaiʻi Land Trust (HILT) is Hawaiʻi’s islands-wide land trust that is both a Hawaiʻi 501(c)3 nonprofit and a nationally accredited land trust. They protect lands that are integral to Hawaiʻi’s well-being and character, upholding their kuleana to the land, and the communities they are in, through thoughtful stewardship that deepens community connection to and builds reciprocal relationships with ʻāina.

> HILT Community Clean Up

Hōkūala has partnered with Hawaiʻi Land Trust (HILT) in a collaborative effort to preserve our precious ʻāina (land). Most recently, our team and Timbers Kaua‘i partnered on a community clean-up day on October 8th at Kāhili Beach Preserve. With both fresh and saltwater wildlife and plants to preserve, Rock Quarry is also home to a number of our sacred bird species.

Mālama Huleʻia

Mālama Hulē’ia educates and leads community efforts to remove invasive mangrove along the Hulē‘ia river, re-establish native wetland ecosystems, manage Alakoko Fishpond, and engage the community through environmental stewardship programs that honor Hawaiian culture and values.

> E Kū Ana Ka Paia

Back in June, Hōkūala had the pleasure of joining our friends at Mālama Huleʻia and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi at Alakoko Fishpond to connect on the power of community while we all lent a hand in grass seed gathering, pōhaku gathering, and sorting. On October 21st, we returned for a community workday, E Kū Ana Ka Paia. On Mālama Huleʻia’s five year anniversary, our community will come together with a goal of restoring the Alakoko Fishpond’s 2,700-ft kuapā (wall). The kuapā wall has seen 60 years of wear-and-tear from sedimentary deterioration and outside factors.


 

At the heart of Hawaiian culture is a reverence for the connectedness of all things: the people, the land, and the many living things that call Kauaʻi home. In this spirit, we are proud to champion a range of community initiatives in support of our island’s kaiāulu. Meet more of our community partners: