Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 9, 1 September 1994 — Nature Conservancy helps teach Hawaiians about their land [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nature Conservancy helps teach Hawaiians about their land

The Hawaiian islands are home to more unique species of plant and animal life then any other eomparably sized plaee in the world and contain the only

tropical rain forest in the United States. The islands are also home to an indigenous culture not found elsewhere.

Both the culture and natural environment are threatened. Recognizing this, the Nature Conservancy has created a program aimed at their preservation. The goal of Hoa 'Āina, Stewards of the Land is to encourage young Hawaiians to consider careers in conservation. Course director Pauline Satoh says this is important because there are not enough people from the islands filling loeal positions. "There is a shortage of people from Hawai'i working in eon - servation," she explains. "Some people have the potential but don't know what opportunities exist." Beginning in 1992 with a grant from the H.K.L Castle Foundation, the program has hired high school and college students from all over the islands to study the natural and cultural history of the islands. In 1994, 1 1 students took part in the summer program. The Conservancy admits this number is small but anticipates a "multiplier effect" when these students share their experience with friends, classmates and families. They hope at least half of the participants will pur-

sue careers in conservation. OHA's grant paid for the hire of three native Hawaiian students, supported teaching costs, and helped pay for brochures on careers in conservation, stressing the need for native Hawaiians in these careers. One of the native Hawaiian participants was UH student Miehelle Holsomack. "I wanted to go into biology," she says, "and I thought this would be a good way to learn about the Hawaiian environment." Another Hawaiian participant, Keoni Kuoha, has appreciated both the natural and cultural aspects of the program. "It feels good to take part in conservation and it's helped me develop an interest in Hawaiian traditions." During the eight-week program, students spent part of their time in the classroom studying geology, geography, plants and animals, the human impact on the environment and Hawaiian traditions. Field work took them around the state where they leamed about resource management techniques, and native ecosystems. Students also helped rebuild fishponds and visited native Hawaiian cultural centers. Part of the training included talking to professionals in the conservation field, getting a first-hand look at what a career in conservation is all about. Close to 50 percent of participants in the project this year were native Hawaiian. The Nature Conservancy believes native Hawaiians, with a traditionally close relationship to the land, are wellsuited to take part in the project. For information about Hoa 'Āina eall the Nature Conservancy at 537-4508. pj

Organization: The Nature Conservancy Program: Hoa 'Āina OHA grant: $28,235

iTi nf i iii tir- in iiiīi r n . . ■ . . . . t.v rB-i<-n , , -u, m » i rr ■ i Hhi Hoku Kalawa clears brush from a lo'i site at the Cultural Learning Center at Ka'ala. Photo by Patrick Johnston