Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 11, 1 November 2007 — The way ahead for Waimea By Derek Ferrar Public Informatiion Specialist [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The way

ahead

for Waimea By Derek Ferrar Public Informatiion Specialist

In late September, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced that it would be forming a nonprofit organization to assume management of Waimea Valley, whieh OHA acquired in 2006 as part of a cooperative conservation purchase to permanently protect the valley from development. The agency also announced that Gary Gill, a former city eouneil ehainnan and accomplished environmental agency director, would oversee the formation of the nonprofit and subsequently direct operations in the valley. OHA's announcement ended months of speculation over the future of the spectacular and historic valley - considered 0'ahu's last intact ahupua'a - after the National Audubon Society, whieh has been managing a nature center at Waimea for the past five years, announced it would be leaving the valley by early 2008. "This historic and landmark action by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is an essential step to help assure the preservation of the eultural and natural resources of this ahupua'a," OHA Board of Trustees Chairperson Haunani Apoliona said. "OHA has taken decisive steps to protect Waimea Valley and Wao Kele o Puna through acquisition, and we recognize that we must strengthen the capacity to be a responsible steward of the 'āina. Mahalo to Audubon for its effort these past few years. We look forward to charting a successful course forward." OHA obtained title to the l,875-acre ahupua'a in 2006 after city, state, federal and private agencies pooled resources to purchase the valley from developer Christian Wolffer for $14 million. OHA contributed $3.9 million toward the purchase price. At the announcement of the agency's plans for the valley, OHA officials said they had filed papers to form a nonprofit corporation called Hi'ilei Aloha that would act as a parent organization for the Waimea nonprofit, and possibly for additional future subsidiaries to manage other projects. Hi'ilei Aloha means to carry, care for and nurture lovingly. "While we were open to looking nationally for another entity to

follow Audubon, we ultimately plaee our trust in the loeal eommunih and our people as the best folks to properly steward this valley," saic OHA Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o. "Creating Hi'ilei Aloha allow: us to be responsive to community concerns, continue Audubon's strong programs, and have an entity to manage Waimea that will have a clear and unwavering focus on the valley's future. We believe that going down this path is in the

best interest of Waimea Valley and in the best interest of OHA and our beneficiaries." OHA and Audubon are continuing negotiations on a transitional lease, with the goal of turning operations over to the subsidiary of Hi'ilei Aloha in February. As part of the transition process, Nāmu'o said, current Audubon employees would be given the first opportunity to reapply for their positions with the new Waimea nonprofit. Members of the community who have been involved in the lengthy struggle to preserve the valley expressed relief that Waimea's longuncertain future was finally being resolved in a way that would protect its cultural and natural treasures. "For so long, Waimea has been like a shell or a pieee of driftwood on the heaeh, going up and down with the tides," said Butch Helemano, kahu of nearby Pu'u o Mahuka heiau. "The beauty of what's happening now is that all of that unsteadiness and searching for an answer is at an end, and the valley's future is pa'a (solid). That's the most beneficial thing that's that has happened to the valley, and its effects will ripple down through the community in spiritual, cultural and material ways." Aunty Betty Ienkins, a longtime cultural educator and advisor at Waimea, said that the impression she had been getting from other kūpuna and community members is that "reaction has been very favorable about the fact that Gary is going to be involved. It seems to be a good fit, and we're comforted that someone we admire and respect will be taking on the challenges of managing such a treasure." Ienkins said she wants "everybody to be pono with this transition, because we've been waiting for so long. I look forward to very pleasant advances, with the community taking an active role in guiding the journey." Rep. Robert Magaoay, who represents the North Shore in the state Legislature, said he thinks the formation of the Waimea nonprofit is "a very positive direction." "I really appreciate the OHA trustees stepping forward and making sure that this plaee, whieh has been so special for Hawaiians and the eom-

! munity for hundreds of years, is going to be protected," M 5 See WAINEA on page IG

MĀLAMA 'ĀINA • CARING FDR ĪHE LANŪ MĀLAMA 'ĀINA • CARING FDR ĪHE LANŪ -

I Above: Onee the spiritual home of ū powerful line of kahuna nui (high priesfs), Waimea is rich wifh cultural sites. Left: r The valley's arboretum holds more | than 5,000 species of fropical plants. | Below: Four out of five species of nafive ■ freshwafer fish are found in fhe valley's I Kamananui Sfream. - Photos: Blaine I Fergerstrom

WAIMEA

Caatiauad from paga 14 Magaoay said. "Because that's a mission that will go on long beyond our own lives to those of our children, grandchildren and generations to eome." Denise Antolini, a coordinator of the Waimea Valley Coalition, whieh helped push for the valley's preservation, said she thinks the concept behind the new nonprofit "is excellent - very innovative, and very well suited to ensuring a sustainable future for Waimea. It allows for flexibility and continuity, as well as a range of partnerships." Looking ahead to the future, Antolini said that she hopes that Waimea "ean onee again heeome a vibrant source of life for the community, and provide a unique experience for visitors that enriches them culturally, environmentally and spiritually." "I think the future of Waimea is very bright, especially with OHA's strong support," she said. "It's like an unpolished gem that is finally going to be polished and allowed to shine for what it is ." I