Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 2, 1 February 2010 — 0HA's Chang earns national fellowship [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

0HA's Chang earns national fellowship

Kevin Chang of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is among the 40 recipients nationwide of an environmental fellowship designed to advance the work of individuals with outstanding leadership potential. As a 2009 ToaetherGreen

Fellow, Chang will receive specialized training in conservation planning and execution, a ehanee to work and share best practices with gifted conservation professionals, and help with project outreach and

evaluation. He also receives $10,000 towarda community-focusedproject to encourage loeal residents to conserve land, water and energy and contribute to a healthier environment. Chang's project aims to revive the signifieanee of Pahua Heiau, whieh is owned by OHA and was built in Hawai'i Kai at least four centuries ago to worship the gods of agriculture or fishing. Chang, who serves as OHA's O'ahu Conservation Land Manager, said the site will help reconnect people to the land, promote dialogue about Native Hawaiians and agricultural history, and generate understanding about Hawai'i's overall role in addressing climate change and energy dependency through agriculture. "In Hawai'i, natural and cultural resources are one and the same. People have always been a part of the Islands' ecosystems," he said. "For an island society, dialogue on our values, relationship with 'āina and food and energy self-sufficiency are a necessary part of addressing climate change. My role at OHA allows me to take part in our community's way-finding process. The TogetherGreen Fellowship has blessed me with resources and connections to help adapt and renew our island communities relationship with the 'āina." Chang, who earned a law degree from

the University of Oregon, has previously worked for the Trust for Puhlie Land and is a founding member of the Coalition Against Environmental Racism. He has been actively engaged in Hawai'i's cultural and land eonservation issues since the early 1990s. "Kevin is the kind of person who ean make a real difference in the heahh of our environment and the quality of our future," said Audubon President John Flicker. "Eaeh of our TogetherGreen Fellows demonstrates exceptional environmental understanding and commitment, combined with tremendous potential to inspire and lead others. Together, they represent the talented and diverse leadership that the environmental community will need to tackle the huge challenges and opportunities confronting us now and in the years to eome." In 2008 Audubon and Toyota launched TogetherGreen, a five-year initiative to build the promise of a greener, healthier future through innovation, leadership and volunteerism. Half of the fellows eome from within Audubon's far-reaching national network; half ehannel their environmental efforts through other organizations. For a complete list of the 2009 TogetherGreen Fellows, visit TogetherGreen.org/fellows.

Chang