Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 5, 1 May 2014 — On Lānaʻi, a blessing for Kānepuʻu's self-guided trail [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

On Lānaʻi, a blessing for Kānepuʻu's self-guided trail

By Garett Kamemoto LĀNA'I CITY, LĀNA'I — If you had been told you were being taken to the middle of nowhere, you might have believed the teller of such a tale. But 20 minutes outside Lāna'i City, along a bumpy dirt road caked with red mud from rain that had been coming down for days, it was clear that this was someplace special. From the fencing and cattle guards designed to keep invasive deer from ravaging the land to the care crews were taking to make the road passable, Kānepu'u Native Dry Land Forest stands out as a jewel off the beaten path. Here 'Ike 'Āina, a Native Hawaiian land trust formed to preserve the land and perpetuate natural resources and practices, is working to restore and protect Kānepu'u's natural resources before they are destroyed, and to allow the community and visitors to appreciate the forest. On this day, in late March, kūpuna from Lāna 'i were honored at the blessing of the Kānepu'u selfguided trail. It's an interpretive trail that tells the tale of the need to protect the 'āina and tells visitors of native plants and their importance in the ecosystem. Bob Hera, who has been spearheading the efforts to protect Kānepu'u, oversaw the ceremonies to dedicate the trail and honor those who

eame before. "I feel we have paid tribute to our kūpuna and we provided an educational access for the native forest," Hera said. "Anybody ean eome in and look and touch and see the native Hawaiian forest." He credited many volunteers including students from the University

of Hawai'i at Hilo for helping to turn the trail a reality. Those students were honored guests at the ceremony. The kūpuna honored were Marian Ku'uleialoha Kaopuiki Kanipae, Irene Kamahuialani Cockett Perry, Sam

Koanui Shin, Harriet Haliaka Kaopuiki Catiel, Lionel Mano Sr. and Henry Kau Aki.. A commemorative plaque honoring them was unveiled and the gathered family and friends flooded the trail. The kūpuna walked the trail with a sense of wonderment. Kurt Matsumoto, chief operating officer of Pūlama Lāna'i, part of the ownership group, was raised on the island. He thanked the kūpuna being honored, saying all knowledge of the island is gained from them. He said he's fortunate to be a part of the ownership group and is "able to be part of the efforts to eome back and take care of the island in a more respectful way again." ■

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At top, preserve manager Bob Hera prepares to unveil a plaque honoring Lōna'i kūpuna at the Kānepu'u self-guided trail. Marian Ku'uleialoha Kaopuiki Kanipae, center, poses for pictures as she tours the newly dedicated trail. - Photos: Garett Kamemoto