Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 7, 1 July 2015 — Land, marine issues hiahliahted at OHA meeting on Molokaʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Land, marine issues hiahliahted at OHA meeting on Molokaʻi

By Cheryl Corbiell The Kula Kaiapuni Kauwela 'o Moloka'i students' oli procession welcomed the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees to the annual Moloka'i community meet-

ing on J une 1 / at Kalama'ula, whieh attracted 65 people. Discussion focused primarily on land ownership and land and marine resource management. Topics ranged from statewide initiatives to loeal

challenges such as the National Oeeanie and Atmospheric Administration's plan to refocus the Hawaiian Islands Humphaek Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and the Kalaupapa Nahonal Historical Park Draft

General Management Plan needing more ongoing consultations, while the 'Aha Kiole Moloka'i Pule O'o and Mo'omomi Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area reported positive progress. Other concerns were the East Moloka'i Water-

shed lencing pushing feral goats, pigs and deer, onto other lands, kuleana landowner rights and challenges of title searches, establishing an arts trade school and iwi depository in east Moloka'i, and

ensuring counties adhere to shoreline access rules. Walter Ritte, humphaek whale sanctuary Advisory Council member for Moloka'i, said the state Department of Land and Natural Resources'

Mac Poepoe hailed a project that began in 1 994 to protect Mo'omomi's resources using traditional practices of resource management. - Photo: Aliee Malepeai Silbanuz budget "continues to be cut, and the resources are in grave danger. The proposed expansion of the sanctuary fromprotecting whales and seals to protecting all marine resources within the sanctuary is a positive opportunity. "We need help in protecting the

natural resources now. By the time we gain sovereignty, the resources will be gone. OHA needs to be an active partner in this plan, because it deals with our culture. Let's manage our resources now, and then we ean say hui hou to the feds." The proposed Kalaupapa Nahonal Historical Park plan needs more oversight and puhlie consultation, said Lori Buchanan, community advocate. She encouraged OHA to advocate for more community consultation, and said OHA should have first right of refusal on land transfers of north shore property. Hawaiian-language kumu 'Opu'ulani Alhino said the Kalaupapa area was rich with ancient history: "The north shore valleys have great value culturally to Hawai'i. We ean learn about our past and how our people lived." The 'Aha Kiole Moloka'i Pule O'o, represented by Chairperson Kamalu Poepoe, reported the 'aha is gaining community credibility. "In 2013, OHA took a ehanee funding the 'aha and Moloka'i jumped eannonhall style into the pilot (program). We learned eaeh moku has to get input and approval from all people before taking action. Today, Moloka'i is operating a moku system," said Poepoe. She described how the Kaluako'i Moku is tackling the "Race, No Fish" controversy - involving the ehannel eanoe races and the escort boats that fish in the island's waters while there for the events - by working with the eanoe festival organizers, enforcement, Moloka'i Ranch, the eanoe association, paddlers and escort boats to centralize the event, to weleome them, discuss protocols and pā'ina with them to develop respect for eaeh other. "We are now included in stakeholder engagement processes, and we are also partnering with Maui and Lāna'i moku to discuss best practices," she said. Mae Poepoe said Mo'omomi, the site of a pilot Community-Based Susbsistence Lishing Area program in the 1990s, has educated people across Hawai'i. "The Mo'omomi project started in 1994, and the

state didn't understand what it took to protect resources. Things tumed around. Today, Mo'omomi has its resources intact. People ean feed their families by being responsible. People ean look after a plaee. We used practices that were used for thousands of years," he said. Lour groups thanked OHA for supporting cultural activities. Kilia Purdy-Avelino, an instructor at University of Hawai'i Maui CollegeMoloka'i, appreciated OHA support of the 'Ōlelo Hawai'i Spelling Bee involving 30 students from middle school to college. Then Penny Martin, speaking of Moloka'i Keiki Earth Day, thanked OHA for hosting and supplying snacks for 200 fourthgrade students who participated in activities connecting students to caring for the land, leaming to save energy, using natural resources and recognizing invasive species. On behalf of Papahana Kuaola, Martin said the group appreciated OHA's production support for the Lelekamanu Mo'olelo Bus Tour booklets, whieh have reached four Moloka'i schools and increased students' loeal mo'olelo knowledge. Lastly, Kanani Costales, of Consuelo Foundation, expressed mahalo for OHA's support in the prevention of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children, women and families. Board of Trustee Chair Robert Lindsey, said: "When we eome to Moloka'i, people are aware of the need for sustainability. Moloka'i people are consistently true to their past and take responsibility for the land and stewardship of their resources. A recurring theme on Moloka'i is 'āina momona - land of abundance, and Moloka'i folks want to keep it that way." The next day, OHA trustees held a board meeting on Moloka'i, and trustees and staff responded to questions about nation building. The OHA trustees will head next to Lāna'i for one meeting in July. ■ Chervl Corhiell is an Instnictor at the University ofHawai'i.Maui College -Molokai. and coordi.natorfor TeenACE andACE Readi.ng programs.

OHA Lāna'i meeting » Wednesday, July 15 at 11 a.m. at Lāna'i High & Elementary School cafeteria For information, eall the Lāna'i 0ffice at (808) 565-7930.

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