Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 11, 1 November 2016 — Members Needed for the Kūkaniloko Master Plan Working Group [ARTICLE]

Members Needed for the Kūkaniloko Master Plan Working Group

Kūkaniloko is the birthplace of many of Hawai'i's most sacred ali'i and a pu'uhonua (plaee of refuge). Recognized by many to be the piko (navel, spiritual center) of O'ahu and arguably the Pae 'Āina, Kūkaniloko is a source of eonsiderable mana and a plaee of spirituality. The Kūkaniloko Birthing Stones have been on the Nahonal Register of Historic Places since 1973 and approximately five acres have been set aside as a buffer zone for the stones. Although currently under the jurisdiction of the State Parks Division within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, OHA has a Right-of-Entry Agreement to manage the parcel. In 20 12, OHA acquired 511 acres of agricultural land surrounding the five-acre parcel; a portion of the former Galbraith Estate. To harmoniously protect, preserve, and perpetuate the resources of Kūkaniloko for today's and future generations, OHA has begun a process to create a Kūkaniloko Master Plan (KMP). The KMP will protect the Kūkaniloko birthing stone site, explore compatible agricultural uses and other programmatic initiatives, and contribute to Hawai'i's food self-sufficiency. To advise OHA in the development of a unique, innovative, exemplary, and culturally-focused KMP, a Kūkaniloko Master Plan Working Group shall be established in the coming months. The Working Group will be comprised of seven (7) to eleven (11) members with demonstrated connections to Kūkaniloko, a foundation in Hawaiian cultural practices and 'ike Hawai'i, or expertise in cultural and natural resource management, agriculture, architecture, archaeology, business and marketing, education, law, or other relevant fields. The Working Group will review pertinent information and make recommendations to OHA to be considered in the KMP. Members will embrace traditional Hawaiian values in the conduct of its work both internally and externally. Working Group members shall serve for the duration of the planning process (approximately two years) unless the group is adjoumed sooner by OHA. Kuleana includes monthly meetings with OHA and the KMP planning team, Kuhikuhipu'uone o Kūkaniloko, comprised of native Hawaiian firms including DTL (detail), WCIT Architecture, 'Āina Archaeology, Hika'alani and others. To apply to heeome a member of the Kūkaniloko Master Plan Working Group, please visit https://ainaarch.regfox.com/kukaniloko. Applications will be accepted fromNovember 1 to December 4, 2016. Applications will be reviewed by Kuhikuhipu'uone o Kūkaniloko and recommendations will be made to OHA to ensure that the Working Group is balanced in terms of interest, geographic representation, skills, knowledge, and expertise. Accordingly, OHA will select applicants, to the extent feasible, that will provide the greatest benefit to OHA in its development of the KMP. Stay tuned to future Ka Wai Ola publications for further updates. ■