Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 2, 1 February 2022 — News from Koholālele [ARTICLE]

News from Koholālele

By Uakoko Chong Greetings to you, my reading eompanion. Join Hui Mālama i ke Ala 'Ūlili in enjoying this small taste of food and fish from our vast aina of Hāmakua. No ka 'ai (regarding food crops): Ten years have passed since the 'ohana of Hui Mālama i ke Ala 'Ūlili (huiMAU) began taking care of aina at Koholālele in Hāmākua Hikina. This was an important time for our 'ohana to unite together because we saw our 'āina kulāiwi uncared for and covered with trash and invasive species. We then decided together that we were going to mālama our 'āina by removing the trash, digging out invasive guinea grass, and planting food for our community. By being persistent in our care for this aina through the past 10 years, the idea of Ka Maha 'Ulu o Koholālele was born. In the month of Nana 2021, we began the felling of eucalyptus trees in the kula region of Koholālele. As we entered into the month of Welo, 11 acres of euealyptus trees were cleared. With the support of Ikaika Kūali'i of HLM Hawai'i ine, the remains of the euealyptus trees were mulched to prepare and enrich the soil for the 'ulu trees. At the time of the rise of Makali'i, rain was falling, thunder was striking, lighting was flashing, 'iwa were soaring, and rainbows were arching. We observed these hō'ailona as Ka Maha 'Ulu o Koholālele eame to life. The "big people" and "small people" all eame to plant 'ulu trees together during this rainy season. To date, 65 'ulu trees have been planted. Our ultimate goal is to transform 80 acres of aina at Koholālele into a maha 'ulu - a regenerative 'ulu agroforest - to feed the multitudes of our people in Hawai'i. This is the first time in over 150 years that our native foods are being planted on this scale in Koholālele. This is an important task for our generation, to supply 'ohana with loeal food crops in Hāmākua, so that we do not remain dependent on the food that is being imported from foreign places. No ka i' a (regarding fish): Below the kula region of Koholālele reside a variety of i'a, extending fr om the top of the pali where the koa'e birds fly down to the oeean where the koholā leap. Since Hāmākua has sheer cliffs, it is a narrow path to traverse by foot and only those experts who are native to these cliffs go down. One of the tasks we began last year at Koholālele was that of kilo kai - identifying the birds flying along the cliff, the fish in the intertidal zone, and the fish swimming in the oeean every month. Just like our kūpuna observed their environment, we too observe SEE NEWS FR0M K0H0LĀLELE ON PAGE 9

NEWS FR0M KOHOLĀLELE

Continued from page 8 the characteristics of the clouds, the winds, the oeean, and all the fish who live here. This is a way to strengthen our relationships with the communities of the kai region - identii fying the different types of i'a that make up these communities and closely observing our surroundings over the span of generations. Observe with your eyes, listen with your ears, and close the mouth: this is how we learn. With these ancestral teachings, we carefully walk along the base of the cliff, paying close attention to the waves breaking. Don't turn your back to the sea, or you will be swept away. When the oeean is ealm, that is the time to go. Patience and discipline are imperative on the shoreline. Since food sustains us, kānaka, it is important to know the life cycles and spawning periods of our food sources. This knowledge guides us in our gathering and stewardship practices, so that our fisheries ean continue to flourish at Koholālele for generations to eome. And so my ffiend, now that you have been delighted by this "appetizer," perhaps you will eome to Koholālele to join us for a "meal," to enjoy the mo'olelo and turn your hands down to the land in our aina pali loa o Hāmākua. Mahalo nui to the Ofhce of Hawaiian Affairs who continues to support the work of HuiMAU through its grants program and to our beloved lāhui for your support of our efforts to mālama our 'āina and kai of KoI holālele. ■ Hui Mālama i ke Ala 'Ūlili ( huiMAU) is a community-based nonprofit organization founded by 'ohana ofHātnākua Hikina on Hawai'i Island in 2011. They are committed to cultivating kīpuka that foster and regenerate the growth of place-based ancestral knowledge, healthy food- and eeo- systems, and strong 'ohana with the capacity to live and thrive in Hāmākua for generations. Uakoko Chong serves as the 'āina education coordinatorfor huiMAU.