Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that the Kahaluʻu Loʻi will need to have it's own non-profit entity solely dedicated to stewarding the terrace system. In the meantime, Kaiāulu ʻo Kahaluʻu is the main organization that is spearheading the initial efforts to this grassroots project.

 

See Q&A # 3 below for additional details on agreement status.

Yes, we have been making a very intentional effort to communicate and make sure that the community is aware of our organization and efforts to restore the Kahaluʻu Loʻi. To highlight a few examples:

• Conducted door to door visit in the ʻĀhuimanu community with the District Senator to distribute pamphlets and talk to neighbors

• Conducted a community Town Hall meeting on March 15, 2022

• Kok had previously shared any information and updates via a well-subscribed email listserv that was created and managed by a community member (Kamu). As of Fall 2022, the use of this listserv is no longer available so we have created a new email subscription (subscribe below).

• Went through a 90 day "trial period" agreement with State Historic Preservation Division" to conduct vegetation maintenance, clearance, and out planting at the Kahaluʻu Loʻi entrance area from August 6 - November 5, 2022. This was an opportunity for the immediate community to get to know the project better to develop trust and pilina (connections/relationships).

K.o.K. went through a 90 day "trial period" agreement with State Historic Preservation Division" to conduct vegetation maintenance, clearance, and out planting at the Kahaluʻu Loʻi entrance area from August 6 - November 5, 2022. This was an opportunity for the immediate community to get to know the project better to develop trust and pilina (connections/relationships). After the SHPD Director of Archaeology visited the site on October 15, 2022, she was able to advocate to the SHPD Administrator on behalf our organization. K.o.K. was granted a 2 year extension to our current agreement with an understanding that we will create our own non-profit 501(3)(c) organization and obtain our own liability insurance. 

Once we have the aforementioned requirements, we can begin the process of applying for a curatorship agreement with SHPD/DLNR. The curatorship application goes through SHPD, then on to the Attorney General's Office, and once approved by those offices will go to the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) meeting for the Boards consideration. BLNR meetings are open to the public via Zoom, written testimony, telephone, or in person. For more information on BLNR meetings and how to testify, click here. 

We are always looking for more expertise as this is a community driven effort and any large task is done with many hands. However we are very grateful and appreciative of all the expertise that has already joined the efforts. Here are just a few of the professionals that are members of our core team or in collaboration with:

• Professional Archaeologist - we have had a professional archaeologist on site on all volunteer workdays. Mahalo to Nick Belluzzo, Summer Moore, Regina Hilo, and Susan Lebo for ensuring the care for this historic site.

• Civil Engineering/Kahaluʻu Neighborhood Board Member - Hiʻiaka Jardine (Founder & Leader of KoK, degree in Civil Engineering with a focus on the Kahaluʻu Loʻi Terrace system, Kahaluʻu Neighborhood Board Member)

• Invasive Species Management/Chainsaw Certified/Wilderness First Aid & CPR trained/Student in "Uhau Humu Pōhaku"- Phillip Kapu (KoK Team Member, works for Oahu Invasive Species Committee, training under Kumu (teacher) Kimeona Kane in "uhau humu pōhaku" the practice of traditional rock weaving)

• Botanist & Hawaiʻi Lifeway/Cultural Advisor - Aimee Sato (KoK Team Member, MS in Botany, published researcher on forest restoration & biocultural management methods, trainer in Hālau ʻŌhiʻa Hawaiʻi Stewardship Training of Hawaiʻi lifeways

• Wetland Bird & Land Conservation Specialist/Educator - Luka Zavas (KoK Team Member, BS and MEM degreed from the Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Management with a focus on wetland birds of Hawaiʻi)

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If a space is forgotten it will be filled with unintentionl activity. This is proven and seen in Kahaluʻu. Where there used to be fishermen and ʻohana regulary at Laenani Beach park in Kahaluʻu, the lack of "good" presence has allowed illegal activity to take over in the past decade. Similar is the story of the Kahaluʻu Loʻi. The large trees of the invasive forest provides a hiding space and cover for people coming into the community doing illegal activities (dumping, drugs, stealing, parties). Here are some examples of why the intentional and regular presence of a community organization like K.o.K. has discouraged illegal activity:

• It came to our attention in Jan 2022 that there was a group of men going into the State Historic site to steal rocks. As a community organization we mobilized and addressed this issue right away by informing SHPD and the community to be aware, and created signage to address the issue (See the post). We have maintained a more regular & positive presence at the site and since then our neighbors have not seen rock stealing. 

• A neighbor was concerned about the increase of illegal dumping with our activity. Since clearing the front Hui Kelu area there has been zero illegal dumping and the volunteers have been working to clear any previously dumped trash from the site.