From the Mountain to the Sea: Saving the Heeia Ahupuaa

Introduction

• Ahupuaa: Traditional Hawaiian land divisions that extend from the mountain to the sea, allowing for self-sufficient communities.
• Heeia Ahupuaa: An area near Kaneohe being restored by Native Hawaiian-led organizations and thousands of volunteers.
• Organizations Involved: Papahana Kuaola, Kakoo Oiwi, Paepae o Heeia.

Key Areas of Restoration

The Upper Stream: Papahana Kuaola

• Location: Inner valley, Haiku Stream.
• Focus: Restoration of native plants and ecosystems; educational workshops.
• Activities:
  • Taro harvesting and traditional agricultural practices.
  • Clearing invasive plants and nurturing native species.
• Impact: Attracts around 28,000 visitors annually, including students and corporate volunteers.

The Wetlands: Kakoo Oiwi

• Location: Heeia wetlands.
• Focus: Large-scale agricultural restoration for food production and ecological health.
• Initiatives:
  • Management of 400 acres, focusing on traditional crops like taro.
  • Ambitious site plans including cultural centers and commercial poi mills.
  • Use of traditional agriculture for flood management and ecological restoration.

The Fishpond: Paepae o Heeia

• Location: Heeia Fishpond.
• Focus: Restoring fishponds for ecological and cultural purposes.
• Achievements:
  • Restoration of the fishpond walls; reduction of invasive mangroves.
  • Community involvement in manual restoration efforts.

Additional Themes

Traditional Practices and Modern Science

• Integration: Combination of traditional ecological knowledge and contemporary science.
• Example: Restoration efforts in Kaneohe Bay using Super Suckers and native sea urchins to control invasive species.

Ahupuaa in Contemporary Hawaii

• Modern Relevance: The ahupuaa system is being revived as part of cultural and ecological restoration efforts.
• Community Involvement: Encouraged through workdays and educational tours.
• Implications for Climate Change: Heeia is recognized as a NOAA Sentinel Site for climate change studies.

Get Involved

• Papahana Kuaola: Monthly community workdays, focusing on stream and taro restoration.
• Paepae o Heeia: Monthly fishpond workdays with limited spots.
• Kakoo Oiwi: Second Saturday workdays for wetland restoration and traditional planting methods.

Conclusion

• The efforts at Heeia exemplify how traditional practices can address modern environmental challenges, with a strong emphasis on community and cultural engagement.

Related Topics

• Pickleball Craze
• Return to Ahupuaa
• Health Assessment in Hawaii
• Things to Do in Honolulu

This summary is based on an article from the June 2013 issue of HONOLULU Magazine, authored by Lavonne Leong with photos by Olivier Koning.