Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa is a growing consortium of kiaʻi loko (fishpond guardians and caretakers) and stewardship organizations from loko iʻa (traditional Hawaiian fishponds) across Hawaiʻi. This network came into existence in 2004 as an opportunity for kiaʻi loko to empower each other and leverage their skills, knowledge, and resources related to loko iʻa restoration and management.
The Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center generously stepped up to host the 2018 annual gathering in partnership with the Culture and Historic Preservation team of Pūlama Lānaʻi. This was the first time for Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa to be on Lānaʻi and we camped right on the shores of Waiaʻōpae loko iʻa in the ahupuaʻa (traditional land division) of Pālāwai.
Day 1
We arrived in two waves from Oʻahu and Molokaʻi, then from Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi. The Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center was our first gathering spot and it provided a glimpse into the rich history and context of Lānaʻi.
Staff of Pūlama Lānaʻi's Department of Natural Resources and the Culture and Historic Preservation team (the kiaʻi crew for Waiaʻōpae) drove us out of Lānaʻi City, leaving paved roads and all other contemporary conveniences for the next three days. An hour-long, dusty, bumpy ride took us east towards Keomoku, and we started to understand the challenges of working at such a remote and hard-to-access loko iʻa. The dirt road was actually re-routed right before our trip so we could get to Waiaʻōpae.
We set up our tents among the kiawe and then prepared to greet Waiaʻōpae together and introduce ourselves and our loko iʻa to this ʻāina (land, place). Hui Hoʻoleimaluō reminded us of the origins of Pāheahea Loko, an oli (chant) composed for the 2017 gathering to name the loko and geography of all those present. The oli invokes the flowing of water essential to the health and functioning of loko iʻa, but water is the most limited resource for Waiaʻōpae so some kiaʻi brought wai (water, freshwater) or waikai (brackish water) from their own loko to offer on the kuapā (wall) in the spirit of manifesting future abundance of wai at Waiaʻōpae.
Kepā Maly shared moʻolelo (story, history, tradition) about Lānaʻi, various wahi pana (storied, sacred places), and the thriving population that once occupied Lānaʻi prior to the precipitous decline in the mid-1800s that mirrored the patterns throughout Hawaiʻi. This perspective of the past abundance of Lānaʻi prepared us for our next few days and our work to honor that vision for the future. This sharing of place also related the theme of the gathering, a saying of Lānaʻi kūpuna:
Maikaʻi ka hana a ka lima, ‘ono no ka ‘ai a ka waha. When the hands do good work, the mouth will have good food to eat.
Day 2
Our second day together started with a greeting to the sun: E Kānehoalani E! We realized how special it is to wake up right at the loko iʻa and start work earlier than past gatherings when we had to travel to various loko iʻa for work projects; even a short distance is an epic affair to move dozens of people!
The morning was glassy and calm, and it quickly got hot as we touched the pōhaku (rock, stone) of Waiaʻōpae for the first time and started our work together on the kuapā.
Much of the original material remained alongside the footprint of the kuapā, but we learned the depth of the sediment runoff as we worked to pull out fallen pōhaku and koʻa (coral) strewn inside and outside the kuapā, and we realized how the niho (literally teeth; for loko iʻa, niho are the bottom foundational layer) are buried and unseen.
After lunch, we hustled to leave the campsite and huakaʻi (journey with a purpose) to Maunalei, the immense valley home to Lānaʻi’s only stream that flowed to the ocean, with many intact kīpapa and loʻi (leveled and irrigated terraces for habitation and agriculture), and more contemporary infrastructure that pumped water hundreds of feet up the valley walls to the city. Again, the road in the valley was recently repaired to facilitate our access, and we are grateful for everything that aligned to allow us time in this special place.
A short rest at camp flowed into a late afternoon group discussion. In February 2018, about 30 poʻo (heads, leaders) of various loko iʻa gathered to plan the ways that Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa works together to achieve their vision and mission that were articulated in 2016.
vision: perpetuate ʻāina momona through loko iʻa culture
mission: empowering a network of kiaʻi loko whose kuleana is to reactivate, restore, and cultivate loko iʻa guided by loko iʻa culture in pursuit of ʻāina momona for ʻohana and communities
Some poʻo shared outcomes from that poʻo gathering, mainly discussing six “clusters” that collectively describe Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa.
In small groups, and then together, this larger gathering was able to discuss and agree on further clarification – and in some cases, new names – for these six “clusters”:
Loina Welo * Education * Iʻa * Hoʻāla Hou * Hui Sharing * He Hui Hoʻokahi
An example of how the "clusters" can shape the hui in the future:
Each year, group sharing time usually occurs during and around meals; folks share updates, issues, and/or challenges from the past year. An outcome of the poʻo gathering -- linked to genesis of the Loina Welo group, focused on protocol and cultural practice -- was the idea to (1) focus this year’s group sharing on moʻolelo, wahi pana, kiaʻi, and other foundational aspects of each loko iʻa, and (2) more intentionally prepare and incorporate oli and mele protocol throughout the gathering. Each year we will strive to deepen our understanding and relationship to loko iʻa through these pathways!
“Mahalo for focusing on wahi pana because that tells us the most we need to know and learn from.”
“With the protocols we get to channel our energy to the ‘āina, aumakua, ‘āina and kanaka which brings us back to who we are and where we come from. This grounds us and sets the kahua [foundation] before anything else is done.”
DAY 3
We spent this whole day at the loko iʻa! We were happy that additional people from Lānaʻi joined in the work and with lessons learned from yesterday and additional planning by Peleke, we efficiently gathered pōhaku from the middle shoreline area of the pond while the tide was dropping.
After a late lunch and time to rest, the last discussion of the afternoon built on yesterday’s manaʻo of the six “clusters”. In six small groups, with time for one rotation, we discussed the changes we would observe in the “clusters” as a result of the work of Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa, and alongside these thoughts, we tried to identify anything that we could track or measure to document those changes. A handful of ideas came through for each of the six clusters and a small group will continue to refine, then get feedback from the larger group in the weeks following the gathering.
day 4
On our last day together we gathered in a closing circle before breaking down camp in the morning. This closing time is always important to reflect on our individual and collective experience over the course of the gathering.
On our way back to the city, we stopped at the Limu Farm and met with Cheryl Kaiaokamalie, Uncle Tommy Urpanil, Stan Ruidas, and Roman Dombrigues. This project was started by Cheryl’s late father and Uncle Tommy’s best friend, Uncle Allen Kaiaokamalie, who dreamed of restoring limu (inclusive name for any variety of native seaweed) to Lānaʻi and was prolifically experimental and active in trying to making it happen up until he passed away.
We looked at different limu cage designs and learned about the successful “seeding” of limu up and down the coastline from the Limu Farm, which we actually witnessed growing at Waiaʻōpae!
Back in the city, the Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center was our homebase again as we had a last meal together, filled out evaluations, and said goodbyes as half our group departed a few hours before the other half. We immediately began missing each other and started to share photos and reflections, already in anticipation of gathering together next year.
evaluation results
100% of participants* said they learned new resource management information that they will apply in their loko iʻa work. (*who answered this particular question!)
“As a result of participating in hui gatherings, I’ve increased my knowledge and confidence in restoring loko iʻa and finding ways to support the hui collectively.”
Some "effective elements of the gathering" were the laulima (cooperation, to work together) and hands-on work, and the discussion and talk-story times.
“I think the hana [work] was good to get everyone mingling, and that’s what sparked conversations between kiaʻi in order to swap manaʻo [thoughts, ideas] and ʻike [knowledge, understanding].”
MAHALO NUNUI to the following supporters who generously provided the means for Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa to gather this year:
University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Swayne Family Foundation, Sidney E. Frank Foundation, and Koaniani Fund. Mahalo to Pūlama Lānaʻi and the Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center for the deep partnership in planning, and for providing for significant costs in this year’s gathering, especially as indicated with ** below (thanks to grants from NOAA BWET and MET programs, and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation). The numbers shown solely represent KUA’s contribution to the gathering, and do not include KUA or Lānaʻi personnel costs. Importantly, this summary of spending also does not reflect the significant value that the kiaʻi loko themselves bring as volunteers to (1) participate in site restoration and (2) contribute to the growth and future direction of Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa.
mahalo palena ʻole...
We stood in awe of the hard work it took for the Lānaʻi crew to prepare the campsite (literally cutting down and clearing trees so there was room for our tents). Mahalo to Kaleo, Ben, Zeth, Koa, Jesse, Anela, Shelly, Taz, Stacy, and also the Department of Natural Resources crew for coming through!! We were fed nourishing meals from the calmest kitchen crew: mahalo Uncle Albert, Aunty Pam, Uncle Glen, Kelton, and Simon, and also Aunty Diane and Uncle Jonathan for supporting the whole camp. All our hosts on Lānaʻi gracefully coordinated the difficult logistics of this gathering. We honor their vision, hopes, and deep love for Waiaʻōpae and Lānaʻi. Mahalo to Kepā and Onaona Maly for contributing to our own foundation to know and love these places.
“Witnessing Lānaʻi families taking up their kuleana with such a small community was extremely inspiring.”
Mahalo to all the participants who bring life to these gatherings of Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa and then amplify it out to loko iʻa throughout Hawaiʻi!!
"This is still the most empowering gathering hands-down that I am blessed to be a part of every year. This gathering helps to prepare what we do to serve this ʻāina that nourishes us."
