Planning for the Long-Term
Photo: The Yale group participating in an orientation to the natural, cultural, and spiritual landscapes of Hawai‘i Island. As a service learning project, the Yale students helped to weed invasive fountain grass from this dry forest habitat.
In 2006 The Kohala Center invited Yale University’s Center for Industrial Ecology (CIE) to conduct a material flow and an energy systems analysis of Hawai‘i Island. In 2007 a CIE team completed a comprehensive sustainable energy plan for the island, and in 2009 a life cycle energy inventory of the island’s water systems was also completed. The material flow and energy analysis and plan recommendations are available on The Kohala Center’s Web site. These studies have provided a useful framework to quantify material flows, use, and storage within island systems. These studies also provide a framework for understanding how these flows affect the systems’ ability to sustain the demands placed upon them by human communities and economic development. Results of the prior studies have already helped to shape public policy on the island, most notably via a series of energy efficiency legislation passed by the County Council in 2007–2008, with additional legislation pending.
The systems analysis and policy recommendations developed with our academic partners are now resulting in positive community and Council action. This is a good example of how high quality, independently generated data can inform local decision-making.
—Betsy Cole, Deputy Director, The Kohala Center
A dozen graduate students from Yale University’s Center for Industrial Ecology (CIE), along with CIE Director, Professor Tom Graedel, returned to Hawai‘i Island in March to conduct field research and attend meetings with island experts. Topics of the current round of studies include water use, tourism, a detailed look at one mixed-use residential development, biofuels, historic and present land-use, and changes in soil and ecological conditions on the island over time. These six studies will provide the context for longer-term studies, which are now in the design phase.
The Kohala Center and Yale are hoping to launch an ambitious 20-year study of Hawai‘i Island in May. The Long-Term Industrial Ecosystems Model, or LIEM-Hawai‘i project, will study the interaction between Hawai‘i’s natural environments and human impacts on those environments. Because Hawai‘i is an island, it provides an ideal setting to model how changes in human activity interact with and influence the island’s natural environments. LIEM-Hawai‘i is perhaps the most ambitious long-term study of an island ever proposed, and the knowledge generated by this project will undoubtedly have a global impact on our understanding of how such systems operate.
Learn more about LIEM on the back page.
The Heart of the Bay
By Cindi Punihaole, Public Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, TKC
Photo: “I am sharing the heart that is in the bay.” —Cindi Punihaole
In late 2006 when I first started to manage the Kahalu‘u Bay Project, Kahalu‘u was very sick. I could feel his sadness when I went into the water or even just standing on the beach. Today he feels much healthier. I believe this coral heart is full of gratitude and aloha for all of our volunteers who have given so much of their time and energy to take care of and heal him.
Last month, a couple from Minnesota came up to me and said that they visit Kahalu‘u every two years. At the end of 2006, they told each other that the next time they came back to Kona all of the coral would be dead at Kahalu‘u so they planned to go to Hōnaunau instead. When they arrived here five weeks ago, they took a snorkel at Kahalu‘u Bay and could not believe how beautiful the corals are. He, Jerry, said that the bay looks better than it did in 2006. He then volunteered as a ReefTeacher for the five weeks he was here. The rebirth of Kahalu‘u makes me very proud of our volunteers and very proud to be a part of The Kohala Center.
Learn more about the ReefTeachers’ “Meeting of the Minds” on February 20.
Reestablishing an Ancient Knowledge System
Photo: Dr. Pualani Kanahele.
Dr. Pualani Kanahele of the Edith Kanakaole Foundation will close out the Puana Ka ‘Ike (Imparting Knowledge) lecture series with her talk on “Papakū Makawalu: An overview of the reestablishment of an ancient system of knowledge inclusive of Papahulilani (those of the heavens, sky), Papahulihonua (those of the earth) and Papahānaumoku (those that are born).” Dr. Kanahele will speak in Kona on April 24, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Keauhou Beach Resort, Ballroom II. She will present her talk again in Hilo on April 27 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at UH Hilo, University Classroom Building #127.
Dr. Pualani Kanahele is of pure Hawaiian descent, and she was raised in a hula tradition that spans many generations. She knows the forest, the mountains, volcanism, and the ocean of her homeland from her Native Hawaiian perspective. She was educated in Western institutions and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. At the age of 69 in the winter of 2006, she received an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Dr. Kanahele is the president of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation, a small family foundation that focuses on promoting and elevating cultural knowledge and intelligence. She is a kumu hula and is also the director of Hawaiian Traditional Knowledge Research with Hawai‘i Community College. Dr. Kanahele is actively heading a research team of five people who are working to reestablish an ancient system of knowledge inclusive of Papahulilani, Papahulihonua, and Papahānaumoku. This work is supported by Bishop Holdings Corporation and Kamehameha Investment Company. Dr. Kanahele is also a member of the Senior Advisory Board of the Mellon-Hawai‘i Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.
The Puana Ka ‘Ike series aims to provide an educational forum for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture, history, and tradition. The lectures are sponsored by the Bishop Holdings Corporation, Kamehameha Investment Corporation, Bill Healy Foundation, The Kohala Center, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center, and the Keauhou Beach Resort. For more information on the April lectures, contact Cindi Punihaole at 808-895-1010 or via
e-mail at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org.
View the
series schedule or webcasts of previous lectures.
A Lifelong Learner
Photo: Nanette Nālani Sing (on the right of her grandmother), Mellon-Hawai‘i Doctoral Fellow, joins with five generations of her family to celebrate her grandmother’s 100th birthday.
As I am nearing the end of my doctoral program, I am full of anticipation and excitement. Perhaps one of the best things about finishing my degree will be the feeling of accomplishment in fulfilling my lifelong goal. A challenge for me will be deciding what’s next? As learning is a lifelong process for me, I know this is not the end, but rather a beginning for even bigger and better things to come! —Nanette Nālani Sing, 2008-2009 Doctoral Fellow
For as long as she can remember, Nālani Sing wanted to be a teacher and to make a positive impact on the lives of children in Hawai‘i. After over twenty-five years working in the Department of Education (DOE), as Hawai‘i Island’s first Hawaiian Studies Resource Teacher, as a vice principal and principal at Pahoa Elementary and Kea‘au Elementary Schools, and as a School Renewal Specialist, Nālani decided it was time to fulfill her lifelong goal of earning a doctoral degree. In 2005 Nālani enrolled in the Ph.D. Program for Educational Administration at Union Institute and University which is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, a distributed-learning program that allows Nālani to complete her academic requirements while continuing to work in Hawai‘i. Nālani’s research focuses on educational leadership and culture, a topic which translates immediately to her work training principals within the DOE. Integrating Native Hawaiian cultural values into her workshops and trainings for school personnel is a key component of Nālani’s job. Read "For the Children of Hawai‘i" to learn more about Nālani’s life and work.
The Mellon-Hawai‘i Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program was established in 2008. Five scholars were selected to receive year-long fellowships to support their academic work in Hawaiian cultural and natural environments, or Hawaiian history, politics, and society. This is the fourth in a series of articles profiling the 2008-2009 fellows.
In Celebration of Food
Photo: ‘Uala, or sweet potato, was a major staple in the dryland field systems. Protected from cattle and pigs, it is growing once again in Puanui in Ka‘ūpūlehu, where it is being cultivated as part of an ongoing research and education project.
Ever since our October 2007 Food Summit, we have seen a surge of interest in island-based food production. And so we decided to design special learning events for members of The Kohala Center’s Circle of Friends, so that we may all experience contemporary and historic ways in which food is produced on Hawai‘i Island. —Matt Hamabata, Executive Director, The Kohala Center
The Kohala Center (TKC) recognizes that increasing our local food supply and creating effective food distribution systems is an essential part of the transition to greater island self-reliance and sustained economic security. Our work in the food sector includes an update to the County’s Agriculture Development Plan; oversight of the Hawai‘i Island Food Systems Project to increase the local market share for island-grown food; and coordination of the Hawai‘i Island School Garden Network to identify and expand exemplary garden projects in communities around the island. The groundswell of community support for these projects has been nothing short of remarkable. Local residents are in agreement that our island can and should increase its consumption of locally produced food.
Over the next six months TKC will host “Cool Farms, Hot Lunches,” a series of five special events in celebration of food. Our members are invited to visit thriving local farms and learn more about how traditional Hawaiian agriculture was able to sustain a human population perhaps double that which exists here today, with no imported fertilizers or pesticides. Learn more about the “Cool Farms, Hot Lunches” member events.
The success of our work depends upon the support of our membership. In Fiscal Year 2007–2008, 28% of TKC’s funding came from individual gifts. Join our Circle of Friends and enjoy special learning events, as well as discounts and gifts from local businesses.
Hawai‘i Nei 2009: Native Species Art Contest
Photo: Native wet forest of Kohala Mountain. Photo by Melora Purell.
The Natural Area Reserves System, the Volcano Art Center Gallery, and the Three Mountain Alliance Watershed Partnership (a sister partnership to the Kohala Watershed Partnership) are proud to present the first juried art exhibition on the Island of Hawai‘i celebrating native flora and fauna. The exhibition is open to all residents of Hawai‘i County, including children. Amateur and professional artists of all ages are encouraged to submit works of art celebrating the native plants, animals, and landscapes of Hawai‘i nei (our beloved island).
An exhibition of the winning artworks will be on display at the Volcano Art Center Gallery from June 13 to August 2, 2009. Entries may be submitted on May 29 or May 31 at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. The opening reception is scheduled for June 13, with a Keiki (student) Reception from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for young artists and their families. A formal reception will follow in the evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Art hikes, workshops, classes, and presentations to inspire and educate would-be artists are being offered at sites around the island in April and May.
For more information on the exhibit and a prospectus, visit the Volcano Art Center’s Web site.
Learn more about upcoming Art Hikes, including a May 9 Kohala Mountain hike hosted by Melora Purell.
Honoring Future Farmers
Congratulations to Honoka‘a High School students Kristy Acia, who won first place, and Kaimana Lutey, who won second place, in the statewide Future Farmers of America Agriculture Science Fair Competition in March. Kristy and Kaimana joined fellow members of the Honoka‘a High and Intermediate School Agriculture/Future Farmers of America Program, who attended the annual Career Technical Education Student Organization Conference held on O‘ahu from March 11–13.
Kristy’s project was titled “Growing Lettuce Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics.”
Learning about aquaculture and hydroponics combined to make aquaponics was a mind-blowing process. I learned about the nitrogen cycle, and I learned how to grow lettuce the best possible way as far as organic goes. Participating in the ag science fair was nerve wracking but it was an awesome experience. The judges were tough at times, but all together it was a great learning experience. —Kristy Ann Acia
Kaimana’s project was “Vertical Gardening vs. Traditional Gardening.”
Photo: Kaimana Lutey.There are many things that I learned in doing this project, from the basic growth patterns of different planting methods to the use of these planting methods in the modern world. I also learned how to use different tools and measuring skills to help complete my project. This is key for me because I'd like to major in a construction type of business. At the ag fair I learned how to be a better speaker; talking in front of the three judges helped me to become more confident in myself. I would like to do this next year and am hoping to learn even more. —Kaimana Lutey
Manuel Jadulang, Honoka‘a High School Agriculture Teacher, attributes a large part of the success of the school’s ag program to his predecessor,
Mr. Nathan Kawashima, who worked at the school for over 25 years. During that time the school developed an extensive program utilizing six greenhouses, an agriculture shop, a plant tissue culture lab, and an aquaculture area. Jadulang, who began working at the school two years ago, teaches students in grades 9–12. All Honoka‘a High School students are encouraged to take the first year Natural Resources class. Advanced classes include horticulture, agricultural technology, agricultural science, and aquaculture. A total of 130 Honoka‘a High School students are enrolled in these classes. Jadulang and his students are currently experimenting with some new projects, including growing native plants, becoming more sustainable/organic with their vegetable crops, exploring aquaponics, and doing vertical gardening.
The agriculture program gives Honoka‘a High School students the chance to work outside and to learn to respect and better appreciate the importance of agriculture. It also gives them the opportunity to gain some knowledge and skills in the natural resources field. They can, hopefully, use some of what they learn in their own lives or in their future careers. —Manuel Jadulang
Jadulang would like to thank the following people for providing mentoring and technical assistance to Kristy and Kaimana for their agriculture science fair projects: Tim Mann and Suzanne Friend of Friendly Aquaponics; Leyla Cabugos of the UH STEM Workforce Development Program; and Dr. Ted Radovich from the UH Mānoa College of Tropical Horticulture and Human Resources. The Honoka‘a High and Intermediate School Agriculture Program participates in The Kohala Center’s Hawai‘i Island School Garden Network.
How Big Were the Dinosaurs?
Photo: Kohala Elementary School first graders coloring one of their life-size dinosaurs.
In mid-December a completely renovated building at Kohala Elementary School opened its doors as the school’s new science resource center and the new home for the Hidden Jewels program. For the past three years, The Kohala Center has teamed with Susan Lehner, a science teacher who specializes in the integration of the arts and sciences, to design and implement the Hidden Jewels program into the school’s curriculum. Students in grades two through five learn science from Lehner and apply their understanding of scientific concepts to art projects designed by artist Peter Kowalke. The Hidden Jewels program sparked a school-wide effort to integrate science content into the overall elementary curriculum.
First graders are enjoying their first year in the HJ program, which has been introducing innovative hands-on science to Kohala Elementary School students for the past four years. Students in grades 2–5 focus on a particular science discipline each year, including Hawaiian forests, oceans, volcanoes, and skies. First graders have been enjoying a sampler of topics, as an introduction to their more in-depth studies at the higher grade levels. A few of the topics they touched upon include:
- Animal Tracks - What different animal feet look like and why they look that way.
- Magnification - Using a simple loupe magnifier to see another view of everyday objects.
- Birds - What makes them special, how their feathers work, how they look under those loupes, and how feathers inspired the invention of Velcro.
- Ocean - Sorting plastic ocean animals into Venn rings according to their different characteristics.
- Planets - The order of the planets from our sun and how to remember them (“My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles”).
Photo: Dinosaur artists and HJ teacher Peter Kowalke survey their finished dinosaur.
The Hidden Jewels interdisciplinary science curriculum is created and taught by Kohala residents Susan Lehner and Peter Kowalke. With the support of The Kohala Center, this program recently moved into a new Science Resource Center at Kohala Elementary School, where students in grades 1–5 and their teachers are engaged in hands-on science lessons.
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