In August, 2022, Governor Ige promulgated rules for the Miloliʻi Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA).  Kalanihale then became a partner with the Division of Aquatic Resources to manage the Miloliʻi CBSFA.  In this new role, Mohala Nā Konohiki will serve as the primary support for the Miloliʻi Marine Management as generational stewards.

 

In Spring 2023, Mohala Nā Konohiki will continue to “Ma ka hana ka ʻike, in doing one learns.” They will provide survey & monitoring of its marine resources, continue their konohiki training, while building their contemporary marine skills discipline to proficiently monitor the 18.6 mile CBSFA and building on volunteers to kōkua in the efforts.  A cohort of Junior Apprentices will be recruited of which Mohala Nā Konohiki will mentor.

 

Mohala Nā Konohiki Apprentices (MNK) will survey marine resources, continue konohiki training, build contemporary marine skills to proficiently monitor the 18.6mi CBSFA and continue to mentor a cohort of junior apprentices recruited in the Fall of 2022.

 

Background:

 

I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope. “The future is in the past” is used to describe the Hawaiian traditional practice of looking to the time and people that have come before us as the source of knowledge that will carry us into the future. Our kūpuna held invaluable ʻike and thrived in this rugged landscape of Kapalilua and Miloliʻi due to careful management of environmental resources according to the rhythms of the natural environment.

The kūpuna who came before us remained committed to the cultural values and traditional practices they have taught us, that has sustained our community for generations, and that of which we carry the kuleana going forward. The strict adherence to practices that incorporate natural patterns to maintain a healthy ecosystem so our community could thrive was embedded in the konohiki and ahupuaʻa management systems. What exists today is not a blueprint of the past, however over time (from past to when the konohiki rights got bought out) there were many changes to the laws and government so konohiki and konohiki fishing rights have evolved over the years.

 

Since 2018, a few of our Miloliʻi ʻohana have been committed to returning to these practices and learning about the natural rhythms and cycles and have been training as apprentices under the keen guidance of Uncle Mac Poepoe from Molokai. Mohala Nā Konohiki (MNK) was co-developed by Uncle Mac and Kēhau Springer to define the next generation of konohiki relevant for today, by providing a space to train apprentices in monitoring techniques and ways to analyze and conceptualize ecosystem function and health for the nearshore fisheries that is grounded in ʻike Hawaiʻi.

 

Over the last five years, we have deepened our understanding and knowledge of the seasonal cycles of fish and invertebrates. We have developed a more intimate connection and appreciation of these resources. In this journey, we not only were able to bring forth the wisdom of our kūpuna, but we were able to look at contemporary ways to evaluate the health and abundance of our oceans.

We recently got unanimous approval by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to codify the rules and regulations found in the Miloliʻi Marine Management Plan (MMP) and it will soon be signed by the Governor. This has been a tremendous feat started over 30 years ago, but as we enter into the phase of implementing the MMP, we will continue to hold these traditions by building upon these strong foundations and continuing to find adaptive solutions and guidance to manage our nearshore fisheries.

 

In addition to the current MNK apprentices, we will also recruit Jr. apprentices from Miloliʻi to shadow and participate in some of the monitoring and training events. Since 2012, Kua O Ka Lā Hiʻipuʻu Virtual Academy has offered a blended in-person and online education enrichment program, serving students in grades 4 thru 8 in the Kapalilua district. Based in Miloliʻi, this Hīpuʻu Academy has a strong emphasis on place-based and Hawaiian cultural learning, grooming aloha ʻāina stewards.

The Miloliʻi Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area subzone of Puakaiʻa serves as a nearshore marine learning classroom for their marine and environmental science studies. Mohala Nā Konohiki shares place-based knowledge with these learners regularly. They will be guided by the MNK apprentices who will provide training on the lawaiʻa and monitoring practices. By securing a cohort of Jr. apprentices, we are not only providing a experiential learning experience for these youth, but we are investing in the next generation of aloha ʻāina and konohiki leaders that will be part of the succession plan for the management of our nearshore resources.

 

Program Goals:

 

To continue the traditions of konohiki values, principles and practices in Miloliʻi by maintaining the space of active learning for the next generation of aloha ʻāina, kiaʻi ʻāina and konohiki of Miloliʻi.

 

Learning Outcomes:

• Outcome 1 - A new generation of konohiki apprentices have the foundational understanding of konohiki principles, values and practices and are equipped with generational knowledge and adaptive management skills resulting in their participation in training and monitoring efforts of Mohala Nā Konohiki Miloliʻi.

• Outcome 2 - As a result of participating in the Mohala Nā Konohiki monitoring and training in Miloliʻi, the apprentices will increase the application of their knowledge of marine resources into the management of their Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area and adjacent waters.

• Outcome 3 - Increased 7-12 grade student exposure to generational fishing and konohiki practices and values. Students are able to articulate pride of self and place relevant to their learning experiences.

Program Schedule:

 

Please note that our programming doesnʻt operate only on the DOE school schedule. Because we have adult learners in our program, we are able to conduct training and monitoring during all times over the course of the year. Learning outcome 2 describes how the ʻike and knowledge of marine resources will be applied into management. So many times we structure our training and monitoring according to what nature is telling us. We are guided by the moon and the season. Some of the training and learning experiences can happen in sync with the DOE schedule, but you will also note that we have a placeholder for our monitoring and training to happen on 1 day from a selection of days (because we are targeting certain moon phases and tides).

The Mohala Nā Konohiki Miloliʻi experiences and apprentices are the backbone and foundation for the Miloliʻi Marine Management Plan and Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area. The apprentices are the eyes and ears of what is happening on land (w/ fishers, keiki, ʻohana) but also what is happening in the kai (understanding fish behavior, cycles, currents). So the MNK apprentices will be training and monitoring regularly throughout the whole year. Please see the schedule below that is based on the moon and seasons.

Spring 2023

Date Purpose Notes

Jan. 2 MNK 2023 Planning “Ma ka hana ka ʻike”

Feb. 4 Community Day in water monitoring

Feb. 23 Ma ka hana ka ʻike Homeschool Academy w/ Polima

Hukilau building

Mar. 4 Mālama Miloliʻi Shoreline Clean-up

Mar. 4 Community Day in water monitoring

Mar. 23 Ma ka hana ka ʻike Waianae High School

ʻUmu building Marine Learning Center

Apr. 4 Outreach for Oceans Day at Hawaiiʻs Capitol

Apr. 5 MNK Jr. Apprentice Haʻawina

Apr. 10 MNK & KOKL Letter to Josh Green

Apr. 14 MNK & Carpe Diem ʻOpihi Monitoring

 

Jan 2 - April 15

Monday Jan 2, 2023 - MNK Planning 2023 with the Director of Kalanihale to set a message to the MNK team based on ʻike hawaiʻi, to best guide us into 2023. “Ma ka hana ka ʻike” In doing one learns. Bringing forth experiential learning and hands on monitoring methods for place-based knowledge and education.

 

Saturday Feb 4, 2023 - Community Day in water monitoring of marine managed species and species dissections for the Miloliʻi CBSFA with MNK Apprentices, MNK Junior Apprentices, and Community volunteers.

(6) MNK Apprentices

(4) MNK Junior Apprentice

(10) Community Volunteers📷

 

Thursday Feb. 23, 2023 - “Ma ka hana ka ʻike” how to build a hukilau and executing its use with Homeschool Academy from Kailua Kona.

(4) MNK Apprentices

(3) MNK Junior Apprentices

(1) Academy Leader

(5) Mākua oh the homeschool academy

(6) Hāumana of the homeschool academy

📷

 

Saturday March 4, 2023 - Mālama Miloliʻi Day done by community members and volunteers, taking care of the shoreline of Miloliʻi.

(2) MNK Apprentice

(15) Volunteers

📷

 

Saturday March 4, 2023 - Community Day in water monitoring of marine managed species and species dissections for the Miloliʻi CBSFA with MNK Apprentices, MNK Junior Apprentice, and Community Volunteers.

(7) MNK Apprentices

(5) MNK Junior Apprentices

(8) Community Volunteers

📷

 

Thursday March 23, 2023 - “Ma ka hana ka ʻike” how to build ʻumu (baby fish housing) in the loko iʻa of Omokaʻa, with students and teachers from Kua o ka Lā Hipuʻu Academy and Waiʻanae High Schoolʻs Marine Learning Center.

(3) MNK Apprentices

(2) MNK Junior Apprentices

(2) Hāumana from Kua o ka Lā Hipuʻu Academy

(1) Kumu from Kua o ka Lā Hipuʻu Academy

(3) Leaders from WHS Marine Learning Center

(14) Hāumana from WHS Marine Learning Center

 

Tuesday April 4, 2023 - Pilina Kanaloa Oceans Day at the capitol doing outreach along side other communities, NGOʻs, and State agencies to bring awareness to state legislators of our work for our ocean. Miloliʻi (3) attended to advocate for our traditional and customary fishing practices and community lifestyle.📷📷

 

Wednesday April 5, 2023 - MNK Junior Apprentice (8) did online read on a story of a boy from Hoʻokena and his lesson on ʻōpelu fishing followed by a haʻawina of these 5 questions:

📷

Kamu and the Pueo - https://heyzine.com/flip-book/72641e9ddb.html

1.Would you like to see stories like this specific to Miloliʻi?

2. Do you know your ʻohana ʻaumakua? If so, list it. If not, ask your kūpuna.

3. How did the moʻolelo make you feel?

4. What is your take away after reading the story?

5. Would you like to go holoholo and hānai ʻōpelu?

 

Monday April 10, 2023 - Laila Kaupu shared with the hāumana of Kua o ka Lā   on outreach and advocacy  for Miloliʻi CBSFA at the State Capitol for Oceans Day. As an advocacy exercise for our young stewards, they were given “Help Save the Reefs” postcards to sign their names and leave their message for Governor Josh Green to support our ocean. 📷

(1) MNK Apprentice

(3) Kumu of Kua o Ka Lā

(11) Hāumana of Kua o Ka Lā

📷with 1 being a MNK Junior Apprentice

 

Friday April 14, 2023 - ʻOpihi counts with Carpe Diem, led by MNK Apprentice Wesley Basinga & Ted Waite-Crawford. Introducing this group to the place, counting and identifying the different species of ʻopihi within the area of Hoʻōpūloa. Also a species on the Miloliʻi CBSFA Marine Management species list.📷

(2) MNK Apprentices

(3) MNK Junior Apprentices

(2) Carpe Diem Leaders

(9) Carpe Diem Students