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pause. inhale, exhale. taking a breath: KUA annual report 2018/2019

On January 16, 2019, we paused at the office to take a breath. Gathered in a circle, we participated in a year opening ʻawa ceremony. Together, we reflected on the year past, and set our intention for the year moving forward. Where have we been? Where are we going?

Pause. Inhale, exhale. It is our hope in this space to share that breath with you.

Below please find pictures, words, and numbers we've selected to share, reflecting the abundance (glows AND grows!) of our past year together, and expressing our intention and hopes for the year ahead.

In support of this effort, mahalo to Debbie Gowensmith of Groundswell for guiding our evaluative data-gathering and meaning-making, John Russell (JR) of JBR Business Services for keeping us on task with our financial data, and Kelsey Ige for her illustrations. Mahalo to Keahi Piʻiohiʻa, Kinohi Pizarro, Ikaika Wise, Keliʻi Kotubetey of Paepae o Heʻeia for their support to KUA in putting together our year opening ʻawa ceremony. Mahalo to Erèndira Aldana for your number crunching prowess.

Mahalo nui to the individual members of the KUA networks/hui who give so much (!), to the board and staff, our funders, partners, and to all the wahi (places) and kūpuna (elders, ancestors) who are the piko (generative center) of this collective work.

our "why."

We gather with intention. In gathering, we -- practitioners, ʻāina stewards, communities and families -- come together with shared purpose and shared vision. We share, we learn, we plan, we scheme (!), and we act -- together.

KUA's MISSION: By bringing people together through networks, providing strategic support where it's needed, and facilitating grassroots voice/advocacy, KUA seeks to advance a vision of ʻāina momona, ecological abundance that supports, uplifts and feeds the communities of our island home

photo: Hepunawaiphotography (Brandy Smith)

gathering and networking

Three-hundred and four (304) individuals (unduplicated, many of you attended more than one event last year!) from 74 different wahi/communities came together through gatherings, trainings and hoʻokua (collaborative) work days in 2018.

Together through collaborative workdays (8 days), over 300 of you provided restoration action to 44 acres of lands and waters, rebuilt over 100 linear feet of fishpond kuapā, and completed the foundation for a hale.

By gathering together at KUA events, in 2018 you made 4,367 conversational connections, and 3,460 new connections between people who had never before met. You carried your connections beyond gatherings; in surveys you shared 219 instances of working with each other outside of network events.

Two-thirds of you "strongly agree" you are achieving more together through the networks than you could alone.

“We family, so we always have our own points of view, and we take the time not only to hear each other out but support by lending a helping hand and even contributing/giving/sharing whatever resource we each have. This is love! Giving and showing support no matter what!”

photo: Scott Kanda

A little over half of you "strongly agree" that you as a network share a common purpose. 37% of you "strongly agree" that communication for the networks is sufficient. These are some areas where we can continue to improve and grow.

"There's always room for improvement."

photo: Kaʻohua Lucas

LIMU HUI

KALAEMANŌ, HAWAIʻI, APRIL 2018

In April 2018 in Kalaemanō, the Limu Hui brought together 68 individuals representing limu practices from 27 wahi (places) across the islands. The Hui was generously hosted by Na Maka o Papahānaumokuākea. The Limu Hui brings together loea limu (masters of native seaweed traditions) to share, document and perpetuate the knowledge, care, and use of limu.

photo: Kēhaulani Kupihea

HUI MALAMA LOKO IʻA

WAIAʻŌPAE, LĀNAʻI, MAY 2018

The annual gathering of this hui (group, network) of loko i'a (traditional aquaculture, fishponds) ki'ai (stewards, guardians) brought together 71 individuals from 27 loko in the presence of Waiaʻōpae on the island of Lānaʻi. Mahalo to the team at Pūlama Lānaʻi, friends and family, for hosting us. The gathering was held May 17 - 20, 2018.

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.

photo: Scott Kanda

E ALU PŪ

KAIKAHIKI, WAIMĀNALO, JULY 2018

E Alu Pū is a movement of community projects, families, groups, and organizations involved in stewardship of bio-cultural resources mai uka a i kai (from upland to the ocean).

Over July 19-21, 2018, E Alu Pū came together at Kaikahiki, Waimānalo. The annual gathering brought together 155 inter-generational community leaders from 43 communities across Hawaiʻi. Mahalo to our hosts, Godʻs Country Waimānalo, Ke Kula Nui o Waimānalo, and the Waimānalo Limu Hui.

support and capacity building

You told us you are learning new things from gatherings, workshops and other events KUA works to coordinate. 94% of you said you learned something new in 2018 that you would apply in your work. You also affirmed the importance of being together and what you learn from each other. 91% of you said you learned something new through talking story with others, alo i ke alo (face-to-face).

“I learned many things like even fishing areas change with the seasons and how different indicators in nature, including non-indigenous plants and animals, tell us when to look for certain sustainable items.”
"The ‘ohana made us feel and felt the abundant love, through sharing their troubles and triumphs. Place itself gave us embraced love through its many different elements. Spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally."
"We all struggle with the same challenges and just by talking to each other we can problem solve and work together to fix the challenge."

Of those of you who attended a gathering in 2017, one year later 78% of you said you actively applied something you learned there. 55% of you said you are employing a new strategy; new solution to a challenge; or change to a policy, program, process, or activity that you attribute directly to your participation in the Limu Hui, E Alu Pū, or Hui Malama Loko I'a.

Overall, only 37% of you felt that your capacity to manage natural resources in your places increased in 2018. This is something to dig into more deeply... Why? What does mean to us together?

In 2018, KUA provided fiscal sponsorship to 3 organizations, direct support (e.g., strategic planning assistance, technical support) to 22 community groups/hui in the networks, supported 3 community exchanges, and tried our best to respond to your requests (in surveys, conversations, and discussions) for trainings and workshops.

Across all the trainings provided in 2018, you reported in surveys that you felt your knowledge of the topics covered increased by 49%

"I learned to be a safer practitioner when building hale and eradicating invasive species"
"It was extremely valuable to hear from experts, to learn from each other, and to be inspired and empowered to move forward with funding/volunteer management."

MAIAU I KA MĀLAMA: Chainsaw Safety and Tree Felling

Trees like mangrove, ironwood eucalyptus and other invasives inhibit the function of fishponds, damage historic structures like heiau, or hinder goals to replant native or food plants to restore a sense of place and accessibility for cultural uses. There is also a demand for logs to build hale and community spaces. Chainsaw training/certification was one solution to address these issues and has been a request of E Alu Pū and Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa network members for quite some time. On February 22 - 24, 2018, 26 folks from 22 wahi/communities participated in Maiau i ka Mālama. Mahalo to Tiana Henderson/all our hosts at Camp Palehua, Malama Learning Center, Hoʻāla ʻĀina Kūpono, and the many, many organizations and hands who hosted and made this possible.

KAʻA I KA LAWA: Capacity-building Workshop for Ample Resources

The name Kaʻa i ka Lawa, gifted by Alex Puanani Connelly, speaks to the state of “being in enough,” what it might mean or how it would feel to step out of a state of scarcity, insecurity or struggle. What is possible when we have enough, when our needs are satisfied? Twenty-eight members of E Alu Pū, the Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa and Limu Hui together gathered at Camp Mokulēʻia September 21-23, 2018 for a workshop to serve mālama ʻāina leaders and communities who seek greater stability and sustainability in their place-based organizations.

OBSERVING OUR WORK, TELLING OUR STORY TOGETHER

In 2018, both the Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa and E Alu Pū collected data on shared measures for the first time. Together we are learning to observe in a collective (vs. individual) way, make meaning together, and finding our "what now?" together.

advocacy and system change

KUA staff and network members shared about the movement for grassroots, community-based land and ocean stewardship in 44 presentations/tabling sessions in 2018, and through participation in 12 committees/task forces (e.g., Hawaiʻi's 30x30 initiative, IUCN Commission for Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy).

In 2018, the Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa finalized a resolution to the Commission on Water Resource Management affirming clean, fresh water as critical to the functioning and future of loko iʻa (fishponds) across Hawaiʻi. The resolution calls upon the CWRM to "affirmatively determine the potential effects on loko i‘a caused by changes in water quantity and quality" in CWRM actions, including planning, issuing permits, and creating policy.

E Alu Pū continues to work to advance the practice and ethic of lawaiʻa pono -- fishing in a Hawaiian way. We seek to heal our collective relationship to fish and our fisheries -- from individual mindsets within our communities to government's commitment to its mandate to steward Hawaiʻi's fishing grounds for future generations.

KUA, ʻEwa Limu Project and the Limu Hui continue to carry on Uncle Henry's charge to us to teach people about the importance of limu (native seaweed), and the importance of fresh water to the future of limu. To continue to have limu grow on our shores, we need to protect the connectivity and flow of freshwater mauka (from in the mountains).

"Limu is so essential and people don’t realize it. It’s the balance… It’s the start of life. It’s the energy. We need it." - Uncle Henry Chang Wo, Jr.

backbone organization

Part of your charge to KUA is to serve as a backbone organization that is efficient, cost-effective and impactful. We strive to do this well.

UPHOLDING VALUES

In each survey and at each event, we ask you how we are doing in upholding the values with which you have charged KUA.

Generally between 70% - 80% of you give KUA the highest possible rating in upholding core values.

photo: Kaʻohua Lucas

SUSTAINABILITY AND FUNDING

We know you count on us; we continue to work to build a solid financial foundation for this work, which includes diversifying our funding sources, creative fundraising, and together making "the pie bigger" so we can reduce the need to compete against each other for resources.

Mahalo nui to our 2018 funders. Mahalo for believing in and investing in this work. Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Kamehameha Schools, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation FLEX Grant Program, Swayne Family Foundation, Sidney E. Frank Foundation, UH Sea Grant, Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program, NOAA Marine Education and Training (MET) Mini-Grant Program, Koaniani Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Omidyar Family Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and all the individuals and families who gave in 2018 from Hawaiʻi and around the world.

photo: Miwa Tamanaha

RAISING RESOURCES TOGETHER

In 2018, seventeen of you, representing 14 different community groups, made and donated chili pepper water to the PAKIPIKA Fundraiser. Together with mahalo swag designed by Keola Rapozo of FITTED Hawaii, these bottles helped raise over $12,000.

These unrestricted funds help KUA stay nimble, and supports "just-in-time" help to community efforts when and where its needed. Spicy!!

Mahalo also to Ginger Gohier for bringing her skills and "strategery" to this effort, and her special spark to social media and donor communications.

KUA maintains a small office at KEY Project, a community center in Kahaluʻu, on the island of Oʻahu.

Board of Directors: Hiʻilei Kawelo (President), Makaʻala Kaʻaumoana (Vice-President), Kahelelani Cruz (Secretary), Anne Swayne, Kapalaiʻula DeSilva, Pam Fujii

Two members of KUA's Board of Directors are selected by the communities of E Alu Pū. In 2018, E Alu Pū was represented on the KUA Board by Hannah Springer and Sol Kahoʻohalahala.

KUA is staffed by 5 full-time employees and three part-time employees. In requesting the creation of a non-profit to hold your work, community leaders of E Alu Pū charged KUA in 2013 to recruit and retain excellent staff, who stay at least an average of 4 years. After six years as a non-profit, our staff retention rate is 100%.

KUA Staff: Alex Connelly (E Alu Pū Coordinator), Brenda Asuncion (Loko Iʻa Coordinator), Kevin Chang (Co-Director), Kim Moa (Communications Coordinator), Lauren Muneoka (Program Administrator/Tech Guru), Miwa Tamanaha (Co-Director), Niegel Rozet (Planner), Wally Ito (Limu Hui Coordinator)

intentions and hopes for the coming year

welcome niegel!

In January 2019, we welcomed our newest staff, Niegel Rozet. Niegel will be serving KUA in the role of planner. Niegel is from Makawao, Maui and is growing his ʻohana in Kaimuki. He and his wife Ali, and the 2 small kids Aukahi (1.5 makahki) and Elena (2 mahina) love to go beach, dig holes and plant things. Niegel is very excited for the kids to get big enough to take em surfing. Niegel is super humbled to join the team and stoked to serve our people.

"Push up your light or go without" - Fat Freddys Drop

Photo: Ali Rozet

our co-leadership journey

When we first started out as a non-profit, we kept it loose, to figure out as we go. As we've grown, we've found a need for more structure and form. Though we (Kevin and Miwa) have led KUA in partnership since its inception in 2013, we've decided this year to formally pursue co-leadership, to compose together a structure that recognizes and aligns our contributions to leading KUA, and uplifts the gifts/magic of all the KUA staff: Alex, Brenda, Lauren, Kim, Niegel, and Wally. And the gifts/magic of all of YOU! We believe a solid team makes for solid work; we want to be the best team we can in service to this movement. We look forward to bringing you with us on our co-leadership journey!

going global... continued!

The 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress brought grassroots folks from around the world to Hawaiʻi and helped open our eyes to our connections to people, places and struggles around the globe. This year, we’ll be preparing to participate in the 2020 World Aquaculture Conference (Honolulu) and the 2020 IUCN World Conservation Congress (Marseille, France) -- a chance to continue to deepen our ties to community-based natural resource management efforts around the world.

Photo: Bethany Goodrich

...AND MORE!

...looking forward to a full year of gatherings, workshops, exchanges, and work days together. It's already begun!

Mahalo nui to Aunty Puanani Burgess and Aunty Lynette Paglinawan for giving of their time to work with us in 2018 and continuing to grow our practice.

to close, a blessing: for work

May the light of your soul bless your work with love and warmth of heart.

May you see in what you do the beauty of your soul.

May the sacredness of your work bring light and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work.

May your work never exhaust you.

May it release wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration, and excitement.

May you never become lost in bland absences.

May the day never burden.

May dawn find hope in your heart, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities, and promises.

May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.

May you go into the night blessed, sheltered, and protected.

May your soul calm, console, and renew you.

- John O’Donohue, “To Bless the Space Between Us"

John OʻDonohue is one of Aunty Puanani Burgess' favorite poets. Mahalo to Aunty Pua for introducing us.

Photo: Alex Connelly

Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA) www.kuahawaii.org

Evaluation data shared above is based on 298 surveys and has a confidence interval of 95%, with a margin of error of 5%. Mahalo to everybody who filled out surveys!

photos (not otherwise credited) by Kim Moa, text by Miwa Tamanaha, illustrations by Kelsey Ige

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