Kumano I Ke Ala O Makaweli

WWD TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & TRAINING GRANTS

PROJECT ABSTRACT: KLAIWI CONNECTION PROJECTTHE KLAIWI CONNECTION PROJECT AIMS TO RESTORE AND PRESERVE NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANTS AT MHAIHAI, PROMOTERESPECTFUL AND EDUCATED TOURISM IN WEST KAUAI, AND CREATE QUALITY INA-BASED JOBS FOR THE NATIVE HAWAIIANCOMMUNITY. THE PROJECT ADDRESSES THE HIHI PROGRAM PRIORITIES OF SUPPORTING THE MAINTENANCE, ENHANCEMENT, ANDPROTECTION OF HAWAIIS NATURAL RESOURCES, PROVIDING FOR AUTHENTIC AND RESPECTFUL VISITOR EXPERIENCES, ANDENHANCING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL CAPACITY FOR THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY.PURPOSE:THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE KLAIWI CONNECTION PROJECT IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS ON KAUAI BYRESTORING NATIVE HABITATS, EDUCATE VISITORS ON RESPECTFUL TOURISM PRACTICES, AND EMPOWER THE LOCAL NATIVEHAWAIIAN COMMUNITY THROUGH JOB CREATION AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED:LAND PREPARATION AND PLANT RESTORATION: CLEAR AND REMOVE INVASIVE TREES ON 8 ACRES AT THE MHAIHAI SITE. RESTORENATIVE PLANTS THROUGH SITE PLANNING, PLANT SELECTION, OUTPLANTING, AND MAINTENANCE.EDUCATIONAL TOUR DEVELOPMENT: DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE EDUCATIONAL TOUR MATERIALS, INCLUDING BROCHURES AND DIGITALCONTENT CENTERED AROUND THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN FLORA AND FAUNA RESTORATIVE WORK.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND JOB CREATION: HIRE AND TRAIN TWO PART-TIME TOUR GUIDES FROM THE LOCAL NATIVE HAWAIIANCOMMUNITY, FOCUSING ON INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING NATIVE RESTORATION AND RESPONSIBLE TOURISM.EXPECTED DELIVERABLES OR OUTCOMES:ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES: THE RESTORATION OF 8 ACRES OF NATIVE HABITAT AT MHAIHAI, LEADING TO INCREASEDBIODIVERSITY AND IMPROVED ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE AREA. SUSTAINED GROWTH AND LONG-TERM SURVIVAL OF THE RESTOREDNATIVE PLANTS THROUGH CONTINUOUS OBSERVATION, MONITORING, AND MAINTENANCE.EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES: INFORMED AND RESPECTFUL VISITORS WHO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE FOUNDATIONAL HAWAIIANCONCEPTS SUCH AS ALOHA INA (LOVE FOR THE LAND), KLEANA (INHERENT RESPONSIBILITY), HIHI (RESPECT), ANDHOOPONOPONO (RESTORATION AND BALANCE).ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL OUTCOMES: CREATION OF QUALITY INA-BASED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY, PROMOTING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION. ENHANCED VISITOR EXPERIENCES THROUGH AUTHENTIC CULTURAL EXCHANGES WITH KNOWLEDGEABLE TOUR GUIDES, FOSTERING DEEPER CONNECTIONS TO THE LAND AND HAWAIIAN HERITAGEINTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THE KLAIWI CONNECTION PROJECT INCLUDE THE LOCAL NATIVEHAWAIIAN COMMUNITY, WHO WILL GAIN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT, AND THE VISITORS, WHO WILL RECEIVE ENRICHED AND RESPECTFUL TOURISM EXPERIENCES. ADDITIONALLY, THE BROADER KAUAI COMMUNITY AND ITS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WILL BENEFIT FROM THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND INCREASED BIODIVERSITY AT MHAIHAI.

WEST KAUA‘I FOOD SYSTEMS EDUCATION PROJECT