Pohaha I Ka Lani

POHAHA I KA LANI, A NATIVE HAWAIIAN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP,PROPOSES THE HINAAIULUNUI PROJECT TO RESTORE CULTURAL AUTHORITY, REVITALIZE TRADITIONAL PRACTICES, AND FORMALIZEREGENERATIVE VISITOR ENGAGEMENT IN WAIPIO VALLEY. IN RESPONSE TO DECADES OF UNMANAGED TOURISM, ECOLOGICALDEGRADATION, AND EROSION OF INTERGENERATIONAL CULTURAL PRACTICE, THIS 12-MONTH INITIATIVE WILL REESTABLISH SACREDSITES AS LIVING CLASSROOMS LED BY NATIVE HAWAIIAN PRACTITIONERS, TRANSFORMING TOURISM INTO A FORCE OF RECIPROCITYAND COMMUNITY BENEFIT.THE PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND 2025 PRIORITIES OF THE HOIHI GRANT PROGRAM BY UPLIFTINGCULTURAL PRACTICE (CULTURE), PROTECTING SACRED LANDSCAPES (LAND), ENHANCING COMMUNITY-BASED VISITOR ENGAGEMENT (VISITOR ENGAGEMENT), AND SUPPORTING A CIRCULAR ECONOMY THROUGH FEE-BASED PROGRAMMING (ECONOMIC). THREE CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT SITESLALAKEA, NAPOOPOO, AND KOAEKEAWILL BE STEWARDED AS HUBS FOR EDUCATION AND RESTORATION. GUIDED BY KUAAINA (LINEAL DESCENDANTS), VISITORS WILL ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON MAHIAI (TRADITIONAL FARMING), MOOLELO (STORYTELLING), AND HULA, GROUNDED IN HAWAIIAN PROTOCOL.THE PROJECT HAS THREE KEY OBJECTIVES: (1) DELIVER 48 CULTURALLY IMMERSIVE VISITOR EXPERIENCES BY SEPTEMBER 2026 (2) ACTIVATE AND STEWARD THREE WAHI PANA AS CULTURALLY GROUNDED LEARNING SPACES AND (3) GENERATE $40,000 INEARNED INCOME TO FULLY SUBSIDIZE FREE EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMMING FOR 500 HAWAII RESIDENTS. THISREGENERATIVE MODEL ENSURES CULTURAL INTEGRITY AND COMMUNITY ACCESS WHILE REDIRECTING TOURISM REVENUE TOWARDCULTURAL PERPETUATION.POHAHA I KA LANI HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD, HAVING ENGAGED OVER 7,500 RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IN STEWARDSHIPEFFORTS SINCE 2009. WITH LONGSTANDING SITE CONTROL, CULTURAL LEADERSHIP, AND TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPSINCLUDING GIVEVOLUNTEERS AND HAWAIIAN CULTURAL EXPERTSTHIS PROJECT WILL LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON WAIPIO VALLEY, ADVANCINGNATIVE HAWAIIAN VALUES OF MALAMA AINA AND HOOKIPA WITH AUTHENTICITY AND RESPECT.

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.