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What has the 'Ahahui Been Up To?

"E na hoa makamaka mai ka hikina a ka la i Ha'eha'e a i ka mole 'ole o Lehua.
Aloha pumehana kakou!"
Take a moment to browse through our latest newsletter to find out what the 'Ahahui does in the realms of conservation, Hawaiian culture, and education.

CONTENTS:

'O wai na 'Ahahui ma? -- Who are these 'Ahahui folks?

No Na Pua o ka Halau Hula -- Hula Conference

'Ahahui board meeting schedule

'Ahahui Protects Endangered Nehe on DHHL Lands

Manuscript on Hawaiian Plant Names

Malama ia Kanaloa -- Kaho'olawe Update

Gwich'in and ANWR Update

32 Hawaiian Plants Proposed for Endangered Species List

Hawaiian Rights Amicus Submitted

Native Hawaiian Rights Reaffirmed

Hawaiian Legal Land-Terms Published!

Ahupua'a Action Alliance

Hawaiian Civic Clubs Want to Protect Endangered Habitats

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'O wai na 'Ahahui ma? -- Who are these 'Ahahui folks?
The'Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi: Native Hawaiians for the Preservation and Conservation of Hawai'i's Ecosystems. We are a group of Hawaiian scientists and conservationists who have pledged to devote ourselves to activities "which promote the preservation of native species and ecosystems and which promulgate the importance of the native environment to the Hawaiian culture." Back to CONTENTS

No Na Pua o ka Halau Hula -- Aha Kuka
Hula Workshop, March 2nd at Ke'elikolani Auditorium
The 'Ahahui sponsored a hula workshop at Ke'elikolani Auditorium on the Kamehameha Schools campus. The workshop included a panel of kumu hula talking about the relationships and responsibilities of halau hula to the natural world and the most conservative means of collecting native plant materials. The event informed the public on the traditional art of hula and the importance of Hawaiian conservation values. Over 300 registrants responded to the invitation to attend, and between thought-provoking and very rich discussions by the morning panel (kumu John Lake, Kalani Akana and Pua Kanahele, and biologists Puanani Wong and Sam Gon III) and afternoon workshops on lei-making, native plant identification, growing native plants, and a proposal by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to work with halau to help protect and preserve native ecosystems, those attending gave the 'Ahahui's first conference high praise. The workshop was co-sponsored by Hui Lama, the Kamehameha Schools hiking club. Back to CONTENTS

The 'Ahahui board meeting schedule for the first half of 1996:

January 7th
February 11th
March 10th
April 7th
May 5th

All meetings take place at Dr. Burrows' house (3362 Ka'ohinani Drive) from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The meetings are open. Call Doc for details (595-3922). Back to CONTENTS

'Ahahui Protects Endangered Nehe on DHHL Lands
The 'Ahahui, with other conservation and native Hawaiian groups signed a letter protesting the recent ruling by Deputy Attorney General George Kaeo. The ruling would have allowed the Solomon 'ohana to graze and mine Pu'u Pupa'a on Hawaiian Homes Lands in Waimea. The activity, if allowed, would potentially destroy one third of the endangered nehe population found on the cone. The plant is found on Hawaiian Homes Lands. The letter stated five main points that violate the state and federal endangered species acts. In response to our letter, the Honolulu-Star bulletin (Dec. 26, 1995) reported that DHHL chairman, Kali Watson is interested in exploring a land swap with the endangered plant population but, still argues that DHHL is exempt from environmental laws because they create an "encumberence". Back to CONTENTS

The "Joy of Pigs"
Mahalo nui loa to Steve Montgomery, Anita Manning, and Moana Productions for helping in the August filming of the Hawai'i segment of a documentary on the role of pigs in human culture. The filming was conducted at Ka'ala Farms. We look forward to seeing the final production on public television sometime later this year. Thanks also to Ron Fenstenmacher, David Anderson, Ryan Kakalia, Sam Gon III, Kapono'ai Molitau, Hui Lama and 'Ahahui board members for helping in this, our first, film production. Back to CONTENTS

Joseph Rock Manuscript on Hawaiian Plant Names

It has been a while since we have worked on the "Revised List of Hawaiian Names of Plants Native and Introduced" by Joseph F. Rock. As you may remember, Sam Gon gave the manuscript to the 'Ahahui to edit and annotate. It is hoped we can later publish this important document that currently only exists in manuscript format. If your want to help out on this very important project, Call Karen Victor at 843-2231.

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Malama ia Kanaloa -- Kaho'olawe Update

Biogenesis Pacific Inc. has received the Kaho'olawe Island three month model clean-up contract. 'Ahahui secretary, Mike Naho'opi'i is one of the project managers for this Native Hawaiian environmental company. 'Ahahui members Nathan Nishimura and Puanani Wong were the main botanists hired by BPI. They provided species accounts as well as conservation recommendations for rare species and habitats on the island. On a related note...the Bishop Museum will open their newest exhibit, "Kaho'olawe: Ke Aloha Kupa'a i ka 'Aina" beginning January 20th. This opening coincides with the recent publication of "Kaho'olawe: Na Leo o Kanaloa" a bilingual and pictorial history of one of the most precious Hawaiian Islands.

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Gwich'in and ANWR Update
This Fall, The 'Ahahui was asked to join an coalition called H.A.U.K.E.A. (Hawai'i-Alaska 'Ulili-Kolea Emergency Alliance) to protect the Gwich'in way of life and the natural resources of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We participated in public events, shot a television segment on 'Olelo channel 22, and submitted testimony to Hawai'i's congressional delegation. The following is the latest news on the proposed oil drilling in the ANWR...
The Gwich'in Athabascans, a band of about 5,000 in northeastern Alaska and northwestern Canada, have led Native opposition to ANWR drilling. They claim the project would decimate the huge migrating Porcupine caribou herd on which their diet and culture is based. Pro-drilling Republicans in Congress recently passed a seven year budget plan that authorizes ANWR oil drilling, estimating the development on the refuge's coastal plain will bring $1.3 billion to the federal treasury in lease revenues.
President Bill Clinton cited that drilling provision in December as one of the reasons for his veto. He has vowed to block any attempt to put oil wells and pipelines into what he calls an environmentally sensitive national treasure -- the refuge is home to polar bears, caribou and millions of migrating birds.
Nevertheless, Republicans are counting on as much as $1.3 billion in fees from sales of oil leases in the wildlife refuge as part of their blueprint for achieving a balanced budget over the next seven years. The administration doubts anywhere near that much in fees will be collected. ``As the facts are nailed down, their promised billions begin to melt away like spring snow,'' said Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, an avowed opponent of the drilling proposal. Under the law that made Alaska the 49th state, 90 percent of all oil related fees and royalties must go to the state. And unless the Alaska legislature -- or the people of Alaska, as many argue must be the case -- agree to something less, the 90 percent distribution is likely to be upheld by the courts, attorneys familiar with the issue say. Back to CONTENTS

32 Hawaiian Native Plants Proposed for Addition to Endangered Species List

Thirty-two rare native plant species that exist only on the islands of Hawai'i and Kaua'i are being proposed for addition to the Federal threatened and endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. One particular species, known as hau kuahiwi, has completely disappeared in the wild and exist only in private gardens and as cultivated individuals planted back into their original habitat. Many other species have five or fewer populations, and several are represented by fewer than 10 remaining individual plants. Two plants are proposed as threatened species; the remaining are proposed for endangered status.

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Hawaiian Rights Amicus Submitted
The 'Ahahui has submitted an amicus brief along with 'Ahahui O Hawai'i to protect the Pai 'Ohana's claims as kahu at Honokahauiki, Kona. Written by attorney Bryan Nakamura, the brief explains the genealogical ties the Pai 'ohana have to Kona, and their role as kahu for the heiau and fishponds. Back to CONTENTS

Native Hawaiian Rights Reaffirmed
In a unanimous decision by the State Supreme Court, Native Hawaiian Rights were reaffirmed to extend onto private property. Judge William Klein in the landmark decision, Public Access Shoreline Hawaii v. Hawaii County Planning Commission (Civ. No. 90-293 K (1995)), elevated the rights of native Hawaiians on equal footing with western real property rights. The court also noted that all government agencies have an enforceable duty to preserve and protect such traditional rights. Back to CONTENTS

Hawaiian Legal Land-Terms Published!
Last December, Native Books and Things sponsored a reception for the long-awaited arrival of "A Dictionary of Hawaiian Legal Land-Terms". 'Ahahui consultant, Paul Nahoa Lucas has compiled a dictionary of legal land terms from extensive legal research of land conveyance documents. The book is a shining testimony to Nahoa's expertise in both Hawaiian law and Hawaiian language. Back to CONTENTS

Ahupua'a Action Alliance
In September, Dana Nakasato represented The 'Ahahui at a Kona meeting of the Ahupua'a Action Alliance. This is a group of 50+ organizations organized by Lynette Cruz and Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund. With such an alliance our voices on both conservation and cultural issues can be better heard throughout the State. Back to CONTENTS

Hawaiian Civic Clubs Want to Protect Endangered Habitats

Last November, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs passed a resolution calling for more pro-active involvement of Hawaiians with conservation groups, departments, and agencies. the 'Ahahui was one of the groups recognized in the resolution.

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Closing Quote:
"The truth is, there is man and there is environment. One does not supercede the other. The breath in man is the breath of Papa. Man is merely the caretaker of the land that maintains his life and nourishes his soul. Therefore, the 'aina is sacred. The church of life is not in a building, it is the open sky, the surrounding ocean, the beautiful soil..."
George Helm, January 1977

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