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ELEMENT 3. MALAMA `AINA AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
<br />Article 1. General.
<br />Section 3-1-1. Findings and purpose.
<br />Hawaii Island is defined by its land and waters, and by the enduring relationship
<br />between people and place. From mauka forests and upland watersheds to coastal shorelines and
<br />nearshore fishing areas, the island's natural and cultural landscapes sustain life, shape
<br />community identity, and carry forward `ike passed through generations. These places are not
<br />interchangeable or expendable; they are living systems that require care, restraint, and respect.
<br />Hawaii Island's residents have long understood "He all `i ka `aina, he kauwa ke kanaka"
<br />— the land is a chief, man is her servant. Healthy forests protect water sources. Intact shorelines
<br />support food systems and public access. Cultural landscapes, historic sites, and wahi pana anchor
<br />community memory and belonging. When these systems are tended well, they sustain families,
<br />communities, and local livelihoods. When they are neglected or overburdened, the impacts are
<br />felt across generations.
<br />Some natural, historic, and cultural places can support education, shared use, and public
<br />access. Others require privacy, protocol, or limited access to protect their meaning, integrity, and
<br />ongoing cultural practices. Responsible stewardship recognizes that care does not always mean
<br />visibility, and that discretion can be essential to preservation.
<br />The island's economy and daily life are inseparable from its resources. Agriculture,
<br />fishing, recreation, and local livelihoods depend on clean water, healthy ecosystems, open space,
<br />and continued access to the shoreline. At the same time, Hawaii Island is shaped by powerful
<br />natural forces —including volcanic activity, earthquakes, flooding, wildfire, coastal change, and
<br />erosion — that require humility, preparedness, and land use decisions grounded in local
<br />conditions.
<br />Malama `aina includes active management of land and resources. Responsible
<br />stewardship may require intervention, including forest and watershed management, game
<br />management, invasive species control, and access for subsistence practices such as hunting,
<br />fishing, and gathering. When guided by `ike, science, and community knowledge, these practices
<br />contribute to ecosystem health, food security, and cultural continuity.
<br />Growth and development must work within the limits of the island, not against them.
<br />Planning for the future requires balancing use with protection, access with responsibility, and
<br />short-term needs with long-term care of `aina. This includes honoring cultural practices,
<br />protecting public trust resources, and reducing avoidable risks to people and infrastructure.
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