COM 0954.000 2016-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

V. APPLICANT INFORMATION A. Brief history of the applicant organization. Include the date of incorporation as a non- profit organization (use attachments where appropriate): Ho'omalu Ka'u is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization located in Na'alehu, Ka'u, on Hawaii Island. The organization was formed on March 02, 2011 with three founding members. Ho'omalu's mission is to perpetuate, protect, and conserve the lands, health, knowledge, cultures, and history of Ka'u and its people. The board currently consists of seven members with Kau connections, each with various leadership, educational and managerial backgrounds in businesses and local community organizations. In 2011, Ho'omalu received a donation Of 15 acres in Kahuku containing a pristine dry -land native forest. The property borders the 25,55o acre, State of Hawaii, Manuka Natural Area Reserve to the west and includes more than 1,000 feet of frontage on Mamalahoa Highway between Mile Markers 79 and 8o on the makai side, This land was given for the purpose of building and operating a heritage center for Ka,'u. This Heritage Center is being planned as a state-of-the-art archival center that will not only house Ka'u family photos, maps, letters, books, papers, collected stories, oral histories, maps, and artifacts, but also serve as an educational, gathering, and welcome center for Ka'u organizations, families, and visitors with the remainder of the property to be preserved as part of the dryland forest system. In 2014, Ho'omalu Ka'u completed a boundary and topographic survey of its Kahuku property. We also completed a biological survey of its (22) twenty-two native plant species as well as an archaeological survey and mapping of Keala'ehu, an ancient trail which traverses through the middle of the property. We co - hosted cultural workshops as part of the Summer Fun program. At Volcano, we taught 5t'x an 61h graders how to video -interview their kupuna. We also participated in multiple cultural festivals, events and fundraisers. In 2015, we printed and published our booklet entitled, "Native Plants of the Ka'u Dryland Forest." Hawaii's dryland forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. The purpose of the booklet was to educate the community about native Hawaiian plants in Ka'u including their environmental value and cultural significance. As people begin to identify and appreciate our native species, we believe that they will make stronger efforts to protect and preserve these native plants when developing new house lots and landscaping their yards. We held our first "Native Dryland Forest" workshop at Kahuku Park in Ocean View. In 2o16, we hosted three additional "Native Dryland Forest" workshops in Paliala, Ocean View and Discovery Harbour. We also raised more than $25,000 to complete the installation of our predator proof fencing at the makai end of our Kahuku property, connecting with fencing along the Manuka NABS border to the west. In 2017, we completed over fifteen "Kupuna of Ka'u" video records of the life histories and stories of local elders to be archived at our future Ka'u Heritage Center. We also formed a Kahua Olohu Committee to plan and prepare for stewardship of the Kahua Olohu in Kaunaniano Ahupuaa, Ka'u through the submittal of a County POMC Stewardship Grant Request application. Ho'omalu Ka'u was a strong supporter of the County's purchase of the property under the POC program. Board members of Ho'omalu Ka'u include family members of the KeaDU'Obana who are direct lineal descendants of the area. This new committee includes a total of five lineal descendants of Ka'u who are currently involved in various community efforts to preserve, protect and steward our island's cultural and natural resources.