2019 Pohaha I Ka Lani Final Report_Waipio Valley Lookout, Hamakua TMK No.: (3) 4-8-004:006 (2)

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care for the area to hosting smaller groups. Our groups mainly ranged from 2 -10 individuals. When groups were larger, we hired a few individuals to help with hosting groups to allow larger groups to be divided into smaller groups. We did our best to ensure all would be safe. Sanitizing of tools, tables, and chairs. Gloves to work in the gardens were purchased and participants were able to keep the gloves that they used. In the past we would wash and reuse the gloves. Meals and snacks offered to volunteers were individually wrapped. With smaller group settings, we still focused on teaching participants what each group asked to learn i.e we are often asked to teach mo`olelo, place names, some halau hula asked us to teach them more history of mele that they are learning. We took 2020 as a time to heavily focus on mele such as the one listed above and teach people the importance of taking care of honua and taking care of themselves. Our ancestors had the `ahupua`a system that provided momona to each section (from ma uka to ma kai). Recognizing that importance of keeping that dance going in whcih we worked with and not against nature. Our mo`olelo, mele and even place names have a lot of lessons to teach us. If we have learned anything in 2020, it is the importance for good health. Good health not only for the people but also for honua. There are so many mea kanu that we have on Hawaii island that prevents the harsh side affects of Covid-19. Taking care of those resources also helped us to take care of our people. We pivoted our programs to also focus on teaching many how to create their own home gardens. Since we have so many types of plants at Koa`ekea, at our parcels in Waipi`o Valley and at our parcel at `Ola`a, Puna, we started donating thousands of huli, `ulu trees, different types of ko, mai`a, `uala, `olena, pumpkins, chaya, laupele etc. When families needed guidance on how to do cover crops, amending soil etc. we provided guidance. When families wanted to learn about la`au lapa`au, we shared with them different mea kanu and taught them how to utilize it. We did workshops on how to make oils, salves, and different healing teas. We donated oils, salves, mamaki ko`oko`olau, uhaloa, maile hohono, `olena to help families with keeping healthy and safe. We began these efforts in March 2020 even though 3 of our grants got canceled due to Covid-19 and two that we applied for notified us that they were not providing funding in 2020. In addition to the donations listed above, even though we were uncertain of our own finances, we still donated food to families each week. We saw the stress many were faced with and since we had so much gardens with food, we wanted to help. We found ourselves needing to volunteer in heavy rains as at times, it rained really often. Sugarcane was harvested from Koa`ekea and we hired someone to juice the sugarcane to give out gallons of sugarcane juice to families. We harvested bunches of bananas and added it to food boxes/bags. Between all our sites, we were able to harvest 50+ baby ulu trees in which we donated to families. Different varieties of bananas were donated to many. Sweet potatoes and sweet potato cuttings were donated as well.