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2/22/2026 <br /> VIA EMAIL: ekf@edithkanakaolefoundation.org <br /> Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation <br /> 1500 Kalaniana`ole Street <br /> Hilo, HI 96720-4914 <br /> VIA EMAIL: kamuela.kaapana@tpl.org <br /> Trust for Public Land <br /> 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1512 <br /> Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 <br /> Re: Support for the protection and purchase of Ka`alaiki Kula, Ka`alaiki, Ka`u, Hawaii Island <br /> To Whom It May Concern, <br /> Hui o Kuapa strongly supports the Ka`u community, Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation, and Trust <br /> for Public Land's effort to purchase and protect Ka`alaiki Kula (approximately 1,600 acres) in <br /> Ka`alaiki, Ka`u, Hawaii Island. Ka`alaiki Kula runs between Highway 11 on the makai side and <br /> Ka`alaiki Road on the mauka side. Protecting the kula lands would ensure the entire ahupua`a <br /> is preserved, allowing this area to serve as a cultural educational site demonstrating the <br /> importance of ahupua`a land management practices as well as protecting significant cultural <br /> and archaeological sites, including a railroad trestle and `Imakakaloa Heiau, one of two intact <br /> hula heiau in the Hawaiian Islands. <br /> The Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation is a Hawaiian culture-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization <br /> established in 1990 to maintain and perpetuate the teachings,beliefs, practices, philosophies, <br /> and traditions of the late Luka and Edith Kanaka`ole. EKF's mission is to elevate Hawaiian <br /> intelligence through cultural education founded on the teachings and traditional practices of <br /> Edith and Luka Kanaka`ole. EKF possesses a high level of Hawaiian cultural knowledge and <br /> skills relating to land and resource practices as well as cultural site restoration, protocol, and <br /> ritual. <br /> Hui o Kuapa educates the local and global community about Native Hawaiian resource <br /> management and innovations through hands-on experience in the loko i`a or fishponds, as well <br /> as through advocacy of native rights and issues. The organization has been instrumental in <br /> raising awareness about the need to care for our planet and food security in rural communities. <br /> It proudly continues to carry out that mission today. <br /> Our mission directly aligns with Ka`alaiki Kula. As an organization,we have sought guidance <br /> and professional development through programs offered by Edith Kanaka`ole <br /> Foundation, such as Papaku Makawalu. It has greatly impacted our work and deepened our <br /> understanding of our kuleana regarding ahupua`a restoration. <br /> Sugg.26-05 <br />