HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainable Kohala ʻOhana (submitted by Libby Leonard)
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Admin <skohana808@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, October 19, 2026 3:15 PM
To:Council Testimony
Cc:Kimball, Heather; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Onishi, Dennis; Galimba, Michelle M.; Villegas,
Rebecca; Inaba, Holeka; Hustace, James; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt
Subject:Testimony in Support of Bill 199: Historic Place Marker Program-- Sustainable Kohala
ʻOhana
Aloha Chair and Councilmembers,
Sustainable Kohala ʻ Ohana SUPPORTS Bill 199 and the establishment of a countywide Historic Place
Marker Program recognizing traditional moku and ahupua ʻ a boundaries.
Preserving these boundaries and traditional place names is an investment in the continuity of Hawaiian
culture, heritage, and ʻ ike kūpuna. As we work to restore our ahupua ʻ a systems and ʻ ili ʻ āina, we must
also restore public understanding of the knowledge and relationships these systems represent, which is
the interconnectedness of land, water, people, and ocean, and the responsibility to care for them in
ways that sustain abundance for future generations.
The success of this program depends on meaningful partnerships with Native Hawaiian cultural
practitioners, kūpuna, and cultural organizations who hold deep, place-based knowledge. Their
leadership is essential to ensuring that research, place names, and boundary markers are accurate,
culturally grounded, and respectful of the histories and traditions they represent. These partnerships
should be built on consultation, collaboration, and respect for cultural knowledge.
These markers can do more than identify places on a map. They can invite residents and visitors to learn
the history beneath their feet, understand how traditional land divisions shaped resource management
and food systems, and recognize the value of caring for the entire landscape, from the uplands to the
sea.
Mahalo for supporting this investment in cultural continuity, environmental stewardship, and a deeper
understanding of these lands.
Mahalo nui loa,
Libby Leonard
Project Lead, Sustainable Kohala 'Ohana
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