HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainable Kohala ʻOhana (submitted by Libby Leonard)
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Admin <skohana808@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, October 19, 2026 3:55 PM
To:Council Testimony
Cc:Kimball, Heather; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Onishi, Dennis; Galimba, Michelle M.; Villegas,
Rebecca; Inaba, Holeka; Hustace, James; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt
Subject:Support for Bill 200: Mo'olelo Interpretation Program-Sustainable Kohala 'Ohana
Aloha Chair and Councilmembers,
Sustainable Kohala ʻ Ohana STRONGLY SUPPORTS Bill 200 and its commitment to creating space for the
mo ʻ olelo that connect people to the ʻ āina, and the generations who have cared for these places.
Sharing the mo ʻ olelo of these places connects us to generations of knowledge, cultural traditions, and
relationships with the ʻ āina, helping to better understand how to care for it. As we work to restore these
relationships and revitalize the ahupua ʻ a systems that have sustained Hawai ʻ i for generations, this
knowledge can help guide the way forward.
We are in support of this work being led and shaped in meaningful partnership with Native Hawaiian
cultural practitioners, lineal descendents, kūpuna, artists, and cultural organizations to determine how
these mo ʻ olelo are shared, interpreted, and preserved. This is essential to ensuring that public displays
are culturally grounded, respectful, and true to the histories they represent.
We urge the County to support Bill 200 as an opportunity to share and preserve Hawai ʻ i’s histories and
mo ʻ olelo in ways that are culturally grounded, guided by appropriate cultural practitioners, and carried
forward with care for future generations.
“I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope.” The future is found in the past.
Mahalo nui loa,
Libby Leonard
Project Lead, Sustainable Kohala 'Ohana
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