Mālama Hūleiʻa 5 year Anniversary Reflection

The E Kū Ana Ka Paia Mālama Hūleiʻa 5 Year Anniversary is a community workday event to rebuild the 600-year-old wall at Alakoko Fishpond on Kauaʻi in the Hawaiian Kingdom. It is a significant event for both Mālama Hūleiʻa and the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA), as it represents a shared commitment to preserving Hawaii's cultural heritage and natural resources. Almost all of the HAPA Team was there with an exception of Aria who had to stay on Oʻahu to facilitate our Kuleana Academy. She was greatly missed!!

Alakoko Fishpond is one of the largest and most intact fishponds in Hawaiʻi. It is a sacred place that holds deep cultural significance for the Hawaiian people. The fishpond also plays an important ecological role, providing habitat for a variety of fish and other marine life.

Mālama Hūleiʻa is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to restoring and protecting the Alakoko Fishpond and its surrounding ecosystem. HAPA is a statewide organization that advocates for social justice, environmental protection, and Hawaiian sovereignty.

The E Kū Ana Ka Paia event is a tangible way for HAPA and its members to support Mālama Hūleiʻa's work and to help preserve this important cultural and natural resource. The event is also an opportunity for HAPA to connect with the community and to raise awareness about its mission.

HAPA's history and work are deeply rooted in the Hawaiian concept of aloha ʻāina, or love for the land. HAPA believes that the health of the land and the health of the people are inextricably linked. The organization works to protect Hawaiʻi's natural resources and to promote sustainable practices. HAPA also advocates for the rights of the Hawaiian people and for the self-determination of Hawaiʻi.

The E Kū Ana Ka Paia event is a powerful example of HAPA's commitment to aloha ʻāina. By working together to rebuild the Alakoko Fishpond, HAPA and its members are helping to ensure that this sacred place will be preserved for future generations.

Here are some specific ways that the E Kū Ana Ka Paia event connects to HAPA's history and work:

Preserving cultural heritage: Alakoko Fishpond is a significant cultural site for the Hawaiian people.By helping to rebuild the fishpond, HAPA is supporting the preservation of Hawaiian culture and traditions.
Protecting natural resources: Alakoko Fishpond is an important ecological resource. By helping to restore the fishpond, HAPA is helping to protect Hawaiʻi's natural environment.
Promoting community: The E Kū Ana Ka Paia event is a community workday that brings people together to work for a common goal. This event is an opportunity for HAPA to connect with the community and to raise awareness about its mission.
Advancing social justice: HAPA believes that the health of the land and the health of the people are inextricably linked. By supporting the restoration of Alakoko Fishpond, HAPA is working to advance social justice and to create a more sustainable future for Hawaiʻi.