During the 2023-2024 school year, the Volcano School of Arts and Sciences student’s have been learning what it means to be hands-on stewards of the historic loko iʻa (fishpond) at Honuʻapo. PC: Stacey Breining
We are excited to share a small slice of what the HWF Environmental Education team has been working on these over the past several semesters. Beginning in the fall of 2023, HWF mentor, Stacey Breining, together with the community group Ka ʻOhana O Honuʻapo (KOOH), have been developing a close relationship with the high school students from Volcano School of Arts and Sciences (VSAS) in the outdoor classroom of Honuʻapo Bay. The students have learned what it means to be a hands-on stewards of the historic loko iʻa (fishpond), and have been coming to Honuʻapo once a month throughout the first half of the school year, and weekly during the second half.
Students had the opportunity to better understand the historic significance of this wahi pana (special / storied place) and its unique cultural and natural resources and history to the Kaʻū community. To date, the bulk of their hana (work) has been the moving of pōhaku (rocks) for the rebuilding of the kuapā (fishpond rock wall), but earlier this year they transitioned to the backside of the wetland where they are working to remove invasive weeds (by hand) and focusing on bringing allowing more freshwater (springs) to flow.
Students worked together to help move pōhaku (rocks) for the rebuilding of the kuapā (fishpond rock wall). PC: Stacey Breining
KOOH’s mission is to restore, care for, and protect the natural and cultural resources within the Honu‘apo area. Utilizing the values of mālama ‘āina (care for the land), kūpono (honesty and integrity), and kuleana (duty and responsibility), they work in community partnerships to preserve this area for future generations as they have since they were founded in 2005.
Assisting KOOH in their mission complements HWF’s broad goal of protecting the native wildlife, habitats, and natural ecosystems of Hawaiʻi, plus brings community members back to the ʻāina to help with restoration work and provides access to stewardship opportunities. Throw the haumana (students) into the equation and you get a hard-working, super-productive Kaʻū team.
Students helped support the important mission of Ka ʻOhana O Honuʻapo to restore, care for and protect natural and cultural resources. PC: Stacey Breining
The VSAS students will continue to visit Honuʻapo on a weekly basis for the remainder of the school year. We applaud their lead teacher, Kumu Jaqui R., for her commitment to helping the kids deepen their connection to place, and for providing an opportunity for the students to witness first hand the natural rhythms and magic of Honuʻapo.
Forming this place-based connection to ʻāina is what KOOH and HWF believe is critical to the success of conservation and mālama ʻāina work in the future. The VSAS haumana have offered their energy, time, and sweat to Honuʻapo, and are forming not only pilina (connections), but a sense of pride in the place, their work, and themselves. As they grow older, and continue to visit Honuʻapo, this connection will only deepen. They can look back on how far they have come, they can witness the dynamic ebb and flow of the loko iʻa, and will always remember that they personally were part of rebuilding and caring for Honuʻapo!
As the students grow up they can remember and visit Honuʻapo with a sense of pride knowing they helped preserve the place. Mahalo nūi loa to these awesome haumana. We appreciate you!
High School students from the Volcano School of Arts and Sciences worked hard to support loko iʻa restoration at Honuʻapo Bay, in partnership with Ka ʻOhana O Honuʻapo and our team at HWF. PC: Stacey Breining
