Hawaii Life ʻĀina Volunteer Day on Oʻahu

Hawaiʻi Life announced the creation of our Conservation and Legacy Lands specialized real estate practice area in 2018. Seven years later, our commitment to protecting wahi pana, special places, remains strong. But the protection transaction is only the start; the real effort is in restoring and caring for these special places in perpetuity.

Thatʻs why this year we are scheduling educational workdays across the state, to involve our Hawaiʻi Life ʻohana in hands-on experiences with ʻāina protection and stewardship. Our first volunteer day was at Alakoko Fishpond on Kauai in April. Our quarterly excursion took us to the Maunawila Heiau Complex on Oʻahu last week – although Hawaiʻi Life leadership team members flew in from Kauai, Maui and the Big Island as well.

Hawaiʻi Land Trust (HILT) steward and educator Makani Walker shows Hawaiʻi Life volunteers how to cultivate ʻuala (sweet potato) at HILTʻs Maunawila Preserve after an educational tour of the property.

Hawaiʻi Properties with Conservation Values –  Pathway to Preservation and Stewardship

The Maunawila Heiau Complex is a classic example of how privately owned properties become protected through ownership by a nonprofit organization, or through conservation easements – two preservation strategies often used in a single transaction, as was the case with Maunawila.

• The 9-acre property was offered for sale by a family that had long ties to it – but no further resources for stewardship.
• Hawaiʻi Land Trust was approached, and began by engaging with the community stakeholders, including the McGregor ʻOhana who were the then-owners, the Hauʻula Community Association, and the Koʻolauloa Hawaiian Civic Club.
• The community was aware of its archeological and sites and many moʻolelo, important stories and history, associated with it, and was eager to see it protected and restored.
• Funding for the purchase was provided by the State Conservation and Legacy Lands Program and the City and County of Honoluluʻs preservation fund.
• Ongoing stewardship requires ongoing fundraising and a ton of volunteer labor!

Hawaiʻi Life volunteers pose in front of a hale built by students from the community – regular visits by school groups as well as a special summer program are one way HILT sites serve in reciprocity with their communities

How You Can Be a Part of Protecting and Stewarding the Living Heritage of Hawaiʻi

On both of our learning work days so far this year, Hawaiʻi Life team members were joined by clients – long time residents as well as newcomers to Hawaiʻi. Besides learning how living history exists side by side with development and local neighborhoods, they are often surprised to learn how complex protection of these places can be.

Although some of the federal funding that has helped in protecting and stewarding agricultural, forest and watershed, and historic properties in Hawaiʻi is at risk, the local ecosystem remains strong.

• Did you know that the conveyance tax that appears on your sellers statement when you sell a property in Hawaiʻi goes in part to the Legacy Land Conservation Fund?
• Are you aware that each County in Hawaiʻi also has a fund to protect natural resources through purchasing properties or conservation easements?
• Private donors, large and small, are significant sources of funding – and by becoming involved with local nonprofits via donating your money, time, and expertise, you build your relationship with your community and place.

Hawaiʻi Life attendees at the 2019 Mālama ʻĀina Kākou event at Lanikuhonua near the Four Seasons Resort -Oʻahu

Please let me know if you are interested in coming on a future Hawaiʻi Life conservation learning volunteer excursion.

If getting your hands in the soil is not your preferred form of involvement, consider joining Hawaiʻi Land Trust or another ʻāina stewardship organization at their next fundraiser! I had a blast on Maui last weekend at a farm-to-table dinner offered by Makena Golf & Beach Clubʻs Nāulu Farm benefitting HILT. You can join us at Mālama ʻĀina Kākou on October 4th on Oʻahu – we still have a handful of tickets and a couple of tables left!