Aloha Kākou!
Welcome to the official website of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana. The ‘Ohana is a grassroots organization dedicated to the island of Kaho‘olawe and the principles of Aloha ‘Āina throughout Hawai‘i. In our work to heal Kaho‘olawe, we strengthen our relationship with the land and pay respect to the spirits of the land. On our other Hawaiian islands, we work to protect the natural and cultural resources of our ancestral lands.
Here you will find information about Kanaloa-Kaho‘olawe, huaka‘i information, and updates on the ‘Ohana’s work on Kaho‘olawe and throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Eō Kanaloa!
Welcome to the official website of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana. The ‘Ohana is a grassroots organization dedicated to the island of Kaho‘olawe and the principles of Aloha ‘Āina throughout Hawai‘i. In our work to heal Kaho‘olawe, we strengthen our relationship with the land and pay respect to the spirits of the land. On our other Hawaiian islands, we work to protect the natural and cultural resources of our ancestral lands.
Here you will find information about Kanaloa-Kaho‘olawe, huaka‘i information, and updates on the ‘Ohana’s work on Kaho‘olawe and throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Eō Kanaloa!
LATEST NEWS FROM THE PROTECT KAHOʻOLAWE ʻOHANA
KAHOʻOLAWE a CULTURAL TREASURE, NOT TOXIC WASTE DUMP
A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE MAUI NEWS submitted by PKO Member Kalei Luʻuwai
A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE MAUI NEWS submitted by PKO Member Kalei Luʻuwai
Some have suggested that toxic waste from the fires should be temporarily stored on Kaho’olawe.
I write on behalf of my ʻohana, who has ancestral ties to Kaho]olawe, and the Protect Kaho]olawe ʻOhana whose members have persevered throughout the past 47 years to stop the abuse and destruction of the island by military bombardment and training exercises and to heal the island. We find this suggestion offensive, uninformed and appalling.
Kaho’olawe is a sacred and culturally-significant place for Kānaka ‘Ōiwi. Our ancestors named and dedicated the island to Kanaloa, Hawaiian god of the ocean. It was a center for training navigators in wayfinding.
The entire island is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. As a result of an islands-wide grassroots movement for Aloha ʻĀina, the U.S. Congress stopped military use of the island and declared it as a National Cultural Treasure.
The State of Hawai’i manages the island as a natural and cultural reserve, “to be used exclusively for the preservation and practice of all rights customarily and traditionally exercised by Native Hawaiians for cultural, spiritual, and subsistence purposes” for eventual transfer to the sovereign Hawaiian entity.
Taking toxic waste from Lahaina to Kahoʻolawe is not culturally appropriate or legal. Moreover, the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana will not allow the island to be abused, yet again, reversing over three decades of healing and restoration of the island.
I implore our community to thoroughly evaluate before making decisions in haste that would forever impact our community for generations to come.
Kalei Luʻuwai
Waiʻehu
I write on behalf of my ʻohana, who has ancestral ties to Kaho]olawe, and the Protect Kaho]olawe ʻOhana whose members have persevered throughout the past 47 years to stop the abuse and destruction of the island by military bombardment and training exercises and to heal the island. We find this suggestion offensive, uninformed and appalling.
Kaho’olawe is a sacred and culturally-significant place for Kānaka ‘Ōiwi. Our ancestors named and dedicated the island to Kanaloa, Hawaiian god of the ocean. It was a center for training navigators in wayfinding.
The entire island is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. As a result of an islands-wide grassroots movement for Aloha ʻĀina, the U.S. Congress stopped military use of the island and declared it as a National Cultural Treasure.
The State of Hawai’i manages the island as a natural and cultural reserve, “to be used exclusively for the preservation and practice of all rights customarily and traditionally exercised by Native Hawaiians for cultural, spiritual, and subsistence purposes” for eventual transfer to the sovereign Hawaiian entity.
Taking toxic waste from Lahaina to Kahoʻolawe is not culturally appropriate or legal. Moreover, the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana will not allow the island to be abused, yet again, reversing over three decades of healing and restoration of the island.
I implore our community to thoroughly evaluate before making decisions in haste that would forever impact our community for generations to come.
Kalei Luʻuwai
Waiʻehu
He Aloha i Kō Maui
Statement of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana in support of the ʻāina and people of Maui
Statement of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana in support of the ʻāina and people of Maui
Welina mai e ka lāhui Hawai‘i, nā hoa makamaka, nā hoapili aloha ‘āina, a me nā ʻohana. Mai ka piʻina a ka lā i Kumukahi a hiki i ka welona o ka lā i Hōlanikū, ʻo ke aloha o ka ʻāina iā kākou a pau, aloha.
The Protect Kaho‘olawe ʻOhana (ʻOhana) expresses our deepest aloha to the ʻāina and people of Maui. We fondly remember Lāhainā i ka malu ‘ulu o Lele, Lāhainā in the shade of the breadfruit trees of Lele (ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #1936). We offer continuous and focused pule of healing and recovery for the kūpā ʻāina, kamaʻāina, and ʻohana. Our moʻolelo inform us of the abundant and lush landscape of Lāhainā, verdant with cultivated ʻāina, flowing fresh water, and healthy kānaka who held a deep reverence and love for their homeland. Lāhainā is the site of many prominent wahi pana, such as Mokuhinia and Mokuʻula. It is also the home of our most sacred deities, such as Kihawahine, and the residence of distinguished aliʻi, such as Kamalālāwalu, Piʻilani, Kauikeaouli, and Nāhiʻenaʻena. Just as the resting places of our ali‘i were preserved by a kīpuka in the fire, so remains the ea, the life force, of the ʻāina and our kūpuna. It is this ea that sustains us through these times as we grieve the loss of ʻohana. We pray for the healing of ʻāina and kānaka today and we envision a once again thriving cultural kīpuka in the Lāhainā of tomorrow that will carry forth the resiliency of our profound history.
We turn our thoughts ma uka to the ʻāina of Kula along the gentle sloping lands of Haleakalā. We call for the gathering of the Nāulu, Līhauʻula, and Lei Pua, the rain clouds that assemble to connect Maui Nui. We pule that these clouds provide gentle, healing rains to the ʻāina and catalyze renewed hope and abundant growth.
Similar to Lei Pua, or the clouds that are attracted to and connect Maui Nui forests, we are witnessing the long-standing practice of our islands supporting each other through the cultivation of weather patterns, agricultural practices, resource sharing, and mutual aid. As Ka Pae ‘Āina ‘o Hawai‘i, we are connected throughout our islands by winds, forests, rains, streams, ocean currents and our relationships with one another. When one island hurts, we all hurt. When one faces devastation of the native forest, we all face devastation of the native forest. When one island is denied access to stream water, we all are denied access to stream water. When one island loses an ‘ohana member, home, or wa‘a kaulua, we all lose an ‘ohana, home, and wa‘a kaulua. When one island exercises its inherent and collective sovereignty, we all exercise our inherent and collective sovereignty.
The Protect Kaho‘olawe ʻOhana (ʻOhana) expresses our deepest aloha to the ʻāina and people of Maui. We fondly remember Lāhainā i ka malu ‘ulu o Lele, Lāhainā in the shade of the breadfruit trees of Lele (ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #1936). We offer continuous and focused pule of healing and recovery for the kūpā ʻāina, kamaʻāina, and ʻohana. Our moʻolelo inform us of the abundant and lush landscape of Lāhainā, verdant with cultivated ʻāina, flowing fresh water, and healthy kānaka who held a deep reverence and love for their homeland. Lāhainā is the site of many prominent wahi pana, such as Mokuhinia and Mokuʻula. It is also the home of our most sacred deities, such as Kihawahine, and the residence of distinguished aliʻi, such as Kamalālāwalu, Piʻilani, Kauikeaouli, and Nāhiʻenaʻena. Just as the resting places of our ali‘i were preserved by a kīpuka in the fire, so remains the ea, the life force, of the ʻāina and our kūpuna. It is this ea that sustains us through these times as we grieve the loss of ʻohana. We pray for the healing of ʻāina and kānaka today and we envision a once again thriving cultural kīpuka in the Lāhainā of tomorrow that will carry forth the resiliency of our profound history.
We turn our thoughts ma uka to the ʻāina of Kula along the gentle sloping lands of Haleakalā. We call for the gathering of the Nāulu, Līhauʻula, and Lei Pua, the rain clouds that assemble to connect Maui Nui. We pule that these clouds provide gentle, healing rains to the ʻāina and catalyze renewed hope and abundant growth.
Similar to Lei Pua, or the clouds that are attracted to and connect Maui Nui forests, we are witnessing the long-standing practice of our islands supporting each other through the cultivation of weather patterns, agricultural practices, resource sharing, and mutual aid. As Ka Pae ‘Āina ‘o Hawai‘i, we are connected throughout our islands by winds, forests, rains, streams, ocean currents and our relationships with one another. When one island hurts, we all hurt. When one faces devastation of the native forest, we all face devastation of the native forest. When one island is denied access to stream water, we all are denied access to stream water. When one island loses an ‘ohana member, home, or wa‘a kaulua, we all lose an ‘ohana, home, and wa‘a kaulua. When one island exercises its inherent and collective sovereignty, we all exercise our inherent and collective sovereignty.
The gathering of the Nāulu, Līhauʻula and Lei Pua clouds that connect the islands of Maui Nui. Photo Credit: Kahale Saito
In this time, we acknowledge our Maui Nui ‘ohana as an integral connector of our Pae ‘Āina ‘o Hawai‘i. From the inception of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana movement to this very day, Maui Nui continues to support access to Kaho‘olawe on land and by sea. The islands and people of Maui Nui are integral to fulfilling the vision of re-greening Kahoʻolawe through ceremonial practice, soil remediation, and reforestation. We acknowledge the importance of our islands-wide ‘ohana network. As children of Hawai‘i and as the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana, we are embedded in and indebted to Maui Nui. We are humbled by the many selfless ʻOhana members who activated to organize, protect communities, and provide critical resources to families throughout Maui during this devastation.
Kelvin Ho, an ʻOhana Kua from Kauaʻi, is one of many who supported the response during the catastrophic 2017 floods on Kauaʻi. Based on his efforts to the landslide restoration in Hanalei, Kelvin offers the following manaʻo,
“Kahoʻolawe is a place of reverent remembrance. In times of great loss and complete upheaval we hold and offer the perspective gifted us by our teachers and kūpuna. Even from the deepest scars, trauma and wounded places, remaining firmly rooted in aloha ʻāina can offer profound healing and the spiritual awakening of a place and a people. The essence of aloha is one of compassion and empathy. We stand united with Maui Nui.”
George Helm adamantly believed in the ability of music to console, uplift, and inspire. One of his favorite mele, E Mau, composed by Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs, encourages,
E mau kō kākou lāhui, e hoʻomau Let’s strive to keep our nation alive, let’s strive
E mau kō kākou ʻōlelo, e hoʻomau Let’s strive to keep our language alive, let’s strive
E mau ka hana pono o ka ʻāina Let’s strive to preserve the good of the islands
I mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono So that righteousness may continue to be with us
I ka pono o ka ʻāina All that’s good in the islands
Hoʻoulu ka pono o ka ʻāina, e hoʻoulu Build the greatness of Hawaiʻi, build them
Hoʻōla ka nani o ka ʻāina, e hoʻōla Restore the goodness of the islands, restore them
Hoʻōla a hoʻoulu lā a hoʻolaha Restore, build, and sustain them throughout the world
I mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono So that righteousness will fill the land once again
I ka pono o ka ʻāīna Every good in the island
Aloha ʻāina, aloha kekahi i kekahi,
Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana
www.protectkahoolaweohana.org
Instagram: @kahoolawe
Facebook: www.facebook.com/protectkahoolaweohana
Individuals that wish to contribute to Maui Fire relief and recovery may visit mauiola.org.
The Hae Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian Flag, proudly flies unscorched after the devastating Lāhainā fires. Photo Credit: Poʻokela Hanson.
Dr. Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli,
January 16, 1944 - November 30, 2022
January 16, 1944 - November 30, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2022
Media Contacts:
Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor [email protected] 808-222-0728
Donne Dawson [email protected] 808-888-9418
Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana Celebrates Life and Legacy of Beloved Leader, Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli
“This ʻohana process, this extended-family process, is the main lesson for everybody.
We can make a difference collectively, cumulative over time.
We need to charge ahead, but we also need to be patient.
And we need to have fun and to respect, look out for, and care for one another.”
–Noa Emmett Aluli, Kahoʻolawe, Nā Leo o Kanaloa
The passing of Noa Emmett Aluli, M.D. (January 16, 1944 – November 30, 2022), is lamented from Hawaiʻi Island to Niʻihau and around the world. His transition to the spiritual realm has activated a phenomena in our Hawaiian natural world, called hulihia. Historically, the passing of a heroic and dearly loved Hawaiian political and spiritual leader generates such a hulihia, an overturning, an upheaval marking their transformation into a dynamic spiritual force and a cleansing that opens the way for the next generation of leaders’.
A huakaʻi (cultural field trip) to Kahoʻolawe scheduled for Thursday, December 8, 2022 was canceled because of gale force winds in the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel and 30 mph winds out of Maʻalaea, closing off safe passage to the island. The elements are whirling around us - forceful winds, rainbows, blessings of cleansing rain showers, a rust moon due to the eclipse of Mars by the full moon, and the fountaining of the Mauna Loa eruption. “His spear is passed to the next generation and his hā inspires and activates,” stated Craig Neff, Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana leader and Hawaiian Force artist.
The entire Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana honors the life and visionary legacy of our beloved leader, chief defender, Mo‘o Lono, policy advisor, doctor, mentor and lifelong friend, Dr. “Kauka” Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli. Kauka served our people tirelessly with love, aloha, humility, and kindness. A gentle and great leader of Kānaka ʻŌiwi for Aloha ʻĀina – loving, respecting, and advocating for our health, lands, rights, and religion.
A Molokaʻi physician who comes from a prominent Hawaiian family of medical doctors, academics, musicians and historical figures, Kauka Emmett made his own mark in history as part of the Kahoʻolawe Nine, a group of activists who staged the first occupation of military-controlled Kahoʻolawe on January 4, 1976. The Nine went on to form the Protect Kahoʻolawe ‘Ohana and fight and win a legal battle against the United States federal government. The ‘Ohana defended the island and stopped the decades-long use of Kahoʻolawe for weapons testing and ordnance training by the U.S Navy and its allies. The diligent and dedicated work of the ‘Ohana and Kauka Emmett on Kahoʻolawe and throughout Hawaiʻi laid the foundation for the revival of Hawaiian cultural and spiritual practices, including the modern-day understandings and actions of aloha ‘āina.
According to Master Kumu Hula, Dr. Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele, “Noa Emmett was very intelligent, but he was also humble and a good listener. He deeply affected thousands of people who came to Kahoʻolawe in ways that are special and meaningful to each one of them. Of all those who started the movement for Kahoʻolawe, he was the one who stayed with it. And we all have to learn a lesson from that about how to stay with a kuleana and believe in that kuleana enough to carry it through. Whatever you are passionate about, stay with it and build it. We all have to learn to stay with what we feel is important – moving the Hawaiian passion forward.”
Kauka Emmett’s firsthand observations connected the plight of Kānaka Maoli well-being with that of Kaho‘olawe. His insight led to his parallel missions to promote the healing of Kānaka Maoli with the return and restoration of Kaho‘olawe. He recognized that the health of the land is the health of the people is the health of the nation.
Kauka Emmett is survived in the ʻOhana by his life partner, Dr. Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor, and the countless kua (backbone), those who are committed to bend their backs in hard work to ensure safe and meaningful access to Kaho‘olawe.
We will carry on his legacy work in never-ending support of Kahoʻolawe-Kanaloa.
I mua nā pua, lanakila Kaho‘olawe
Feel free to share and cross-post memories on social media with #alohaforkaukaaluli so family can find digital messages.
An online memorial for Dr. Aluli has been established. Please consider adding your photo, video, and words to this global bulletin board.
Visit the exhibit and a temporary remembrance space in the ‘Ai Pōhaku Reading Room on the second floor of the Hawai‘i State Art Museum at 250 S. Hotel St. HiSAM hours are daily 10 AM to 4 PM except Sundays.
More Information
The Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana is a grassroots organization dedicated to the island of Kaho‘olawe with a vision of Aloha ‘Āina and the mission to perpetuate Aloha ‘Āina throughout our islands by means of cultural, educational, and spiritual activities that heal and revitalize the bio-cultural resources of Kaho‘olawe. In our work to heal Kaho‘olawe, from ranching (1858-1910; 1918-1952) and military use (1941-1993), we strengthen our relationship and pay respect to elemental phenomena connected to land.
For conversations relevant to the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana on social follow:
@kahoolawe (IG); @protectkahoolaweohana (FB); or visit our website to www.kahoolawe.org
###
December 9, 2022
Media Contacts:
Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor [email protected] 808-222-0728
Donne Dawson [email protected] 808-888-9418
Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana Celebrates Life and Legacy of Beloved Leader, Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli
“This ʻohana process, this extended-family process, is the main lesson for everybody.
We can make a difference collectively, cumulative over time.
We need to charge ahead, but we also need to be patient.
And we need to have fun and to respect, look out for, and care for one another.”
–Noa Emmett Aluli, Kahoʻolawe, Nā Leo o Kanaloa
The passing of Noa Emmett Aluli, M.D. (January 16, 1944 – November 30, 2022), is lamented from Hawaiʻi Island to Niʻihau and around the world. His transition to the spiritual realm has activated a phenomena in our Hawaiian natural world, called hulihia. Historically, the passing of a heroic and dearly loved Hawaiian political and spiritual leader generates such a hulihia, an overturning, an upheaval marking their transformation into a dynamic spiritual force and a cleansing that opens the way for the next generation of leaders’.
A huakaʻi (cultural field trip) to Kahoʻolawe scheduled for Thursday, December 8, 2022 was canceled because of gale force winds in the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel and 30 mph winds out of Maʻalaea, closing off safe passage to the island. The elements are whirling around us - forceful winds, rainbows, blessings of cleansing rain showers, a rust moon due to the eclipse of Mars by the full moon, and the fountaining of the Mauna Loa eruption. “His spear is passed to the next generation and his hā inspires and activates,” stated Craig Neff, Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana leader and Hawaiian Force artist.
The entire Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana honors the life and visionary legacy of our beloved leader, chief defender, Mo‘o Lono, policy advisor, doctor, mentor and lifelong friend, Dr. “Kauka” Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli. Kauka served our people tirelessly with love, aloha, humility, and kindness. A gentle and great leader of Kānaka ʻŌiwi for Aloha ʻĀina – loving, respecting, and advocating for our health, lands, rights, and religion.
A Molokaʻi physician who comes from a prominent Hawaiian family of medical doctors, academics, musicians and historical figures, Kauka Emmett made his own mark in history as part of the Kahoʻolawe Nine, a group of activists who staged the first occupation of military-controlled Kahoʻolawe on January 4, 1976. The Nine went on to form the Protect Kahoʻolawe ‘Ohana and fight and win a legal battle against the United States federal government. The ‘Ohana defended the island and stopped the decades-long use of Kahoʻolawe for weapons testing and ordnance training by the U.S Navy and its allies. The diligent and dedicated work of the ‘Ohana and Kauka Emmett on Kahoʻolawe and throughout Hawaiʻi laid the foundation for the revival of Hawaiian cultural and spiritual practices, including the modern-day understandings and actions of aloha ‘āina.
According to Master Kumu Hula, Dr. Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele, “Noa Emmett was very intelligent, but he was also humble and a good listener. He deeply affected thousands of people who came to Kahoʻolawe in ways that are special and meaningful to each one of them. Of all those who started the movement for Kahoʻolawe, he was the one who stayed with it. And we all have to learn a lesson from that about how to stay with a kuleana and believe in that kuleana enough to carry it through. Whatever you are passionate about, stay with it and build it. We all have to learn to stay with what we feel is important – moving the Hawaiian passion forward.”
Kauka Emmett’s firsthand observations connected the plight of Kānaka Maoli well-being with that of Kaho‘olawe. His insight led to his parallel missions to promote the healing of Kānaka Maoli with the return and restoration of Kaho‘olawe. He recognized that the health of the land is the health of the people is the health of the nation.
Kauka Emmett is survived in the ʻOhana by his life partner, Dr. Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor, and the countless kua (backbone), those who are committed to bend their backs in hard work to ensure safe and meaningful access to Kaho‘olawe.
We will carry on his legacy work in never-ending support of Kahoʻolawe-Kanaloa.
I mua nā pua, lanakila Kaho‘olawe
Feel free to share and cross-post memories on social media with #alohaforkaukaaluli so family can find digital messages.
An online memorial for Dr. Aluli has been established. Please consider adding your photo, video, and words to this global bulletin board.
Visit the exhibit and a temporary remembrance space in the ‘Ai Pōhaku Reading Room on the second floor of the Hawai‘i State Art Museum at 250 S. Hotel St. HiSAM hours are daily 10 AM to 4 PM except Sundays.
More Information
The Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana is a grassroots organization dedicated to the island of Kaho‘olawe with a vision of Aloha ‘Āina and the mission to perpetuate Aloha ‘Āina throughout our islands by means of cultural, educational, and spiritual activities that heal and revitalize the bio-cultural resources of Kaho‘olawe. In our work to heal Kaho‘olawe, from ranching (1858-1910; 1918-1952) and military use (1941-1993), we strengthen our relationship and pay respect to elemental phenomena connected to land.
For conversations relevant to the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana on social follow:
@kahoolawe (IG); @protectkahoolaweohana (FB); or visit our website to www.kahoolawe.org
###
Media Release on Behalf of the Family of Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli
| pko_release_dr._noa_emmett_aluli_12-9-2022.pdf |
| halia_aloha_noa_emmett_aluli_media_release.docx.pdf |
