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As part of our mission to cultivate community stewardship and restoration of cultural landscapes, Ka Ipu Makani began stewarding Kaupapa Loʻi o Kaʻamola, a 1.6 acre parcel of loʻipunawai (spring-fed irrigated pondfield), within the ahupuaʻa of Kaʻamola on the southeast end of Molokaʻi. The loʻipunawai is an integral part of Kaʻamola's traditional waimāpuna (wetland) and kahakai (coastal) resource and production zones, emptying directly into Kainaohe - a 17.2 acre loko iʻa (fishpond). This nearshore ecosystem is unique in that it is the only functional loʻi to loko iʻa on the island of Molokaʻi, providing traditional ʻai (starch) and iʻa (fish/protein) food systems. The Kāwao Kaʻamola program aims to restore loʻipūnāwai within the Kaʻamola Ahupuaʻa, while reconnecting Molokaʻi ʻohana (families) to traditional loʻipūnāwai cultivation and stewardship practices.
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The Kāwao Kaʻamola program is a collaborative effort between Ka Ipu Makani, the current property owners, Kaʻamola ʻohana, Alakaʻina Foundation- Molokaʻi Digital Bus, Sustʻāinable Molokaʻi, Kamehameha Schools- Molokaʻi Kilohana Program , and the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College- Molokaʻi Education Center. Ka Ipu Makani began stewarding this area in 2015 and has since cleared and maintained over 830ft² of invasive vegetation, reopened 5 traditional loʻi, opened a new 132ft long ʻauwai system, opened a new spring system, stabilized one retaining drystack rock wall, and provided educational and service opportunities to 300+ community members and students. Please contact us for more information if you would like to kōkua!
"Kalo kanu o ka ʻāina. Natives of the land from generations back"
