Kalihiwai:  Kalihiwai Bay is home to many protected Green Sea Turtles, Dolphins and other unique creatures.

 

 

MALAMA KALIHIWAI

Please Respect local fisherman and do not damage the coral reefs on which they survive!

 

 

 

Kalihiwai is located at 22°12′59″N, 159°25′7″W (22.216269, -159.418705)

http://virtualguidebooks.com/Hawaii/Kauai/Kilauea/KalihiwaiBeach.html

Management of Natural Marine Resources Promotes Healthy Ecosystems!

Science For Any Occasion: 

North Shore Images

Geology:  The north coast, east of Hanalei, was thoroughly covered by rejuvenated lavas of the Koloa Volcanic Series and Koloa lavas make up the backshores of the modern beaches in this area.

The shoreline from Anahola to Hä‘ena is fronted extensively by large segments of fringing reefcut by paleostream channels. This shoreline is composed of a series of coarse-grained calcareous sandy beaches separated by rocky points and interspersed with small stretches of boulder coast and numerous embayments. http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/publications/hawaiiCoastline/kauai.html

 

 

The long term health of our families and our community is at stake. It is up to each one of us to make sure that our resources are plentiful.  Save Our Seas.

  One person can make a difference.

 

Cultural activities help solve community challenges

By Dennis Fujimoto - The Garden Island

Photos: Paul Clark
Posted: Monday, Oct 24, 2005 - 03:52:14 am HST

KALIHIWAI — "There are so many positives," said Dave Boynton, one of the Malama Kalihiwai leaders .

About three dozen students, teachers, and parents from neighboring Kilauea and Hanalei schools converged at the beach-front Akana boathouse along the Kalihiwai River for a day of education and fun.

"It is place-based. It's hands-on. And, it's filled with science content that covers many of the (educational) standards," Boynton said of the Malama Kalihiwai program.

Additionally, as the group of students escaped the rapidly-warming morning air, Boynton noted the arrival of community residents who gathered with the children to "talk story, teach them old skills like net-throwing, and just be a part of the program."

The melding of the young, eager-to-learn minds, with the experience and willingness to teach of the elders, provided a warm experience in the Kalihiwai air that was punctuated with the rumble of the gentle shore break, and spiced to perfection with the trickle of runoff that fueled the lush green of the oceanfront property.

Earlier in the morning, the students were split into three groups that covered different arenas. Mauli Cook, the director of the Malama Kalihiwai program, explained that one group worked with the coastal area, another weeded in a garden planted with native plantings, and the third worked with kumu U'i Ito in planting kalo and sweet potato.

The planting, said Boynton, is an example of science, as it covers a myriad of areas, from the cycle of life to health and nutrition.

Students were rotated through the different areas at 20-minute intervals for two hours before settling in for a snack break. This was followed by games on the beach and, following the lunch break, Boynton said the groups would spend longer times at specific areas.

Boynton, who was in charge of the coastal group, noted that this is the third year for the program that involves beautifying the beach-front, preventing erosion, and re-introducing native, shoreline plants.

"The students who were planting ti leaf supplemented plantings that were done by students before them," Boynton said.

While giving a brief overview on a walking tour, Boynton introduced the students to the concept of plant survival, noting the return of the beach morning glory, which serves as a host for the kanaoa, a native, parasitic plant treasured for its lei-making and medicinal properties.

Boynton noted that, despite the shortness of the tour, there are science concepts being taught and applied, as he pointed out the root systems of the invasive crab grass, or the hundreds of flowers that grow on a seed stalk of the tough, invasive weed.

"To them (the students), it could be only pulling grass, but there are a lot of standard-based concepts involved," Boynton said.

Cook said the driving force behind the project is the late, Johnny "Boy" Akana, a lifelong resident of Kalihiwai whose family has lived in the valley for generations.

He inherited the role of konohiki fisherman from his grandfather and father, and fulfilled his kuleana with deep respect for his kupuna and profound aloha for the land and sea, Cook said.

"He held the vision for this project and has been the greatest inspiration for everything that has been accomplished," Cook said. "His spirit surrounds Kalihiwai, and is a great blessing to all those who love this place."

Cook noted that some of the challenges of the area include drug use, illegal driving and parking on the beach, littering, and noise pollution, but that the program and its human presence have already shown positive results, with the beach plantings, and the hands-on tours of the students in the area.

"They'll grow up one day, and when they're here to surf, or to enjoy the beach, they'll remember," Cook said, reinforcing some of the project goals by reminding students to pack up their 'opala (trash) following the morning snack.

Cook said the students, upon their arrival, were involved in opening protocol, which involved mele and chants, prior to entering the work areas.

While involved in their rotating areas of activity, it was evident that concepts of malama 'aina (caring for the land) were at work, as students were immersed in hands-on activities involving gardening, ethnobotany, and alien-plant eradication.

Other areas of the Malama Kalihiwai program involve the ocean, where students become involved in pole fishing, crabbing, and exploration, where they learn fish-identification, fish-cleaning, and traditional cooking methods.

Sue Boynton, also on hand to help the students, announced that leaders of the Kilauea Point Natural History Association will help fund this project with a $6,000 check.

Kilauea Point Natural History Association is a nonprofit organization whose volunteers operate the book store at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Profits from the store go to help fund many environmental projects, Sue Boynton pointed out.

Malama Kalihiwai leaders also get support from officials with the Hawai'i Community Foundation — Mo Bettah Grant, Na Lei Aloha, John Ferry, Jill and Andy Smith, and Kauai Mountain Tours.

Among the many volunteers and supporters of the program are Stuart and Micah Hollinger of Kupono Landscaping, Steve Locey Landscaping, Bobby Farias, Bob Poli, Russell Kam, Presley and Colleen Wann, Bino Fitzgerald and 'ohana, Bill Chase of On Center Construction, The Waipa Foundation, Sybil Nishioka of Sybee Designs, the Boyntons, David Estrella 'ohana, Kala Hoe, Adam Asquith, and the many friends of Kalihiwai, Cook explained.

Schools participating in the program include Kilauea School, with teachers Naomi Yokotake and Lydia Osakoda; Hanalei School, headed by Karla Rowan; Kanuikapono public charter school, with Ipo Torio, Kamahalo Kauhane and 'ohana; Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kapa'a, with teachers Kaleimakamae Ka'auwai, Alohilani Rogers, and Leimomi Cummings; Kula Elementary School teachers, headed by Paul Clark; and the Smith 'ohana (home-schooled students).

"We have been enjoying some wonderful cultural experiences down here," Cook said.

"I often think that this program could be a good model for other communities who face the same kinds of challenges we do."

 

Lessons learned outdoors

Kilauea School student Kacey Baliaris firms up the hill for a sweet potato at the planting station.

By Dennis Fujimoto - The Garden Island

Posted: Monday, May 29, 2006 - 01:24:52 pm HST

KILAUEA — The true value of the Kalihiwai field trips shone brighter than the morning sun Friday.

"It's so nice to see students step up to become leaders," kumu Mauli Cook, one of the leaders for the Malama Kalihiwai program said while surveying the activity taking place throughout the campus of Kilauea School.

"Students in the older classes are becoming leaders as they try to organize students in the younger grades," Cook said, between classes at the Pole Fishing station.

Cook was no stranger to the capabilities of the school students as she received kokua from three boys: Marlon Cudiamat, Colby Baliaris, and Kalen Galtes. Following her presentation, enhanced by those from the students, the trio would man three "fishing holes" where visiting students could snag a fish.

"This is all the idea of Naomi Yokotake," Cook said. "The Malama Kalihiwai Day was designed to translate into real learning."

For months, the Kilauea School students have been making field trips to Kalihiwai where they were involved in various aspects of taking care of the environment. These activities spanned a variety of topics and were liberal in the amount of hands-on participation in areas such as planting a sweet potato field, tending for taro lo'i, learning how to throw fishnets, and more.

Results of these learning excursions were brought to light Friday as students, unarmed with notes, worked with their fellow students in the younger grades to teach and explain what was taking place in any of the 22 various stations set up throughout the Kilauea School campus.

"Learning is not just about scores," Cook said. "It's about students wanting to learn, and learning how to become leaders."

For school leaders, this was a true assessment of the program. There were no exams or quizzes, just the opportunity for students to demonstrate what they learned during the field trips.

In addition to the hands-on activities, Yokotake noted that there were other educational stations set up such as the Wai station that involved students playing a game that centered around concepts of the watershed.

"It's nice to see how students respond when given the responsibility," Kilauea School principal Fred Rose said. "One teacher noted that a student who would normally be a problem in other situations was working with other students in trying to get them organized for one of the events."

Rose said that while talking to one of the community old-timers, he was told that there was a garden in one area. On Friday, a garden was taking place as various classes were involved in different phases of the creation of a sweet potato patch.

Other arenas also included the traditional Hawaiian games of Haka Moa, Ulu Maika, Kukini, and O'O ihe.

More practical workshops and stations revolved around the creation of lei, information on coconut, estuary, and the cleaning and cooking of akule where the students were allowed to sample their efforts after it was cooked over a grill wrapped in ti leaf.

Titus Kinimaka, a surfer and waterman, joined some of the other community volunteers in talking to students about water safety while Chauncy Pa worked with students in teaching them how to throw a fishnet.

"These volunteers are great," Cook pointed out. "But, the true value of what they have to teach is in the students and how they are able to teach other students what they've learned from these people."