HONOLULU — New videos were recently created by education teams from the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife and Division of Aquatic Resources to add to the ongoing “ʻIke Kaiāulu” or “Community Knowledge” video series that aims to share the connection between Hawaii’s natural world and local communities.

What You Need To Know

  • The four newest videos feature local experts sharing their knowledge and their connection to the natural world in different practices

  • Though their backgrounds and experiences vary, all four speak of their knowledge coming from their parents, grandparents or other kūpuna, and the importance of passing on that knowledge to younger generations

  • Visit the DLNR website to view all videos in the “ʻIke Kaiāulu” series

Four videos in the original series premiered in 2023 sharing community knowledge of limu (seaweed), wood carving, lāʻau lapaʻau (medicinal plant use) and caring for sites such as Kaena Point.

The four newest videos feature local experts sharing their knowledge and their connection to the natural world in different practices. Though their backgrounds and experiences vary, all four speak of their knowledge coming from their parents, grandparents or other kūpuna, and the importance of passing on that knowledge to younger generations.

Kumu Hulu Mele Kahalepuna Chun talks about her family’s history with Hawaiian featherwork and its relationship to the health of Hawaii’s forest birds. Chun feels passing the knowledge passed on to her by her tūtū and her mother to youths is not a job, but a kuleana. “What I want to say to our keiki is to make sure it lives. Just Holomua – keep it going,” said Chun.

Chun added that her tūtū was often asked if featherwork was a dying art. “She’d say, ‘No, not as long as I can help it.’”

Paepae o Heʻeia Executive Director Hiʻilei Kawelo shares her experiences with loko iʻa (fishponds) and their connection to the health of the mauka and makai ecosystem. “The relationships we have within the ahupuaʻa, that’s what makes the magic happen,” said Kawelo, stressing the importance of cultural practices in communities.

ʻŌpelu fisherman Chuck Kealoha Leslie imparts his knowledge of net making and his hopes for the future of fishing in Hawaii, wanting keiki to know the old ways of doing things so they can make it their own. “If they want to do fishing, make fishing their life and make it joyful,” said Leslie.

Dr. Kawika Winter is director of the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve who discusses bio-cultural restoration and the importance of placing indigenous ways of thinking into ecosystem management. “So many of the elders who came before me have said that Hawaii has the answers that will help heal the world,” said Winter.

Visit the DLNR website to view all videos in the “ʻIke Kaiāulu” series. There is also a treasure trove of forestry and wildlife videos available for public viewing.

Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.