Cultural Awareness

Goal
To promote sensitivity training and values education that promote the preservation of remaining cultural and natural resources

The Garden Island Resource Conservation & Development, Inc. supports this goal in a variety of ways including:

• increasing conservation of natural resources by integrating traditional Hawaiian values into society through education and communication. For example:

Through Ho`oulu Ke Ola O Na Pua, Hawaiian Studies kupuna teach weekly lessons that emphasize Hawaiian values and culture to all Kaua`i public and private elementary school students. The Annual Kupuna Conference, Kunihi Ka Mauna, is being hosted on Kaua`i on June 11-14, 2007.

Basketweavers Project. The 2004 Conference Summary has been completed. A copy will be sent to you for a donation of $25 or more. In July, 2006, Hawaiian weavers joined Native American weavers at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC. An exhibit of native Hawaiian weaving plants was featured along with Hawaiian weavers. SEE PHOTOS

The Kaua`i Native Plant Society continues to malama the native plants with various service projects and educational forums around the island. SEE PHOTOS

Kapa Project. Ho`ike, the local public access cable TV channel aired a presentation to the Kaua'i Historical Society. Workshops continue in local schools.

Kane-o-Ola-Uma Site Restoration efforts continue.

• supporting culturally based economic development, thereby enhancing the standard of living in local communities. For example:

Kupuna are in great demand to demonstrate Hawaiian arts & crafts, and to speak about Hawaiian culture outside of school to Elderhostel groups, at local cultural festivals such as Eo E Emalani in Koke`e, the annual Hyatt Festival of Hawaiian Arts, the National Tropical Botanical Garden and other organizations.

• enhancing the natural and cultural environment through stewardship

Kupuna actively lead stewardship projects at Nu`alolo Kai on Napali Coast with Napali Coast `Ohana; the Wailua heiau complex with Na Kahu Hikinaakala; and, the Shearwater Project with Island School.