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Aloha, Here is a YouTube link for a 12 minute video I made for this research paper. Much of the content on this Padlet is recited in this vid. MAHALO NUI.

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301 Padlet Final Project Pualilia Hanamaikaʻi

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Hawaii is characterized by verdant valleys, vibrant coral reefs, stunning mountain ranges, lush rainforests, and beautiful beaches. Our natural landscape is not only a testament to the unmatched beauty of our island nation, but to the near perfect conditions for agriculture, due to its unique climate, fertile soil and abundant sunshine.

In modern-day Hawaii, our islands face a convergence of challenges that threaten the sustainability and resilience of our food systems. Despite its lush landscapes which emerge out of nutrient-rich volcanic soil fed by an abundance of precipitation and perpetual and balmy temperatures, Hawaiʻi’s rich agricultural heritage grapples with a complex web of issues ranging from over-reliance on imported foods to the loss of traditional farming knowledge and practices. Hawaiʻi’s geographic isolation, coupled with the pressures of globalization and urbanization, has exacerbated these challenges, leaving many communities vulnerable to food insecurity and environmental degradation.

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Of Hawaiiʻs more than 4 million acres of inhabitable land, Nearly half of such is zoned for agriculture; and nearly half of that is used as pasture for grazing. On Most of this acreage on Hawaiʻi island, grazing animals are scarce; leaving vast amounts of Ag land empty and non-producing.

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The number one industry in Hawaii is Tourism with an average of 7 million visitors annually, putting a strain on our available natural resources, leading our harbors being overwhelmed by  food cargo,  which comprise 81% of our total food product consumption. with the majority of the state's food being imported from mainland United States and other countries. This heavy reliance on external sources not only undermines local food security but also contributes to carbon emissions and ecological footprint associated with long-distance transportation.

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With high demand for products such as red meat and rice, our dependency on outside sources of food leaves Hawaii in a precarious and vulnerable position.

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The Stateʻs Aloha Challenge which is an initiative that proposes putting systems into place that would double food production by 2030; would only bump local food production to 26% of the total consumption; numbers that do not seem at all impressive from my perspective.

Over the years food production has been declining and outsourced; costing Hawaii jobs, and loss of income. and non-producing.

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The ahupuaʻa represents a holistic approach to land management that integrates environmental, social, and cultural considerations. While the impacts of European colonization have disrupted traditional practices and systems, there is growing recognition of the importance of revitalizing and reclaiming these ancient land divisions as models for sustainable living in the modern world. By embracing the principles of mālama ʻāina and honoring the wisdom of our ancestors, Hawaiians continue to forge a path towards a more harmonious relationship with the land and each other. Some of the  key elements of the a modern ahupuaʻa model are:

Holistic Resource Management:  One of the key strengths of the ahupuaʻa system is its holistic approach to resource management. By encompassing a range of ecosystems, from mountain forests to coastal waters, ahupuaʻa provide a diverse array of resources that can support a variety of food production systems. This diversity not only enhances resilience to environmental changes but also promotes ecosystem health by reducing monoculture farming and reliance on external inputs.

Localized Food Production:  Ahupuaʻa offer an ideal scale for localized food production, allowing communities to cultivate a wide range of crops and raise livestock in accordance with local environmental conditions and cultural practices. By prioritizing the production of traditional Hawaiian foods such as taro, sweet potatoes, and fish, communities can reduce their dependence on imported goods while preserving cultural heritage and promoting food sovereignty.

Water Management:  Water is a critical resource for agriculture, and the ahupuaʻa system provides a framework for sustainable water management. Traditional Hawaiian practices such as auwai irrigation systems and ahupuaʻa-based water rights ensure equitable access to water while minimizing waste and conserving precious freshwater resources. By integrating modern water-saving technologies and rainwater harvesting methods, communities can further enhance water security and resilience in the face of climate change.

Community Engagement and Empowerment:  The ahupuaʻa system fosters community engagement and empowerment by decentralizing decision-making and promoting local governance. Through participatory processes such as community land trusts and cooperative farming initiatives, residents can collectively manage and steward ahupuaʻa resources for the benefit of all.  This not only strengthens social cohesion and cultural identity but also builds resilience by fostering adaptive capacity and innovation at the grassroots level.

Circular Economy:  Additionally, by integrating food production with other economic activities such as ecotourism, renewable energy, and sustainable forestry, communities can create synergies that generate multiple benefits while minimizing environmental impact.

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Circular Economy:  Additionally, by integrating food production with other economic activities such as ecotourism, renewable energy, and sustainable forestry, communities can create synergies that generate multiple benefits while minimizing environmental impact.

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Post-European Contact:

Impact of Colonization:  With the arrival of Europeans in Hawaii, traditional Hawaiian systems of governance and land management were significantly disrupted. The imposition of Western concepts of land ownership and private property led to the division of ahupuaʻa among individual landowners, often resulting in the loss of communal land rights and the degradation of natural resources.

Resource Exploitation:  The introduction of cash crops such as sugar cane and pineapple brought about large-scale changes to land use patterns within ahupuaʻa. Forests were cleared, streams were diverted, and traditional agricultural practices were replaced with monoculture farming, leading to environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity.

Social Disruption:  The breakdown of traditional social structures within ahupuaʻa resulted in the erosion of community cohesion and cultural identity. As control over land became concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy landowners, disparities in wealth and power grew, exacerbating social inequality and disenfranchisement among native Hawaiians.

Water Rights:  The privatization of land also had significant implications for water distribution within ahupuaʻa. Control over water resources became tied to land ownership, leading to conflicts over access and allocation. Traditional methods of water management, such as auwai systems, were often neglected or dismantled in favor of more industrialized approaches.

Cultural Revitalization:  Despite the challenges posed by colonization, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional Hawaiian practices and values in recent years. Efforts to reclaim and restore ahupuaʻa as models of sustainable land management have gained momentum, driven by a desire to preserve cultural heritage and promote environmental stewardship.

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Over the years food production has been declining and outsourced; costing Hawaii jobs, and loss of income. Of Hawaiiʻs more than 4 million acres of inhabitable land, Nearly half of such is zoned for agriculture; and nearly half of that is used as pasture for grazing. On Most of this acreage on Hawaiʻi island, grazing animals are scarce; leaving vast amounts of Ag land empty and non-producing.

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the ahupuaʻa system offers a blueprint for building a more sustainable and resilient food system in Hawaii. By reimagining and revitalizing this traditional land division system, communities can enhance food sovereignty, promote ecological health, and foster social and economic well-being. Through collaborative efforts that prioritize local knowledge, cultural values, and environmental stewardship, Hawaii has the opportunity to lead the way towards a more equitable, regenerative, and prosperous future for all.

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There are a number of community-based organizations which currently offer education and community involvement in their localized farm production; however, with lack of meat or dairy processing facilities, or large scale produce packing districts ranchers and farmers are  forced to take large losses from decomposition/spoiling and  huge costs of outsourcing processing services to facilities on the continent; raising the consumer level pricing greatly. There is also wide-spread interest in providing Native Hawaiians the opportunity to learn about qualifying to purchase agriculture lands before developers purchase large land lots by these same organizations.

The North Kohala Hawaiian Civic Club, of which I am a board member, has been presenting resolutions to the Hawaii County Council to implement more processes for land zoning, requesting county surveys of ag land tracts and housing developments and enforcement of the codes sections for Ag land to begin the foundation of reclaiming and revitalizing ahupuaa systems on Hawaii island. The purpose continues to this very day.

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Driving through my neighborhood,  these homes are all on at least one to two acres of agriculture zoned land; however, all but a handful of these multi-million dollar homes do not produce even one crop for sustenance, much less for any market, even on a small community level. My home,  there are a variety of fruit trees, chickens, a goat, and a māla ʻai. We traded with the dairy rancher across the street for milk and beef.  However, the COVID pandemic changed everything I the property had to be sold.  The amount of food product produced on a monthly basis was easily enough to feed a family of four, with surplus.

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When I see homes like these zoned for AG that arenʻt growing or raising any food product, I see nothing but a tax shelter for the 1%ers.