Support Aloha ‘Aina on Moloka‘i
Donation protected
For the last 25 years, Hui o Kuapa has been inspiring and educating communities about aloha ‘aina throughout Hawai‘i.
Beginning in the 1980s, Uncle Walter Ritte championed protecting and revitalizing traditional Hawaiian fishponds, loko i‘a, throughout Hawai‘i. This was the beginning of Hui o Kuapa. In the 1990s, the work to date led to Project Loko I‘a, through which the EPA, with support from the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye, provided $1.4 million of support to restoring fishponds on Moloka‘i.
You can read more about Project Loko I‘a here .
Photo: The late Senator Daniel Inouye on Moloka‘i speaking to community people at a fishpond prior to restoration efforts in the 1990s.
In the 2000s, the effort to protect and restore loko i‘a gained momentum as more hui organized around fishpond restoration, strenthening grassroots aloha ‘aina movements by reinforcing traditional community resilience. Loko i‘a are essential to food security and therefore critical to protect from pollution and other forms of degradation.
Photo: Kalaniua Ritte showing results of the oyster harvest, an ongoing aquaculture research project at Keawanui Fishpond, a joint project with UH-Hilo.
For the last 15 years, Uncle Walter, Ua and Hano have led a world class education and research program through Hui o Kuapa. They serve of 1,000 students and community members each year on Moloka‘i, all while maintaining a fully enclosed and functioning traditional Hawaiian fishpond.
Photo: Students heading out into Keawanui Fishpond for a lesson on water quality and ecosystem services. The fishpond serves as a "living classroom" for place-based learning, STEM education and cultural programs for primary, secondary and post-secondary students.
For 25 years, the Hui o Kuapa team has led on issues related to land, cultural, traditional practices, conservation, natural resource management, restoration, food security and well-being and other critical issues vital to the future of Hawai‘i. They are leaders in the community and inspirations for children and adults alike.
Keawanui Fishpond, the home of Hui o Kuapa, is an intellectual pu‘uhonua, place a refuge, where innovative research is generated and developed. As a result, this site and its work has had a tremendous impact on all of Hawai‘i, to the benefit of the whole pae‘aina and future generations.
(For an example of a statewide project that started at Keawanui Fishpond, click here .)
Community support of their efforts is essential to their work. This fundraiser is just to say MAHALO to Uncle Walter (who turned 70 this year) for 25 years of Aloha ‘Aina activitism and IMUA to many, many years more!
MAHALO!
Photo: Uncle Walter Ritte on his 70th Birthday. (Photo Credit Kai Markell.)
Beginning in the 1980s, Uncle Walter Ritte championed protecting and revitalizing traditional Hawaiian fishponds, loko i‘a, throughout Hawai‘i. This was the beginning of Hui o Kuapa. In the 1990s, the work to date led to Project Loko I‘a, through which the EPA, with support from the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye, provided $1.4 million of support to restoring fishponds on Moloka‘i.
You can read more about Project Loko I‘a here .
Photo: The late Senator Daniel Inouye on Moloka‘i speaking to community people at a fishpond prior to restoration efforts in the 1990s. In the 2000s, the effort to protect and restore loko i‘a gained momentum as more hui organized around fishpond restoration, strenthening grassroots aloha ‘aina movements by reinforcing traditional community resilience. Loko i‘a are essential to food security and therefore critical to protect from pollution and other forms of degradation.
Photo: Kalaniua Ritte showing results of the oyster harvest, an ongoing aquaculture research project at Keawanui Fishpond, a joint project with UH-Hilo. For the last 15 years, Uncle Walter, Ua and Hano have led a world class education and research program through Hui o Kuapa. They serve of 1,000 students and community members each year on Moloka‘i, all while maintaining a fully enclosed and functioning traditional Hawaiian fishpond.
Photo: Students heading out into Keawanui Fishpond for a lesson on water quality and ecosystem services. The fishpond serves as a "living classroom" for place-based learning, STEM education and cultural programs for primary, secondary and post-secondary students.For 25 years, the Hui o Kuapa team has led on issues related to land, cultural, traditional practices, conservation, natural resource management, restoration, food security and well-being and other critical issues vital to the future of Hawai‘i. They are leaders in the community and inspirations for children and adults alike.
Keawanui Fishpond, the home of Hui o Kuapa, is an intellectual pu‘uhonua, place a refuge, where innovative research is generated and developed. As a result, this site and its work has had a tremendous impact on all of Hawai‘i, to the benefit of the whole pae‘aina and future generations.
(For an example of a statewide project that started at Keawanui Fishpond, click here .)
Community support of their efforts is essential to their work. This fundraiser is just to say MAHALO to Uncle Walter (who turned 70 this year) for 25 years of Aloha ‘Aina activitism and IMUA to many, many years more!
MAHALO!
Photo: Uncle Walter Ritte on his 70th Birthday. (Photo Credit Kai Markell.)Organizer and beneficiary
Walter Ritte
Organizer
Kaunakakai, HI
Kalaniua Ritte
Beneficiary
