Project Ho’owaiwai
“He aliʻi ka ʻāina; he kauwā ke kanaka.”
The land is a chief; man is its servant.
ʻŌLELO NOʻEAU (HAWAIIAN PROVERB)
Care of land and water (malama ‘aina) with wisdom and reverence has a direct relationship to the outcome of its health and wellbeing for future generations.
"Huli ka lima i lalo"
“Turn the hands down”
When our hands are turned down, they are working, they are productive, and they are stewarding that which is in front of them.
Project Purpose
Project Ho'owaiwai is a residency, educational, and resiliency program for community servants who are Kanaka Maoli (Aboriginal Hawaiians) and Kupa Hawaii (Hawaii Citizens) aimed at keeping vital Hawaiian community members in Hawaii to maximize the potential use of DHHL lands and homesteads for learning environmental sustainability living, economic growth, and Polynesian practices of resiliency.
Project Goal Definitions
Community Servants
those who are providing important services that benefit the overall community, land, and water systems.
Economic Growth
The ability to bring forth financial prosperity and savings for families through positive, clean and nurturing environment that they participate cultivating. Affordable rental fees, a productive food garden, and onsite education opportunities provide pathways to this goal.
Environmental Sustainability Living
With the understanding of malama ‘aina (taking care of land base) which comes from Aloha ‘Aina Oia’i’o (Truth in serving land). The use of latest technology and native intelligence proven over thousands of years which serve the land to its highest and best uses rejuvenating the soil and systems in place for long-term generational abundance.
Polynesian Practices of Resiliency
Polynesians have lived sustainable lifestyles for millennium caring for and growing crops for clothing, bedding, flooring, food, and water. This native intelligence continues to be utilized by university research and science agencies worldwide as a source of wisdom and solutions to modern day challenges to climate change.