Kahaluu (Photo courtesy of Randy Magnus)

MEDIA RELEASE

The cultural and natural landscape of the Kahaluu ahupuaa (mountain-to-sea system) will be explored by Mitchell Fujisaka, Dr. Kuulei Rodgers, and Kaipo Perez in a free presentation 5:30–7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb 28, at Keauhou Beach Resort, Ballroom III.

Fujisaka, a kupuna (elder) of Kahalu‘u, will share stories of his life in this ahupuaa.

Rodgers, of the Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology (HIMB) and the Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program, will speak on quantifying the health of our watersheds and coral reefs and exploring the mauka/makai connection between them.

Rodgers will make available knowledge from the Hawaii Watershed Health Index and the Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program Reef Health Index.

Perez, doctoral candidate at HIMB, will present his preliminary baseline assessment (environment and biological) on coral reef resources through an interactive map of Kahaluu Bay.

A newly created community web portal focusing on the study of freshwater cycles and resources within Kahaluu ahupuaa will also be available for viewing. The site provides cultural and scientific information and is a key to sustainably managing the natural and cultural resources contained within this ahupuaa.

It was developed in collaboration with the Center for Conservation Research and Training (CCRT) at University of Hawaii Mānoa and The National Science Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR-Track 2).

The evening is sponsored by The National Science Foundation EPSCoR-Track 2, CCRT, HIMB, The Kohala Center, and Jane Musser Fund.

For more information, contact Cindi Punihaole at 895-1010 or cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org.