March has been a productive month out in Keawanui! ʻĀina Momona was able to host Kumu Malia Akutagawa and Kumu Noelani Puniwai’s class, Hawaiian Studies 651: ʻĀina Waiwai. Their haumāna are assisting @sustainable_molokai with the Climate Change and Sea Level Adaptation Plan. These students visited Keawanui Loko Iʻa and were able to talk with Uncle Walter, Aunty Loretta, and our staff to contextualize their expertise in geology, natural resource management, the law, and architecture with what we are seeing here on the ground.
How do we stop the soil from running down mauka and ending up makai during heavy rains? Our team has been exploring this question this month by getting to know the land above Keawanui Loko Iʻa and working with experts at Ola Design Co. to prevent erosion. Keeping wai on the land to recharge our aquifers and nearshore pūnāwai is an important step to our ahupuaʻa restoration.