Hakuhia
A MINISTRY FOR THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR KO’OLAU ‘AINA
Hakuhia is the First Prez ministry that will steward the land at Koʻolau that God has entrusted to us. At the heart of the Hakuhia ministry is a guiding vision to renew people and place through community. After months of prayerful discernment amongst our church leaders, and in discussions with ‘aina-based practitioners and community partners, we are moving forward to steward the land that God has put into our care in ways that are aligned to our church’s vision to love God, love people, and reach the world for Jesus Christ.
We will move in ways that will:
Glorify God
Serve the Community
Practice Environmental Stewardship
Learn from the Hawaiian Culture
Be Financially Responsible
We are currently researching potential programming aligned with these objectives. They include things like sustainable agriculture; promotion of health and wellness by opening up hiking and biking trails; and providing spaces for camping and retreats. Environmental stewardship could include reforestation and native-tree planting, to natural climate solutions. While we invest in these possible areas, we are seeking opportunities to also promote education and workforce training in fields like conservation, agriculture, and food systems. These are a few examples.
There is still plenty of work ahead as Hakuhia evolves, and we will keep the congregation both informed through this website and engaged throughout this process. We ask for your prayers as we continue to hear from God and seek his vision for our land.
Tap the photo to listen to Kelly Miyamura explain what Hakuhia is all about.
PILINA RESTORATION DAYS
There have been various forms of ministry happening on the land for evangelism and/or direct discipleship, like the monthly service projects called Pilina Restoration Days. These are community project days when we clean the stream beds and work the land by planting native plants and eliminating invasive species at our Ko’olau ‘aina.
2024 PILINA RESTORATION DAYS (every last Saturday of the month)
May 25, Saturday, 9:00AM-11:30AM
June 29, Saturday, 9:00AM-11:30AM
July 27, Saturday, 9:00AM-11:30AM
August 31, Saturday, 9:00AM-11:30AM
September 28, Saturday, 9:00AM-11:30AM
October 26, Saturday, 9:00AM-11:30AM
RESOURCES
THE ISLAND GARDENS OF FIRST PREZ
We have three new gardens of native plants on campus! Many thanks to Boy Scout Troop 73 that chose our Koʻolau ʻaina to do this Eagle Scout project. The Island Gardens Project supports First Prez’s Hakuhia Ministry's mission to steward well the land God has entrusted to us.
Read about the interesting details of some of the native plants in the Gardens by clicking here.
A SONG ABOUT OUR KOʻOLAU ʻAINA
In 2022 we invited Kumu Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, whoʻs highly respected in the Hawaiian community, to tour parts of our Koʻolau ʻaina and learn from him and the Hawaiian culture. He came away so inspired by what he saw and experienced that he wrote a song called I KEKELE I KU'U ALOHA. Listen to the song, and notice how each verse mentions the different places he visited:
verse 1. Kekele (the area below the Pali known for the groves of Hinano Hala)
verse 2. Lanihuli (tallest puʻu or mountain along range)
verse 3. Hiʻilaniwai (waterfall/stream)
verse 4. Kamoʻoaliʻi (main stream)
verse 5. Hoʻoleinaʻiwa (ʻili area where the stones are placed)
“THE FUNGI OF KOʻOLAU” BOOKLET
Do you know that over 50 species of fungi have been discovered on our 'aina and documented? Stream ecologist Brian Deis has worked on a booklet called The Fungi of Koʻolau, featuring 25 of the more commonly occurring fungi species on our ‘aina. Read or download the Fungi of Koʻolau. It’s just one more way we can find connection in our 246 acres and witness how creative and detailed God is with what He has made.
the wahi kupuna stewardship internship hōike
Hakuhia approaches the stewardship of our Koʻolau ʻaina with a posture of learning and humility. In 2022, Hakuhia collaborated with Nohopapa Hawaii, a Native Hawaiian owned and operated cultural resource management firm, in an effort to step back and remember the significance of this place. Nohopapa’s kuleana (responsibility) is to teach students to research and gather knowledge through integrated approaches, such as researching historical archives, conducting interviews with kupuna (grandparents or honored elder), and exploring cultural areas by foot on the ʻaina.
Interns Noe Puaauli and Naupaka Hoapili, who come from five generations of family from Kaneohe, presented what they learned about our Koʻolau ʻaina through the Wahi Kupuna Stewardship Iinternship. Through their efforts, we have a deeper understanding of the cultural history of this ʻaina to help guide future stewardship, management, and land use.
IN THE NEWS
Do you know that First Prez’s Hakuhia Ministry joined the Koʻolau Mountain Watershed Partnership (KMWP) in 2020? The KMWP is a voluntary alliance of major public and private landowners committed to the protection of the native Hawaiian forests of the Koʻolau Mountains. In August of 2022, we hosted all partners to meet at our Koʻolau campus and exchange ideas on watershed management of the Koʻolau region. Read the story on that from Hawaii Public Radio.