A New (and ancient) Vision for Resource Management

Native Cultural Practitioners have been continuously caring for Hawai'i's resources for generations upon generations. We have been the stewards, managers, and protectors of the 'aina and all of the resources that are a part of its continuation for longer than human memory. Our intention is to perpetuate this unbroken relationship for future generations, for the benefit of all of the people of Hawai'i.

We believe that everyone has a role in resource protection. However, it is the traditional practitioners of Hawaiian culture who have the inherent kuleana (right and duty) as the primary stewards of the 'aina, and this needs to be recognized by everyone who participates in resource management. This kuleana was handed down to us through many generations of people who were intimately connected to the land, and we could not forsake our role as the 'aina's stewards even if we wanted to.

This is not an "ethnic preference" issue. There are 'ohana of diverse ethnic backgrounds who fish and practice in ways that were handed to them by Hawaiians of old, and we know who they are. Many of them are our family -- parents, spouses, hanai children, etc., without whom we cannot realistically practice our culture, which is based in 'ohana. They respect Hawaiians and perpetuate the real culture of Hawai'i, and help us to care for the land. We respect them as well. Their rights to fish and to care for the land as they have been taught by our kupuna should be protected as well.

Our vision is to create working relationships with our communities, political leaders, and organizations and agencies involved in resource protection and cultural perpetuation, in order to ensure the best balance of natural and cultural resource protection, along with the genuine continuation of everyday cultural practice possible.