Author Archives: kevin

KUA signs Climate Strong Islands Declaration: A call to action to create more sustainable and resilient island communities

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KUA is a founding signatory to the Climate Strong Islands Declaration released on February 26, 2020 in Guam and at the Second Climate Strong Islands Dialogue in San Juan, Puerto Rico with other U.S. islands and supporting partners. This declaration is a call to action that supports island leadership on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and local climate resilience solutions.

Paul Simon’s special Maui concerts to support biodiversity conservation and ʻāina momona.

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“The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls and whispered in the sounds of silence.” – Paul Simon, Sound of Silence Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA) is deeply honored by legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon’s recent announcement of his intention to donate net proceeds from his upcoming special concerts at the […]

Kumu Palani Sinenci Talks Building Community by Building Hale PBS May 21, 7pm on Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox

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Kumu Francis Palani Sinenci from Hana, Maui is a master builder who passes on the art of hale building and stone-work to a new generation of apprentices. They in turn have become alaka`i –leaders— of the practices themselves. Under his tutelage students have gone out and worked with communities on various hale and heiau restoration […]

From Lāhui to Rāhui: Community stewardship across Polynesia

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In April of this year KUA was invited to participate in a week long workshop in Papeete Tahiti, supported by the European Union and facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific and the Tahitian Ministry of Fisheries.  The workshop was entitled: “Sharing our lessons from participatory management of reef fisheries in Polynesia – Partager nos expériences de […]

An Instrument of Aloha: Remembering Ernie Cruz Jr.

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By Kevin Chang ~ Ernie Cruz Jr. is a friend of mine known mostly for his memorable voice and the era of Hawaiian music he helped start and contributed to along the way. As a musician and friend I am also a fan of his. I am lucky to know him. But Ernie was more than his music. He was just only getting started. I want people to know this. Ernie was just coming into his own.

Special Gathering of Indigenous Peoples and Local Community Organizations in Antigua, Guatemala

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There is a Hawaiian proverb that says: “(t)he land is the chief; man is its servant.” [1] It is often cited among Native Hawaiian and grassroots community stewardship networks my organization is privileged to serve. Feeling it might resonate with new friends, I used it in my talk at an inaugural gathering of Indigenous peoples and local community International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Members in Antigua, Guatemala. The thoughtful reflections in the room affirmed for me that my home – an isolated community over 2,000 miles of ocean away from others – is connected to a larger global family. We can build bridges.

A KAHEA (CALL OUT) FROM THE FAMILIES OF KAʻŪPŪLEHU ON THEIR PROPOSED MARINE RESERVE & PUBLIC HEARING 2-11-16

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MESSAGE FROM AUNTY HANNAH SPRINGER: “The families of Kuki`o and Ka`upulehu, have resisted movement away from our `aina aloha, the region of North Kona, called Kekaha and further described as wai`ole (without water). A forever independent lot, we have been goat herders and ranchers, truck drivers and educators, always fishing our home waters and tending […]