Keoni Fox advocates for PONC Stewardship Grant to support Kau cultural restoration

Hawaii County's Finance Committee meeting on June 3, 2025, highlighted a significant resolution aimed at enhancing community stewardship and cultural education in Kau. Keoni Fox, president of the Alaka'aki Trail Association, testified in support of Resolution 199, which seeks to provide PONC Stewardship Grant Awards for ongoing stewardship efforts in the region.

Since 2018, the Alaka'aki Trail Association has collaborated with Ho'omalu Kau and the Greater Kau community to restore the Kahuaolohu, a traditional Makahiki playing field in Nalehu. This initiative has successfully transformed a 10-acre site into a vibrant cultural space, engaging over 500 students from local schools last November. The program not only fosters cultural awareness but also includes hands-on learning experiences, where students create their own implements and participate in traditional games.

Fox emphasized the importance of expanding this program to additional East Hawaii schools, aiming to deepen the educational impact on local youth. The association's efforts also extend to environmental stewardship, with a heritage preserve ranger program that monitors and protects cultural and natural resources along the coastline. This includes restoring sand dune ecosystems and removing marine debris.

The proposed grant for the Kiolaka'a resource management plan is set to support the second year of a community planning initiative, further solidifying the commitment to preserving Kau's cultural and natural heritage. The Finance Committee's consideration of this resolution underscores the community's dedication to both environmental stewardship and cultural education, promising a brighter future for Kau's heritage and its residents.