Ka 'Ohana O Honu'apo

11/23/2025

Aloha kākou,

We invite you to our Honuʻapo Volunteer Workday on Saturday, November 29th; 9:00AM till pau (~12PM). Please RSVP by sending us an email or reaching out via our website; or notify a KOOH Board Member.

Tasks for this workday include maintenance to the kūkulu kuapā/rock wall at our loko i‘a. We'll collect, sort and replace alos (exterior face stones), and hakahaka (small, filler stones).

Bring-Your-Own:

a.) Drinks, Food, & Mess Kit: Re-usable water bottles and dishware; lunch and snacks for yourself or to share (pa‘ina/potluck style). We’ll provide water to share.

b.) Protective Gear: Work gloves (we’re limited in supply). We provide a First Aid Kit and lifeguard support, in case of an emergency.

c.) Sun Gear: Sunscreen; hat; and sunglasses.

d.) Water/Rain Gear: Tabi water shoes; towel; swim trunks; a change of clothes and shoes; rain jacket/poncho.

e.) Waiver Forms: Let us know and we can send it ahead of time if youʻd like to review.

Note, rinse the soles of any personal footwear (work boots; tennis shoes; or tabis) and work gloves in a 10% bleach wash if your gear has been used at other coastal and wetland sites. This helps limit the spread of disease and invasives.

10/12/2025

Please save the below two dates and come join in on the fun!

1) Lā ‘Ohana at Honu‘apo Community Event
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 10AM till 3PM
Note: Please see the attached flyer. It's free to attend and for all ages. We'll have ono food, live music, and workshops. Please bring your own chair and canteen.

2) Honu‘apo Volunteer Workday
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Time: 9AM till pau (~12PM)
Note: October's workday has been rescheduled to the start of November. RSVP to the workday and more info on our website honuapopark.org/

From our KOOH ‘ohana to you, our valued volunteers and supporters, mahalo nui loa for your mālama ʻāina action.

10/10/2025

We are excited this dream for decades is finally moving fwd. Read more about the plans / draft environmental assessment here:

KAʻŪ, Hawaiʻi - The plan calls for the removal of invasive vegetation to improve water quality, revegetation with native plant species, and installation of a predator proof fence.

09/25/2024

We will be hosting our bimonthly community workday at HONUʻAPO this Saturday, September 28th from 9:00am ~ noon, and we invite you and your ʻOhana to join us.

Please RSVP to this post, or contact our Loko Coordinator, John Replogle , or let another KOOH Board member (Nohea, Daniel, Meg, Jodie, Ken) know if you plan to join us so we can plan ahead and have drinks / gloves, waivers & other supplies for everyone 🙂

Plan to BYO-lunch, snacks, water bottles, protective clothing, and KOOH will provide water refills and some basic juice drinks (and a FA kit, jusʻ in case). This monthʻs workday will focus on the kuapā / fishpond wall.

Canʻt make ʻem ... aʻole pilikia - join us on Sat. November 30th for another workday and for the Lā Kūokoʻa event. You can learn more about the history of this special day here: https://www.ksbe.edu/article/celebrating-la-kuokoa-independence-day

Want to get on our LOKO list? Please shoot us an email at kaohanaohonuapo @ gmail dot com (trying to avoid the bots)... MAHALO a me ʻike wau iā ʻoe ma Honuʻapo!

03/05/2024

We are pleased to announce that we are opening our next round of applications for the Kaʻū Hoa Pili ʻĀina Stewardship Training Program that will run from April ~ August 2024 with our partners at Hawaii Wildlife Fund. Calling all Kaʻū residents who want to learn more about mālama ʻāina and stewardship practices to fill these five positions. See flier for more info or contact us on DM or via email at [email protected].

Applicants must be 18 years old and live in the Kaʻū Moku. This opportunity closes on Friday, March 15th so apply today!

Learn more about the pilot program that launched in October 2023 here: https://bigislandnow.com/2024/03/01/hawaii-tourism-authority-supports-aina-based-training-and-stewardship-program-on-hawaii-island/

02/21/2024

Read more about our pilot Kaʻū Hoa Pili ʻĀina Training Program in the blurb from The Kaʻū Calendar below ... and more info about the second round of stewardship training coming soon!

HAWAI‘I TOURISM AUTHORITY'S PUNALU‘U PROGRAM to train stewards to educate visitors and the public about caring for Punalu‘u came to a close on Saturday with graduation ceremonies for ten students. HTA funded the nonprofit Ka ‘Ohana O Honu‘apo. Students received stipends and guest presenter...

01/23/2024

Aloha kakahiaka kākou ma Honuʻapo! We invite you to join us this weekend (Sat 1/27) for our bimonthly loko workday from 10:30am - 12:30pm (hana) and lunch (byob or potluck kine) to follow. DM us with your email for deets!

12/15/2023

Before / after our loko iʻa action at Honuʻapo. Photos by our VP, Daniel Dierking, in March 2021 and yesterday after our monthly workday with The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences high school haumana.

Stay tuned for more updates coming soon via our e-newsletter (sign up on our website) and save the date for our next bimonthly community workday on Saturday, January 27th, 2024!

A special shout out to our then poʻo, Kalāhoʻohie Mossman, who helped us secure the DLNR Loko Iʻa permit in July 2019 and lead 30+ workdays for 2.5 years before he had to step down to focus on family / work responsibilities at the end of September 2023. Mahalo nūi, Kalā!

Until then, Lonoikamakahiki and happy holidays to you and your ʻOhana!

10/05/2023

ANNOUNCEMENT: 10 Kaʻū Stewardship Trainee POSITIONS AVAILABLE NOW!

Are you at least 18 years old, live in Kaʻū, and enjoy all things mālama ʻāina, or just want to learn more about how to best steward your moku? Then THIS is the experience for you!

Ka ʻOhana O Honuʻapo is looking for 10 individuals to join a part-time, 4-month pilot program funded by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority as part of its destination management and community efforts.

Are you….
● at least 18 years of age
● a resident of Kaʻū
● able to attend work days and volunteer days
● willing to learn new things
● Able to possess a positive attitude and love your ʻāina?

THEN COME JOIN US!!

As a steward trainee, you will engage with community groups doing work in Kaʻū, learn moʻolelo and cultural protocols, complete CPR and First Aid training, receive training from professionals with a wide array of expertise (from honu to hoku), and earn a monthly stipend.

No previous stewardship experience is necessary, and joining is easy! Send an email to us at [email protected] and let us know your name, where you call home, and a brief introduction to who you are and why you are interested!

See FULL POSITION DESCRIPTION Linked Below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nN-EiJdIUPOwXvp9l_e__P68Ah9QSqKb/view?usp=sharing__;!!PvDODwlR4mBZyAb0!XXymqgC67uqJ7vkxwFt1b1akc8aFMCi0RXObCMwM1pyvnu9VwyjdO3EVkbUybOWKDMdfVrjLG4U0-YjaBYDF378UMw$

Only 10 spaces are available, and this position will close on October 18, 2023, so don’t hesitate!

10/03/2023

Hele mai ma Naʻalehu -- Tues 10/10 @ 5pm!

More info here:
https://kekuhi-kealiikanakaole.mykajabi.com/workshops_and_more

10/02/2023

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: Part-time Kaʻū Hoa Pili ʻĀina Training Program “Mālama ʻĀina Coordinator” Position Available at Punaluʻu (and various sites in Kaʻū)!

Hawaii Wildlife Fund (HWF), in partnership with Ka ‘Ohana O Honu‘apo (KOOH), is recruiting a part-time staff member to coordinate training efforts for ten young-adult stewards for a four-month pilot program (that may potentially be extended if funding and capacity allows). This work is being offered as a part-time seasonal position by HWF (with KOOH) that is being funded by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority as part of its destination management and community efforts. More info about KOOH and HWF is available on our websites: (www.honuapopark.org/ and www.wildhawaii.org/).

Job Summary:
The Kaʻū Hoa Pili ʻĀina Training Program “Mālama ʻĀina Coordinator” will work approximately 19 hours per week for this 18-week program beginning 10/15/23, and will work closely with team members of Ka ʻOhana O Honuʻapo and Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund. This position includes working with HWF staff and KOOH volunteers approximately two days per week in the field and additional hours remotely to support the establishment and operations of the Kaʻū Hoa Pili ʻĀina Training Program (young-adult “trainees”). Communication and coordination will be required for the 16 training sessions (with Guest Kumu), plus logistics for transport, makana, meeting supplies for any huakaʻi or workday planned for the program. Coordinator may request to work additional time, as needed, and permission will be granted on a case-by-case basis and as HWF resources allow. After primary tasks outcomes are achieved, in consultation with supervisor, staff member may spend time on secondary or “subtasks” and support other HWF conservation activities as possible.

Note:
Position open until filled (will be closed on 10/06/23 unless no qualified applicants apply), but work is expected to begin on 10/15/23. This work is being offered as a part-time seasonal position by HWF in partnership with KOOH. KOOH holds the HICASP contract for Punaluʻu and the project is supported by HTA Hawaiʻi Island DMAP, IHVB, and HVCB.

For more details and full announcement, please email [email protected].

A community organization committed to protecting natural and cultural resources of Honuʻapo.

09/29/2023

Aloha and e kalamai that we had to pause our bigger bimonthly community workdays since March 2023 (as we awaited another state permit to hana)… but we have thankfully still been able to plan, host and prep with various school groups from Kaʻū HS and VSAS recently, and we are super looking forward to a visit from Hamilton HS students and from Aotearoa, NZ soon! 🙏🏽

PC to