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Saturday, April 20, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs April 20, 2024

Local residents were invited to Kamehameha School's Kahuku Ranch on Saturday to participate in community
input for a stewardship plan for the 1,368 acres at Kaunāmano on the Kaʻū Coast. Photo by Julia Neal















NOHOPAPA HAWAI‘I HOSTED A SESSION ABOUT KAUNĀMANO STEWARDSHIP along the Kaʻū Coast. The public meeting was held Saturday at Kamehameha Schools' Kahuku Ranch. Nohopapa said it invites engagement "with individuals, ‘ohana and organizations that have long-standing lineal, cultural, and community connections to this wahi pana, and have knowledge and mana‘o on traditional uses or ongoing cultural practices in the area or general vicinity."
    The Nohopapa organization, which has been contracted to develop a Resource Stewardship Plan in
A stewardship plan for Kaunāmano is in the making and public input
is sought. Photo from Ala Kahakai Trail Association
cooperation with Ala Kahakai Trail Association, which owns the 1,368 acres at Kaunāmano,
is asking for input from the public on:
    Mo‘oku‘auhau ‘Āina, Wahi Kupuna - cultural, historical and archaeological resources;
    ‘Āina Mauli Ola - Native plants, marine and avian resources;
    Traditional and Existing Access Structures and Fire Prevention;
    Recommendations or mana‘o for stewardship planning for Hawaiian wahi kupuna or traditional customary practices within or around the area; and
    Referrals of Kupuna and Kama‘aina who would be willing to share their cultural knowledge of the area.
    Input is also sought on public access with a key challenge of determining the use of the place by the local community, including the timing and number of people who can go there. 
    To participate, contact rachel@nohopapa.com
    According to representatives of Nohopapa and Ala Kahakai Trail Association, community outreach, consultation and interviews will be conducted through July and the stewardship plan will be presented by the end of November. 
    See more on Nohopapa at www.nohopapa.com and more on Ala Kahaki Trail Association at https://www.alakahakaitrail.org/kaunamano.

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Armando and Karina Rodrigues, with coffee farms in Honomolina and Kaʻū, have launched Aloha Latinos Hawai‘i, an organization to assist the growing number of Latin American immigrants and workers to become involved in the community
and to provide them with the help they may need here. Photo from Aloha Star Farms
ALOHA LATINOS HAWAI‘I ASSOCIATION has launched. It was founded by Armando Rodrigues, Kaʻū and Kona Coffee grower of Aloha Star Coffee Farms. He has become Aloha Latino's first President. Rodrigues, his wife Karina, son Elias and grandmother Marina say that they are Americans who also appreciate their Latino background and want to help other Latinos to connect for cultural reasons, help with farming, immigration and other challenges. 

Teachers who help immigrant children around the country
visit the coffee farm of Armando Rodrigues, who founded
Aloha Latinos Hawai‘i Association. Photo from Aloha Star Farms
    Armando said Aloha Latinos is "an effort created to unite, empower, and uplift the voices of the Latino community in Hawai‘i County, the Big Island of Hawai‘i." 
    The state of Hawai‘i reported last September that Hawai‘i County has the fastest-growing Latino population in the Islands, reaching some 13.6 percent. Rodrigues said the Latino population is growing faster and has reached about 22 percent, with about 80 percent of farm workers Latino on Hawai‘i Island.
    Aloha Latinos also serves in diplomacy with arrivals from the Mexican Consulate. Aloha Star Coffee farm recently hosted a group of teachers from across the country who specialize in the education of immigrant children.
    Mayor Mitch Roth recently swore in Rodrigues as President of Aloha Latinos. Vice President is Jennifer Bladeras, who has worked with many farmers in advising on finance and farm purchases under the USDA Farm Service Agency. Treasurer is Anna Marie Smith. Secretary is Alejandra Cisneros. Board members are Jazmin Allison, Ana McKnight, Marlene Villatora, Karina Rodrigues, Claudia Hartz and Victoria Magana.
    Follow @alohalatinoshawaii. Contact Armando and Karina Rodrigues at 808-987-4918.

Founders of Aloha Latinos Hawai‘i Association with Mayor Mitch Roth and County Council member Michelle Galimba.
Photo from Aloha Latinos

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.