Revitalization of Nāpoʻopoʻo, an ancient village site built by our kūpuna.
Mālama Nāpoʻopoʻo Program
Continuing efforts since 2001 to restore, cultivate, and protect the Nāpoʻopoʻo area of Waipiʻo Valley through educational and community group hostings.
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Mālama Nāpoʻopoʻo means to care for and shine light on the historical & cultural significane of Nāpoʻopoʻo, an ʻili (small land section) that was once the largest village site in Waipiʻo Valley with unique geography & rich moʻolelo.
With the ʻāina of Nāpoʻopoʻo in Waipiʻo Valley as a our foundation, groups can come learn the historical and cultural significance of Nāpoʻopoʻo and the valley as a whole while helping to mālama ʻāina with the various indigenous and native plants on site.
Mālama Napoʻopoʻo is the perpetuation and elevation of the continued Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) stewardship of an important wahi pana (special place) in historic Waipi’o Valley. Napo’opo’o is the largest ancient village site in Waipi’o Valley with over 400 terraced rock walls built by our ancestors that date back to 800-1200 A.D. and is the first stewarded land section that the waters from Hi’ilawe and its partner waterfalls flow through.
PROGRAM GOALS
1) Elevate the Nāpo’opo’o Kīpuka to create a thriving & easily recognizable indigenous Hawaiian stewardship through propagation & protection of Hawaiian plants and traditional water resource management, with community and visitor participation; and 2) Create a public education campaign regarding the cultural and natural resource significance of the Nāpo’opo’o area and how the island community and visitors alike can responsibly participate to mālama, taking care of the land together.
Mālama Nāpo’opo’o aims to elevate the area into a thriving kipuka with strong kanaka maoli stewardship presence of managed cultivation for unaware hikers & protection from wild horses, as well as an education campaign on site and beyond to spread awareness of the natural and cultural resource significance of the area. Unaware hikers trespassing on private property, over burial & historical sites, and through waterways that feed our and other farmers’ lo’i kalo need to be educated of the area. Wild horses trample through cultivated crops and limit types of plants because of their grazing preferences need to be kept out. The general public, residents and visitors alike, need to be educated of the need to protect these natural and cultural resources. With these actions, Nāpo’opo’o will be able to thrive with native & indigenous plants that will symbolize active stewardship with more aware residents and visitors helping to malama ‘aina together.
Ancient terraces of the village site Nāpoʻopoʻo
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The Historic Ti House in the Upper Area of Nāpoʻopoʻo
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