Native Cultural Learning Center at Ka'ala & Kipuka: 6/24/14

Kipuka Forest Reserve

Located deep in Wai'anae Valley, the Kipuka forest reserve is a portion of the five percent native dry forests that remain intact today. We were welcomed by Dr. Bruce who taught us the importance of restoring these rare native forests.

Hawaii's native dry forests are close to extinction for a number of reasons. The first being invasive species. Invasive species can do a number of things, including stealing water, sunlight, and crowding native plants. Another is human activity such as modernization and littering. Dr. Bruce asked that we keep in mind that Wai'anae is our home. As natives to Hawai'i, it is only right that our people are responsible for increasing the percentage of these forests, taking care of our 'āina, and cherishing what we have left of these dry forests.

After Dr. Bruce's talk, we were put to work. We broke up into groups of three and was then assigned an area to clear weeds and lay down a weed mat. Raking the invasive species and yanking them out of the ground was tiring, but we powered through it for the love our our 'āina. 

Later, we had to ask for our plant that we wanted to outplant by it's Hawaiian name. Planting a native plant that would then grow into a massive tree in the future was an exciting experience because we knew that we did our job as natives.

Last, Dr. Bruce gave us a tour of the Cultural Learning Center at Ka'ala. We were presented with a stunning view of rows of lo'i patches, an abundance of native plants, and a panoramic sight of the ocean. Being there was like going 300 years into the past, when the only people who lived here was Hawaiians who lived off the land. We found it amazing that there is a place like this in our own community. We felt more prideful of our culture, seeing how ravishing our land can be and that it is quite possible to keep these sacred grounds in tact.