Land and Cultural Rights
The land and the people are one. Access to and protection of inact native ecosystems is a cornerstone of continued cultural practice in Hawai‘i. When a native species is lost to extinction or wahi pani is erased from the landscape, the words and traditions associated with them are also lost.
Today, Hawai‘i has many laws and regulations in place to promote the protection of healthy native ecosystems and ensure public access to areas of traditional ceremony and gathering. These laws are constantly under threat from those that seek to privatize and develop Hawai‘i's public trust shorelines and conservation areas.
KAHEA's campaigns and programs are committed to the strongest possible protections for Hawai‘i's natural and cultural resources.