top of page

Search Kīpuka Kuleana

25 results found with an empty search

  • Kīpuka Kuleana | Kākoʻo- ʻOhana Support

    We provide tailored support to families working to keep ancestral lands  Kākoʻo ʻOhana Support 2025 ʻOhana ʻĀina Workshop Series APRIL 26 WORKSHOP How can estate planning tools be used to protect ʻohana ʻāina? Join us for a talk story with community experts about different legal tools for land protection, from setting up wills and trusts to navigating probate to identify heirs. No prior knowledge is needed - there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion, and you can continue conversations over lunch. Concerned about the cost of legal services? We will also be sharing information about financial resources for ʻohana for preventative services like estate planning through Kīpuka Kuleana's new fund. Click here to RSVP SAVE THESE DATES We will share workshop updates through our email newsletter and social media. Stay tuned for more details! Instagram Facebook We provide direct, tailored support to families working to keep ancestral lands. We work with ʻohana to craft respectful solutions tailored to particular ʻāina and circumstances, while also connecting area ʻohana to one another. Below are some examples of land protection tools that we share with ʻohana. See our Resources page for more details. Hoʻoponopono and guided facilitation/mediation : bring ʻohana together in discussions about ʻāina Genealogy research : help ʻohana research their ancestry to qualify for the kuleana tax exemption, to claim land, and to register iwi kūpuna Legal assistance : address probate, title issues, access challenges, quiet title/partition action, etc. Tax relief : work with the County of Kauaʻi tax office to qualify for any tax exemptions or set up a payment plan Conservation resources: protect ʻāina using tools like a cultural conservation easement and models like descendent-led nonprofit organizations Family land trust set-up: keep land within the ʻohana for generations to come Trust and estate planning : set up wills and trusts (revocable, irrevocable, etc.) Homeowner's financial assistance : receive grant funds and loans through groups like Hawaiʻi Community Lending Where families have lost lands, we connect them to resources for regaining ʻāina, sharing manaʻo from leaders like Keʻeaumoku and Uʻilani Kapu. We can also offer support in negotiating access and stewardship agreements, so that ʻohana can continue to care for ʻohana ʻāina without holding title. Projects and Events Inaugural ʻOhana Workshop (2016) With support from Native Voices Rising, our founders brought together 20 community members at QLCC to discuss the protection of kuleana and ʻohana lands in 2016. The manaʻo from this workshop planted the seeds for the formal establishment of Kīpuka Kuleana from 2017-2018. Wawa's Legacy (2017) We advised and supported an ʻohana that successfully protected their ancestral land through a conservation purchase in 2017. ʻĀpana ʻOhana (2020) We co-hosted an online workshop series with nonprofit Huliauapaʻa and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs that reached over 200 community members in 2020. This workshop provided resources for families and others seeking to protect kuleana and ʻohana heir properties. Resources ʻOhana ʻĀina Workshop (2023) On January 21, 2023, we hosted an in-person workshop at Liliʻuokalani Trust for 65 community members that provided resources for protecting ancestral ʻāina. Resources ʻOhana ʻĀina Workshop (2024) On February 10, we gathered again at Liliʻuokalani Trust for our annual ʻOhana ʻĀina Workshop. 65 community members, including 12 facilitators, shared manaʻo and resources for protecting family lands.

  • Kīpuka Kuleana | Resources for ʻOhana

    Learn more about who we are. RESOURCES For ʻohana Below is our living library of land protection resources, which we update regularly. You can click on a specific topic below (see six tiles) or scroll through all sections. We know that all of this information can be overwhelming. Often, ʻohana aren't sure where to begin. If you'd like to talk story with our team about your situation, we can help you find a starting point and offer suggestions for next steps. You can message us through our Contact Form at the bottom of the webpage or send an email to admin@kipukakuleana.org . Mahalo nunui! We are hosting workshops on many of these topics in 2025. Learn more about our ʻOhana ʻĀina Workshop Series here ! Pathways of ʻĀina Protection Hoʻoponopono & Mediation Bring ʻohana members together to share their connections to ʻāina and talk about pono decisions for protecting ʻāina Hoʻoponopono is a process that can help guide ʻohana through discussions to find pono, heal and articulate goals and vision for their ʻohana ʻāina. Below is a list of hoʻoponopono practitioners on Kauaʻi who are willing to serve as a resource for ʻohana: J. Kauʻilani Kahalekai - Lihue (808) 652-1012 Gwen Cardijon - Kekaha (808) 651-4749 Momi Kaiakapu - Hanapepe (808) 651-3811 Carol Lovell - Anahola (808) 635-1125 Ginger Saiki - Hoʻola Lahui (808) 651-3205 Mediation is another option for bringing ʻohana together with a trained facilitator to resolve conflict or disagreements related to ʻāina. Two resources for mediation services are: Kauai Economic Opportunity (KEO), Inc. Website: https://keoinc.org/services/mediation Phone: (808) 245-4077, extension 234 Email: mediation@keoinc.org Location: 2804 Wehe Road, Lihue, 96766 Offer mediation and group facilitation sessions that can last up to three hours and are usually held on ʻohana ʻāina, a neutral location or at KEO Cost of session is on a sliding scale, based on income The Mediation Center of the Pacific Website: https://www.mediatehawaii.org/mediation Call (808) 521-6767 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and ask for the Client Services Department Email: mcp@mediatehawaii.org Location: 1301 Young Street, 2nd Floor. Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Dispute Prevention and Resolution Inc. Website: https://dprhawaii.com/ Phone: (808) 523-1234 Location: 1003 Bishop St. Pauahi Tower Suite 1155. Honolulu, HI 96813 Click to view Hoʻoponopono handout Click to view KEO Mediation Brochure Click to view Plan for Mālama of ʻOhana Āina handout Estate & Trust Planning Plan for long-term protection of and care for ʻohana ʻāina across generations using legal tools Estate and trust planning is one way to preserve ʻāina for future generations. You can learn more about options for wills, trusts and other estate planning tools in the Hawaii Estate Planning Resources handout and online . Family Land Trust Model For land owned by multiple family members, formation of a family land trust may be a proactive option for keeping land in the family for generations to come. A family land trust can be flexible and tailored to each ʻohana's unique needs. For more information, see our Family Land Trust handout. Legal providers that offer this service include: Okura & Associates (808) 593-8885. www.okuralaw.com Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (808) 521-2302. www.nativehawaiianlegalcorp.org Probate Probate is a legal process that deals with the assets and debts left behind after someone passes away. We have indicated in the list below probate attorneys who are accepting new clients, open to working with Kauaʻi ʻohana, and offer services for i nformal probate (also called "standard" or "uncontested" probate) and formal probate (contested, involving litigation). Referrals Below is a non-comprehensive list of estate planning attorneys who can help determine which legal tool is best for your ʻohana's goals. Cynthia Hannah-White and Katherine A. Caswell | Kauai Estate Law LLLC Estate Planning, Estate and Trust Administration (3 month waitlist for new clients) 4334 Rice Street, Suite 203, Lihue, HI 96766 Phone: (808) 245-9991 Email: info@kauaiestatelaw.com Website: http://www.kauaiestatelaw.com Okura & Associates Estate Planning, Probate Oʻahu office: Interstate Building, Suite 760, 1314 South King St. Honolulu, HI 96814. (808) 593-8885 Hawaiʻi Island office: 155 Wailuluku Drive, Hilo, HI 96720. (808) 935-3344 For probate inquiries: Call the Probate Line (808) 937 9510 and fill out their question form to receive a quote. Website: www.okuralaw.com Michael D. Scarbo (Kauaʻi-based) | McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP Estate Planning, Uncontested Probate Five Waterfront Plaza, 4th Floor, 500 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 529-7300 Email: Joy Clemente (jmc@m4law.com ) and Vera Tabe (vtabe@m4law.com ) Website: https://www.m4law.com/ Samuel K.L. Suen Estate Planning, Probate 1575 South Beretania Street, Suite 205, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826 Phone: (808) 282-4411 Website: www.sklslaw.com Yuka Hongo Estate Planning, Probate 2155 Kalakaua Ave #410, Honolulu, HI 96815 Fluent in Japanese and English Phone: (808) 204-4700 Website: www.hongolaw.com Sheryll Bonilla Estate planning, Uncontested probate Honolulu Phone: (808) 670-6177 Sterling & Tucker, LLP | Kanani M. Makaimoku Estate Planning Oʻahu office: 201 Merchant Street, Suite 950. Honolulu, HI 96813. (808) 531-5391 Maui office: 2158 Main Street. Suite 109. Wailuku, HI 96793. (800) 807-3820 Hawaiʻi Island office: 614 Kilauea Avenue Suite 8 (first floor). Hilo, HI 96720. (800) 807-3820 Website: https://www.sterlingandtucker.com/contact-us/ Law Office of Keoni Souza, LLC | Keoni Souza Family Estate Planning, Planning for Children, Special Needs Planning, Asset Protection Planning, Estate Tax Protection Planning Monday - Friday: 9 am - 5 pm, by appointment only. Services are provided exclusively online. 1188 Bishop Street, Suite 2706, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Phone: (808) 725-3456 Email: team@keonisouzalaw.com Website: https://www.keonisouzalaw.com Click to view Hawaii Estate Planning Resources handout Click to view Family Land Trust handout Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH) Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH) works with attorneys to provide pro bono (free) legal services – including setup of wills, advanced care directives , and power of attorney – to ʻohana with low to moderate income (household incomes at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level for the State of HI). If you are on Kauaʻi, you can call 808-698-8210 to see if you are eligible for those services. www.vlsh.org Click to view VLSH Flyer Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs / Kauai Legal Aid Office Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs works with the Kauai Legal Aid Office to provide free wills, advanced health directives, and power of attorney to people over 60 years old . You can call 808-241-4470 to go through the intake process, and then they will refer you to legal assistance. The entire process could take between 2-6 months, start to finish. Conservation Tools Blend Western conservation tools with Hawaiian values to protect and care for ʻohana ʻāina with community kākoʻo. Some examples of conservation strategies include: Partnering with a land trust or ʻāina organization to place a Conservation Easement on ancestral ʻāina. Forming a descendant-led nonprofit organization or another entity (e.g., family land trust, LLC, etc.) to hold and mālama ʻāina. Working with a land trust to identify a conservation buyer who can purchase vulnerable ʻohana ʻāina and deed transfer the land back to descendant ʻohana. Partnering with a land trust who can purchase and protect your ʻāina, ensuring that it is not sold to an outside buyer and that it may be a community gathering place and piko for ʻohana. Creating stewardship agreements with other owners, community partners, etc. Expanding community access to ʻāina by partnering with a landowner or hui to host community work days and educational programs on ʻāina. If you have questions about what conservation strategies could work for your ʻohana ʻāina, please reach out to us through our contact form. We are always happy to connect you to our partners at other conservation organizations like The Trust for Public Land and Hawaiʻi Land Trust who may be aligned with your goals. Click to view Conservation Easements handout Legal Services Navigate title, access and other challenges related to your ʻāina with support from legal experts Challenges tied to ancestral ʻāina in Hawaiʻi can feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate, especially when numerous owners are involved. Many of these ʻāina issues stem from historical and ongoing colonization in Hawaiian communities. Increasingly, we are seeing landowners take legal action (e.g., quiet title and partition action lawsuits) that dispossesses long-time families of their ancestral lands. Kīpuka Kuleana is not a legal service provider; however, we support ʻohana who are unified in their vision to protect ʻāina and connect them to legal service providers who can support their goals. Below are issues that can be addressed with legal expertise: Clearing title (probate, quiet title) Partition action defense Enforcing trust obligations (Lands Trust, Hawaiian Home Lands) DHHL leases Protecting traditional and customary practices Kuleana land rights Water rights Access rights Easements Iwi kūpuna/Burial protection Subdivision and consolidation of lands Contact: Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (NHLC) 1164 Bishop Street. Suite 1205 Honolulu, HI 96813 info@nlchi.org 808-521-2302 www.nativehawaiianlegalcorp.org Click to view Quiet Title and Adverse Posession handout Genealogy Learn about your ancestry and proactive measures to protect iwi kūpuna In 2023, we launched a series of moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy) workshops guided by volunteer genealogist Uncle Milton Ching that offered personalized genealogy research services to ʻohana working to keep their lands. We hope to resume these small group workshops in the fall of 2024. Below are basic steps for researching your genealogy and more detailed videos from our partners at Huliauapaʻa. I. From any search engine, type in www.ulukau.org Click on Māhele Database, search by Name/Claimant Browsing the collection, click on Kauai, click on moku, LCA, etc Can search by claimant name II. From any search engine, type in www.familysearch.org This is a free site. Create a user name and password. Click on Records, type in any name Click on Family Tree, type in any name Go to Catalogue, type in Hawaii, scroll down to Voting Register 1887 Other Resources Click to viewTips for Interviewing Kūpuna handout Click to view Descendancy Claim Application Click to view Iwi Kūpuna Registration Form Financial Resources Stay rooted to ʻāina amidst escalating land values on Kauaʻi Tax Relief There are several tax relief options for homeowners on Kauaʻi. In addition, homeowners can set up a payment plan with the tax office if they need to address backtaxes. Contact the Real Property Assessment office and they can guide you through options: (808) 241-4224 Location: 4444 Rice Street, Suite A-454 Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 96766 Front Counter Hours: 8am - 4pm (Mon-Fri, except for Holidays) The deadline for filing tax exemption applications applied to the next year is September 30 . For an explanation of all tax exemption options and downloadable applications, visit: https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Finance/Real-Property-Tax/Assessment Kuleana Land Tax Exemption Minimum property tax rate ($150/year) Only 20 ʻohana on Kauaʻi receive this exemption (as of 2023) Contact us (admin@kipukakuleana.org ) if you need genealogy assistance Click to view application Home Exemption Click to view application 2025 Additional Exemption Based on Owner-Occupant's Income/Very-Low Income Tax Credit Click to view application Disability Exemption Click to view application Disabled Veteran Exemption Click to view application Resources for Homeowners Hawaiʻi Community Lending offers grants, loans and other resources to Kauaʻi ʻohana, with specific focus on Native Hawaiian homeowners. Phone: (808) 587-7656 Website: https://hawaiicommunitylending.com Contact form: https://hawaiicommunitylending.com/contact/ Hawaiian Community Assets offers homebuyer and homeowner assistance, as well as financial counseling services. Phone: (808) 587-7886 Website: https://hawaiiancommunity.net/

  • Kīpuka Kuleana | Partners

    Individuals, partners, and organizations who help support our org. Partners He Wahi Mahalo Mahalo to all of the individuals, community partners, and organizations who help support our work. Aloha Collection Mālama ʻĀina Giveback Program Common Ground Kauaʻi Hawaiʻi Community Foundation Hawaiʻi People's Fund Kapaʻa Ship, Print & Storage Native Voices Rising Education Partners Ann Eu (Hawaiʻi Land Trust) Kilauea School Lei Wann (Limahuli Garden & Preserve) Liliʻuokalani Trust Waipā Foundation Research Partners National Science Foundation (Grant #2133398) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Program Office (Grant #NA21OAR4310280) Stanford University Earth Systems Program University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa The Rising Voices Center for Indigenous and Earth Sciences Our "Land to Sea" Indigenous & Allied Research Partners LiKEN: Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (CA/KY) Asian Pacific Environmental Network (CA) DUNAS/Descendants United for Nature, Adaptation and Sustainability (Borikén) First Peoples Conservation Council (LA) Lowlander Center (LA) Para La Naturaleza (Borikén) The Sierra Fund (CA) Sogorea Te' Land Trust (CA) Advisors: Louise Fortmann Alan Di Vittorio Beth Rose Middleton Sibyl Diver

  • Kīpuka Kuleana | Protection Of Cultural Landscapes and Family Lands

    Meet our awesome team. Our Team Kīpuka Kuleana was founded by four mothers living and raising their children on the island of Kauaʻi. These women include an associate professor, a lawyer, a GIS specialist and archival researcher, and a nonprofit director with expertise in conservation easements - all dedicated to perpetuating kuleana and connection to ʻāina across generations. A volunteer-run hui since 2016, Kīpuka Kuleana became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2018, hired its first part-time staff member in 2021 and welcomed its first executive director in 2024. Board of Directors Mehana Blaich Vaughan President and Co-Founder Mehana Blaich Vaughan grew up in Namahana and Kalihiwai, Kauaʻi, on the border of the moku of Haleleʻa and Koʻolau. A graduate of Kīlauea Elementary School, Mehana went to high school on Oʻahu, then studied sociology and secondary education at Harvard University. After a decade of teaching middle school in Hawaiian charter schools, developing ʻāina-based education programs on Kauaʻi, and training teachers in culturally grounded education, Mehana returned to school herself to pursue a doctorate in environmental studies at Stanford University. Mehana is a professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management and U.H. Sea Grant College program. Her research, teaching and outreach focus on understanding and nurturing community care and governance of land and waters in Hawaiʻi. She loves to dance, make lei in the wili style of her grandmother, Amelia Ana Kaʻōpua Bailey, and share moʻolelo shared with her by beloved kūpuna. Mehana's first book Kaiāulu: Gathering Tides was published in 2018. She lives in Kīlauea with her husband Kilipaki, mother Beryl, and three children - Pikomanawa, Piʻinaʻemalina, and Anauleikupuna - who, along with her father, Gary Blaich, inspire this work. Elif C. Beall Treasurer Elif Beall is a licensed attorney, community advocate, and budding writer. Elif was founding Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA), and has served in many non-profit positions including executive leadership, development, and communications. Elif lives on the north shore of Kauaʻi with her husband, where she has resided since 2004. In addition to Kīpuka Kuleana, Elif also serves on the Kauaʻi Island Council for the Hawaiʻi Land Trust. She's happiest when in nature, or when practicing hula or lei-making, or discussing good questions and hopeful futures with family and friends. Jennifer Luck Board Member, Co-Founder Jennifer Luck is the Chief Operating Officer for Common Ground Kauaʻi . She previously served as Executive Director of the Kauaʻi Public Land Trust, Kauaʻi Island Director of the Hawaiʻi Land Trust, and Managing Director of the Porter Trust and Wai Koa Plantation, where she oversaw the perpetual conservation of a 4-mile walking trail, multi-stakeholder negotiations for a dam remediation project, tenancy contracts and master plan renovations of 500+ acres of agricultural land. In addition to Kīpuka Kuleana, Jennifer sits on the boards of the Hawaiʻi Land Trust and Namahana Charter School. She holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Jennifer lives on the north shore of Kauaʻi with her husband Jason and daughters Midge and Frankie. She is happiest when she is spending time with them and her extended ʻohana, surfing, running and making lei. Malia Akutagawa Board Member Malia Akutagawa is from the island of Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi. As a Kanaka ʻŌiwi, she was raised in a traditional, subsistence lifestyle; learning to fish, crab, gather limu (seaweed), prepare traditional foods and lāʻau lapaʻau (traditional herbs for medicinal healing). Malia was influenced strongly by her mākua (parent generation) and kūpuna (elders) in the aloha ʻāina movement to protect traditional lands from developers. This inspired her to become an attorney. Malia focuses her legal advocacy work on Native Hawaiian access, gathering, and religious rights; historic preservation and native burials protection; land use and environmental law issues; climate change law, policy, adaptation, and action planning; indigenous governance; native landback; and peacemaking utilizing traditional hoʻoponopono principles. Malia is an Associate Professor of Law and Hawaiian Studies and is part of Hui ‘Āina Momona, a consortium of scholars at the University of Hawaiʻi - Mānoa charged with addressing compelling issues of Indigenous Hawaiian knowledge and practices. Laura Kaakua Board Member Laura Hokunani Edmunds Kaakua was raised in Niu, Oʻahu, now lives in Waiʻalaeʻiki, Oʻahu, and has ancestral ties to Maui, Kāneʻohe on Oʻahu, and Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island. Laura is the Climate Mitigation Adaptation & Culture Manager at Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) where she oversees fulfillment of the historic Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation settlement agreement, leads development of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, is helping to create a Native Hawaiian Consultation Policy, and supports collaborative transportation solutions and projects that are based in community, indigenous knowledge, and nature. Prior to HDOT, she served as Deputy Director of the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), President and CEO of Hawaiʻi Land Trust, and Native Lands Program Manager for Trust for Public Land. She enjoys building and strengthening teams, strategic planning, facilitating unexpected collaborations, storytelling, and causing good trouble. Keiki sports games, ʻohana beach time, hula, and mālama ʻāina fill her free time. Our Staff Tina Aiu Executive Director tina@kipukakuleana.org Tina Aiu grew up in Wailua, Kauaʻi, where her family roots go back several generations. Her work with Kīpuka Kuleana is inspired by her kūpuna and stems from her 14 years of experience working with land trusts and other grassroots organizations to protect 'āina for communities across Hawai'i. After earning her Bachelor's degree in Biology from Loyola Marymount University, Tina returned to Hawaiʻi and worked to connect high school youth to ʻāina as a Team Leader with Kupu's Hawaiʻi Youth Conservation Corps. The experience inspired her to pursue a career in land conservation. Tina earned her J.D. and Environmental Law Certificate from William S. Richardson School of Law in 2013 and then worked as a Food Systems Planner for Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services. She worked alongside the Kalihi community to establish the first farmers market and community garden in Oʻahu's largest public housing neighborhood. Tina then served as Oʻahu Island Director with Hawai'i Land Trust, managing conservation real estate transactions and mālama ʻāina projects, including the purchase and permanent protection of Maunawila Heiau in Koʻolauloa, Oʻahu. After practicing as a civil litigation attorney, Tina returned to the conservation sector to manage conservation easement, ʻāina-based education, and community stewardship projects in Maunalua for Livable Hawaii Kai Hui. Working in partnership with Maunalua community leaders, Tina was instrumental in establishing a community ʻohana garden and mala kalo for families residing in Honolulu's urban core. She has also taught Conservation Transactions as a Lecturer in Law at William S. Richardson School of Law. In 2020, Tina's heart called her home to Wailua, Kauaʻi where she currently resides with her husband Franz and daughter Makaʻalohi. Tina is the co-owner of Modesta Media , a digital media production company that primarily services the environmental sector. Having spent much of her career establishing kīpuka for communities of Oʻahu, Tina is glad to bring her expertise home to Kauaʻi through her work with Kīpuka Kuleana and volunteered her time to establish and grow the organization as a co-founder from 2016-2024. Tina enjoys spending time in the mountains, playing with her 5 year old, and practicing martial arts. Sarah Barger Development Director sarah@kipukakuleana.org Raised in Atlanta and shaped by the Pacific Northwest, Sarah Barger has spent the past decade working as a grant writer, researcher and advocate for healthier, climate resilient communities grounded in Indigenous and local stewardship. As a newcomer to Kauaʻi, Sarah planted roots in the community through farming and participating in ʻāina restoration projects with Hawaiʻi Land Trust, Mālama Māhāʻulepū and Surfrider. During community workdays, Sarah came to know the amazing wāhine of Kīpuka Kuleana and stumbled into her dream job of building capacity for the nonprofit and supporting the Land Back movement on Kauaʻi. Hired as Kīpuka's first staff (part-time Director of Programs) in 2021, she led the nonprofit's grant writing, development, communications, research, workshop planning, ʻohana outreach, and land protection projects. In 2024, Sarah moved into a full-time Development Director role. Sarah has a BA in Psychology, a BA in American Indian and Indigenous Studies, and a minor in Medical Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her work is guided by teachers and mentors around the world - from Aotearoa and Chilean Patagonia to Hawaiʻi - where she's had the privilege of living and working alongside Indigenous leaders and allies who are restoring health and balance in community ecosystems. Through Kīpuka Kuleana, she partners with Indigenous-led groups in Louisiana, California and Borikén working to rematriate and protect Indigenous lands and waters and perpetuate cultural practices, which build resilience in the face of climate change. She loves sharing Landback and community land trust research as a writer , guest lecturer, and presenter at national conferences. Splitting her time between the Pacific Northwest and Kauaʻi, Sarah is happiest on the water and in the mountains, especially when running, hiking, biking, paddling and climbing with friends. Dominique Leu Cordy Research Consultant Dominique Leu Cordy grew up all over Oʻahu and now lives and farms kalo with her kāne and their two keiki in Haleleʻa and Koʻolau, Kauaʻi. She does freelance research across the pae ʻāina. Focusing on land in Hawaiʻi, she specializes in archival research and GIS mapping. She has a BA in Cultural Anthropology from University of California at Davis and an MA in Pacific Island Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She has over 17 years of experience in the field of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) in Hawaiʻi, archaeology, EA and EIS review, community ethnography, historic land and historical research, and GIS research. She has guest lectured for six years for the Wahi Kūpuna Internship Program (WKIP) as well as the University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu. Ms. Cordy has managed and developed cultural and historical GIS databases for government agencies, including the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE-POH), the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. She engages actively in community organizations that seek to protect, preserve, and educate about Hawaiʻi's precious wahi kūpuna (cultural resources) and is a participating member of the Kaliʻuokapaʻakai Collective, the Waioli Taro Valley Hui. Dominique is the Deputy Director of Huliauapaʻa and a co-founder of Kīpuka Kuleana.

  • Kīpuka Kuleana | Who we are

    Learn more about who we are. We feel, we have kuleana, responsibility for the land, for the people. That's what this is all about. - Kūpuna raised in Wanini, March 2015 Our Why Keeping ʻohana lands in ʻohana hands sustains communities. ʻĀina, meaning “that which feeds,” is the Hawaiian word for lands and waters. ʻĀina encompasses all that feeds us, from heavens to earth to ocean, especially relationships between places and the people who call them home, who have fed their families here across generations. Traditionally in Hawaiʻi, ʻāina, an embodiment of our Gods and ancestors, could never be bought, sold or owned, but was held in trust by the governing aliʻi of an area, who gave it to area ʻohana as their responsibility without right of ownership. Under Hawaiian land tenure, families could stay and pass this land to their descendants, even as ruling aliʻi changed, as long as they cared for it well. Today, long-time families from the island of Kauaʻi are finding it increasingly difficult to continue to live here and care for the lands that feed them. Under western and American law, people from other parts of the world, many of whom vacation on the island, can buy lands on Kauaʻi for vacation homes, real estate investments, or residence in a place that feels like paradise. The land here has become some of the most coveted and expensive on the planet, with over a million visitors a year recreating across the island. Meanwhile, long-time residents struggle, working multiple jobs to pay for food, rent, and rising property taxes tied to escalating land values; simultaneously, they face the loss of homes, decreased access to ʻohana fishing and gathering areas, and increased pressure to move from their communities and the island. Most who buy land on Kauaʻi have no idea they are displacing long-time area families, have no way to learn about the ʻāina they are becoming caretakers of, and have no connection to surrounding communities. Kīpuka Kuleana restores relationships between people and ʻāina by restoring land and the ability of local communities to care for it.

  • Kīpuka Kuleana | Protection Of Cultural Landscapes

    Perpetuating kuleana to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands. Perpetuating kuleana to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands This place will feed you, if you know how to take care of it Young Hāʻena Fisherman, 2009 About Us Kīpuka Kuleana is a Hawai‘i 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to perpetuating kuleana, ahupua‘a-based natural resource management and connection to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands. Kīpuka Kuleana was founded in 2017 on the island of Kaua‘i. Support Our Vision Long time families continue to live in, take care of and share the practices and history of every ahupuaʻa on Kauaʻi. Our Mission Perpetuating kuleana, ahupuaʻa based natural resource management and connection to place through the protection of cultural landscapes and family lands. Learn more about us What's New What we do Who we are Ways to support us Our Why Prior to 1850, kuleana were “plots of land given, by the governing aliʻi of an area, to an ʻohana or an individual as their responsibility without right of ownership.” (Pūkuʻi & Elbert, 1975) Under Hawaiian land tenure, families could stay and pass this land to their descendants, even as ruling aliʻi changed, as long as they cared for it well. Awarded to Hawaiian makaʻāinana families who lived on and tended the land. When land was privatized in 1850, less than 1% of all lands in Hawaiʻi were l ess than 28% of the eligible population of adult males was awarded. Extensive information was recorded about these parcels including family and place names, information on surroundings, hydrology, and cultivation. These lands are house sites, taro patches, some fish ponds, or salt pans & often contain iwi. Lands where Hawaiian families continue to care for and live on lands in the same areas as their ancestors are increasingly rare. Those families which continue to hold kuleana and other family lands on the north shore of Kauaʻi are finding they no longer can due to rising property taxes tied to value, forced partitions by family members or others who acquire one of many shares, outstanding debts, and focused efforts at acquisition by surrounding property owners. Many families no longer own or live on their properties but continue to gather there, fish, teach children and grandchildren, care for family parcels and surrounding area, visit burials and seek ways to maintain a presence, connection & fulfill kuleana to their home. Kīpuka Kuleana works to nurture contemporary models of relationships to place-based kuleana as “authority and obligation based in interdependence and community” (Goodyear-Kaopua 2011, 131).

  • Kīpuka Kuleana | What we do

    We always use the word kuleana to refer to land, but kuleana is really your responsibility to that land. - Kīlauea Community Member, January 2016 Aʻo: Education & Research We assist families, community groups, land owners and government agencies with cultural, historic and archival lands research to aid in care and protection of ʻāina today Resources & Projects Mālama: Stewardship We support community care of lands and waters across the island of Kauaʻi Resources & Projects Kākoʻo: ʻOhana Support We provide tailored support to families working to keep ancestral lands Resources & Projects Hoʻomalu: Policy and Protection We work with government on policies to protect ʻohana and their lands Resources & Projects Back to top Top- What we do

  • Kīpuka Kuleana | ʻApana ʻOhana

    ʻĀPana ʻOHANA Workshop ʻĀpana ʻOhana was a five-part workshop series from September to November 2020 hosted by Huliauapaʻa , the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Kīpuka Kuleana. The purpose of these workshops was to educate and empower Hawaiian and local long-time ʻohana struggling to mālama (maintain and steward) their kuleana and ʻohana heir lands. Over 194 people engaged in group discussions led by local speakers and contributed to 388 total participation hours. Below are workshop resources, including video recordings and handouts, on the following topics: 1) Importance of ʻĀina Research 2) Property Tax 3) Access, Easements and Right of Entry 4) Quiet Title and Adverse Possession 5) Estate and Trust Planning The Importance of ʻĀina Research Pūlama Lima and Donovan Preza 1/4 Maps and Where to Find Them Handout Provides examples of different types of maps Includes links to map repositories and collections "How-To" Steps for finding county Tax Map Keys Download 1/4 How to Family Search Guide Instructions on how to find Bureau of Conveyences documents Color-coded aid for understanding how to read the index Step-by-step instructions for how to find and download land deeds Download Property Tax Leanora Kaiaokamalie, Mike Hubbard and Mason Chock 1/4 Kauaʻi County Calendar for Tax Relief, Annual Filing, and Tax Exemptions (updated March 2021) Tax exemption calendar deadlines For current forms, visit https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Finance/Real-Property/Forms-Handouts Download 1/4 Honolulu County Calendar for Tax Relief, Annual Filing, and Tax Exemptions (updated March 2021) Tax exemption calendar deadlines For current forms, visit https://realpropertyhonolulu.com/forms/ Download 1/2 Hawaiʻi County Calendar for Tax Relief, Annual Filing, and Tax Exemptions (updated March 2021) Tax exemption calendar deadlines For current forms, visit https://www.hawaiipropertytax.com/exemptions.html Download 1/3 Maui County Calendar for Tax Relief, Annual Filing, and Tax Exemptions (updated March 2021) Tax exemption calendar deadlines For current forms, visit https://www.mauicounty.gov/1953/RPA-Forms-and-Instructions Download Access, Easements and Right of Entry Peter Morimoto and Shae Kamakaʻala 1/4 Types of Access Handout Includes description of different types of access Clickable links to State statutes and county ordinances Defines important terminologies related to types of access Download 1/4 Basic Guide to Conservation Easements Learn the basics of conservation easements Outlines the benefits and function of conservation easements Discusses property rights and conservation easement management plans Download Quiet Title and Adverse Possession Lance Collins and Bianca Isaki 1/5 Glossary for Quiet Titles and Adverse Possesion Glossary indexed into four main sections: Quiet titles Adverse Possession Land Court County Tax Records Includes narratives and diagrams for understanding concepts, words, and phrases concerning Quiet Title and Adverse Possession. Download Estate and Trust Planning Nicholas Mirkay and Kelley Uyeoka 1/3 Hawaiʻi Estate Planning Resources Hawaiʻi Estate Planning Resources organized by categories: Lawyer Referral Estate Planning Resources, Advance Care/ Incapacity Planning Clickable links embedded for each resource Download

  • Kīpuka Kuleana | Partners

    Individuals, partners, and organizations who help support our org. History Kuleana are rights and responsibilities, both based in relationship to land. Kuleana also refers to particular parcels of land. Prior to 1850, kuleana were: Under Hawaiian land tenure, families could stay and pass this ʻāina to their descendants, even as ruling aliʻi changed, as long as they cared for it well. When the land was privatized in 1850, less than 1% of all ʻāina in Hawaiʻi, called kuleana, were awarded to Hawaiian makaʻāinana families who lived on and tended the land. Less than 28% of the eligible population of adult males was awarded. Extensive information was recorded about these kuleana parcels including family and place names, information on surroundings, hydrology, and cultivation. These lands are house sites, taro patches, some fish ponds, or salt pans and often contain iwi (bones). Places where Hawaiian families continue to care for and live on ʻāina in the same areas as their ancestors are increasingly rare. Those families which continue to hold kuleana and other family lands on the island of Kauaʻi are finding they no longer can due to rising property taxes tied to exorbitant area sales prices, forced partitions by family members or others who acquire one of many shares, debt, and focused efforts at acquisition by realtors and surrounding property owners. Many families no longer own or live on their properties but continue to gather there, fish, teach children and grandchildren, care for family parcels and surrounding area, visit burials and seek ways to maintain presence and connection while fulfilling kuleana to their home. Kīpuka Kuleana nurtures contemporary models of relationships to place rooted in kuleana as: plots of land given, by the governing aliʻi of an area, to an ʻohana or an individual as their responsibility without right of ownership [Pūkuʻi & Elbert, 1975] authority and obligation based in interdependence and community [Goodyear-Kaopua 2011, 131]

  • Kīpuka Kuleana | Protection Of Cultural Landscapes

    Perpetuating kuleana to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands. KīPUKA KULEANA Perpetuating kuleana to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands This place will feed you, if you know how to take care of it. - Young Hāʻena Fisherman, 2009 On Kauaʻi, long-time families are losing connections to ancestral lands due to escalating land values, rising taxes, restricted access, development pressure and other challenges that threaten identity and perpetuation of cultural practice across generations. Established in 2018, Kīpuka Kuleana is a 501(c)(3) Hawaiʻi nonprofit organization and community-based land trust that protects ancestral lands under threat and revitalizes relationships between people and ʻāina (lands and waters) on Kauaʻi. We strive to grow kīpuka (places of community caretaking and cultural restoration) grounded in kuleana (responsibility) in every ahupuaʻa (traditional land division from mountain to sea) on Kauaʻi. Vision Kupa ʻāina ʻohana (long-time families) continue to thrive in, share the history and practices of, and care for every ahupuaʻa (traditional land division from mountain to sea) on Kauaʻi. Mission Perpetuating kuleana, ahupuaʻa-based natural resource management and connection to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands.

Kipuka-Kuleana-Logo-Bkgd.jpg
Contact Us

Mahalo!

©2024 Kipuka Kuleana

bottom of page