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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 start. 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! 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 Trust and estate planning is one pathway for keeping land in the family. You can learn more about options for wills, trusts and other tools in the Hawaii Estate Planning Resources handout and online . Family Land Trust Model For lands 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. Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (NHLC) provides this service. Their info: (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 and trust planning attorneys who can help determine which legal tools are best for your ʻohana's goals. Cynthia Hannah-White and Katherine A. Caswell | Kauai Estate Law LLLC Estate Planning, Estate and Trust Administration 4334 Rice Street, Suite 203, Lihue, HI 96766 Phone: (808) 245-9991 Email: info@kauaiestatelaw.com Website: http://www.kauaiestatelaw.com Dawn Murata | Law Office of Dawn N. Murata LLLC Estate Planning, Trust Administration, Probate, Contracts, Real Estate 2970 Kele Street, Suite 205, Lihue, HI 96766 Phone: (808) 245-4572 Website: https://www.kauailawesq.com/ Michael D. Scarbo (Kauaʻi-based) | McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon ("M4") 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 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 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) www.vlsh.org Providing free legal services to those whose household incomes are at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level for the State of Hawaii. Call Intake 528-7046 to qualify for services Divorce, Child Custody/Visitation, Child Support, Guardianship of a Minor, Adoptions, Adult Guardianship, Veterans Disability Benefits, Private Landlord/Tenant, Collections, Small Claims, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Estate Planning: Power of Attorney, Advanced Health Care Directive & Wills 545 Queen Street, Suite 100 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Intake by phone: Call (808) 528-7046, Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm Intake in person: Monday-Thursday, 9:00am - 12:00pm General office number: (808) 528-7050 Click to view VLSH Flyer Conservation Tools Blend Western conservation tools with Hawaiian values to protect and care for ʻohana ʻāina with community kākoʻo. Some examples of conservation strategies that ʻohana can use to protect and mālama ʻāina include: Partnering with a land trust or ʻāina organization to place a Conservation Easement on ancestral ʻāina Forming a descendant-led nonprofit organization to hold and mālama ʻāina Working with a land trust to identify a conservation buyer to acquire and protect your ʻāina, as you work to buy it back over time Partnering with a land trust to purchase and protect your ʻāina, ensuring that it is not sold on the open market and that it may be a community gathering place and piko for ʻohana Creating stewardship agreements with other owners, community partners, etc. Partnering with an ʻāina organization 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 Click to view Quiet Title and Adverse Posession handout Referrals: Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (NHLC) 1164 Bishop Street. Suite 1205 Honolulu, HI 96813 info@nlchi.org 808-521-2302 www.nativehawaiianlegalcorp.org 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 a Homeowner Assistance Fund (closing May 1, 2024). Click on the flyer for details or visit https://hawaiicommunitylending.com/haf/ Hawaiian Community Assets offers homebuyer and homeowner assistance, as well as financial counseling services. Visit https://hawaiiancommunity.net/

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.

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Mālama Stewardship Supporting community care of ʻāina (lands and waters) across the island of Kauaʻi We participate in community efforts to mālama (care for) and restore culturally significant ʻāina. We lead cultural education programs and field trips, including our annual Kaiāulu Koʻolau Summer Program, that impart critical skills and knowledge grounded in place to the next generation of land protectors. We cultivate kīpuka (spaces of community caretaking and cultural restoration) so that families may gather, mālama, practice cultural traditions, and teach from places integral to their identities. Kaiāulu Koʻolau Summer Program A four-week program for keiki (children) focused on growing connections to community and ʻāina and cultivating a sense of identity through place. 1/20 Through this program, keiki come to know ʻāina through cultural practices, including mele and oli composition, map reading, moʻolelo and place names, fishing, foraging, lei making, hula and kanikapila. They learn how ʻāina must be cared for and sustained before it may feed community, and they work hard to mālama ʻāina, from planting native species to harvesting foods at ʻĀina Hoʻokupu o Kīlauea. Over two camping trips, they practice gathering their meals and cultural cooking techniques like building imu, pulehu, and steaming. One of the group's favorite activities is the culminating cooking competition, which gives keiki three hours to gather and prepare lunches using area ingredients. During a final hōʻike (reflection), keiki share and celebrate their learnings from the program with their ʻohana and kumu (teachers) through presentations, hula, music and a shared meal together. Special mahalo to the community members and partners who make this program possible: ʻĀina Hoʻokupu o Kīlauea, ʻĀina Aloha Economic Futures, Hawaiʻi Land Trust, Kiaʻi Kāhili, Limahuli Gardens, Namahana Education Foundation, Aunty Ann Eu, Aunty Kaninau Villanueva, Aunty Lei Wann, Uncle Atta Chandler Forrest, and Uncle Gary & Aunty Bebe Smith.

Hōʻahu "to set aside for the future" About Hōʻahu Hōʻahu Kauaʻi Land Tax Hawaiʻi is a place to experience beauty and restoration through our ancestors' care and relationship with this ʻāina (lands and waters) across generat i ons. If you are visiting or call Kauaʻi home, Hōʻahu is a voluntary contribution that you can make to return lands to community hands and keep Native Hawaiian and long-time families rooted to their home places. Donate to Hōʻahu The Hōʻahu Kauaʻi Land Tax directly supports protection and restoration of family lands threatened by sale and development. Hōʻahu is part of the global "Landback" movement to restore ʻāina to indigenous peoples and ensure they can care for and protect their ancestral lands - places vital to us all. Background Hawaiʻi is ʻāina kulaiwi: the only homeland of the indigenous people of Hawaiʻi, land in which the bones of our ancestors are buried. The lands of Hawaiʻi are the source of all Native Hawaiian cultural practices and language and also some of the most coveted and high value real estate in the entire world. Anyone visiting, buying or living upon lands in Hawaiʻi shares a kuleana to care for this place, work to address historical injustice, and leave it better than we found it. Hōʻahu ("to set aside for the future") refers to hale hōʻahu, houses where area residents brought regular offerings of their harvest, gathered, then saved to care for the needs of the entire community. Hale hōʻahu provided collective security for times of unstable weather, drought or famine, preparing communities for uncertainty. Hōʻahu, in times of need and plenty, cultivated shared abundance and care for all. Inspired by Indigenous Land Taxes & Funds: Real Rent Duwamish: Duwamish Tribe, Seattle, WA (link ) Wiyot Honor Tax: Wiyot Tribe, Humboldt Bay, CA (link ) Shuumi Land Tax: Sogorea Te' Land Trust, San Francisco Bay Area, CA (link ) Yunakin Land Tax: Ramaytush Ohlone, San Francisco Bay Area, CA (link ) Kuuy Nahwá’a: Tongva Taraxat Paxaaxvxa Conservancy, Los Angeles, CA (link ) Lahaina Land Fund: Lahaina Community Land Trust, Maui, HI (link ) Honor Native Land Tax: The Red Nation and Pueblo Action Alliance, Albuquerque, NM (link ) O'ga P'ogeh Land Tax: Three Sisters Collective, Santa Fe, NM (link ) Miami Nation Honor Fund: Miami Nation, Indiana (link ) Mni Sota Makoce Honor Tax: Lower Sioux Indian Community, Minnesota (link ) Manna-Hatta Fund: American Indian Community House, New York City, NY (link ) Wolankeyutomone kisi apaciyewik: Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship, Maine (link ) Pay Your Rent: Nii’kinaaganaa (Inuit peoples, Abénakis and Naskapi-Eeyou), Canada (link ) Whose Native land are you on? Find out here: https://native-land.ca/

Kākoʻo ʻOhana Support 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.

Donate to Kīpuka kuleana Kīpuka Kuleana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that accepts tax-deductible donations. To donate by credit/debit card or bank transfer, please complete the form below. Checks can be mailed to: Kīpuka Kuleana. PO Box #662132. Lihue, HI 96766. Mahalo for supporting our work on Kauaʻi!

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

Accomplishments Education Conducted twenty field trips to share the ecology, history and culture of ahupuaʻa on the north-east coast of Kauaʻi, to students and teachers from preschool to graduate school. Hosted a workshop on family lands in December of 2016, attended by 40 individuals. The workshop included presentations on family land trusts, tax breaks, resources to conduct geneaology and lands research. Speakers included lawyers, staff from Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, Hawaiian language and lands researchers, and an expert from North Carolina who spoke on models used in other parts of the U.S. to protect family and heir properties. Participant evaluations were overwhelmingly positive (95% of respondents rated the workshop educational and useful, with 100% saying such programs are important to the community, and expressing interest to participate in the future). We aim to hold another workshop in early 2018. Acquisitions Facilitated the purchase of family lands in Kalihiwai belonging to the Pānui ʻohana in the summer of 2017. The family lost their great great grandmotherʻs land, where they had grown up for generations, to a forced partition auction in 2015. It was purchased by a real estate firm and put up for sale. A conservation buyer was identified to purchase the property from the firm. The conservation buyer and family members are actively working to arrange an owner-financed buy back, and establishment of a family trust so that the land will remain with the family in perpetuity. A stewardship agreement and right of entry are being negotiated so the family can continue to care for and use the land. Funding The team obtained a $310,000 National Science Foundation, Science Engineering and Education for Sustainability Grant in 2012, which just ended in 2017. Grant applications were submitted to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Native Voices Rising in 2017. Stewardship Team members have initiated four separate clean-ups of coastal sites in area ahupuaʻa, engaging over 100 volunteers, many students, in hauling out truckloads of trash. Assistance Since 2016, members of the project team have assisted seven different families facing loss of their ancestral lands. Team members have provided research assistance including land records, genealogy tracing and, translation of deeds written in Hawaiian. They have also helped families to set up tax payment plans, and connected them to legal advice and meetings with professionals willing to help them set up trusts etc. at low cost. Education Aquisitions Back to top

Partners He Wahi Mahalo Mahalo to all of the individuals, community partners, and organizations who help support our work. Aloha Collection Mālama ʻĀina 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) Sierra Fund (CA) Sogorea Te' Land Trust (CA) Advisors: Louise Fortmann Alan Di Vittorio Beth Rose Middleton Sibyl Diver