Protect Pololu
ʻAʻOHE UʻI HELE WALE O KOHALA.
No youth of Kohala goes empty-handed.
'Ōlelo No'eau
Pololū's fragile ecosystem cannot sustain more visitors to the valley. The proposed lot for an expanded parking lot will only encourage more visitors to Pololū. This is irresponsible and unneeded. Our hopes are to limit the visitors to the valley by providing better education of the unique heritage of Pololū, providing virtual field trips, and having a steward at the trail head who can help educate the visitors.
We have a saying, "'Awini 'ai kanaka" (Awini the man eaters). This comes from the protected traditions of the valleys. They were not accessed by all during the Kingdom era, those who had no kuleana in the valleys rarely made it out alive. This was due as much to the protective nature of the valley families as it was to the valleys themselves.
We have seen several rescues due to the natural and unmaintained conditions of Pololū Valley and the associated trails. These rescues are costing our community hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, and put our own families, the rescue crew at risk every time. Pololū Valley and the surrounding areas are pristine, development free.
The homes that are now there are old kuleana lots which have stayed within extended families since before the Māhele. Allowing the potential for more homes to be developed along the Makanikahio Ridge will forever change the nature of this wahi pana.
Makanikahio is home to the endangered Hawaiian Bee Population. Their colonies are found from Akoakoa along the sea cliffs following the Pololū Cliff to the forest area. This Bee population is said to be one of the most, if not THE most endangered bee species on the planet. Development will surely affect their natural habitat areas.
The sand dunes that front the valley are our ancestors graveyard. For years we held this secret close, but recent over-tourism to the valley has made it essential to raise awareness of the burials and traditions of puʻe one (sand dunes) and our ʻiwi kupuna (ancestors bones). As the lineal descendants and community of Pololū it is our kuleana to protect our cultural sites and ancestors bones.
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