For the People of Hawaiʻi

‘Ōiwi Hawaiʻi, kamaʻāina, and malihini alike must all connect with our land. At this critical time in human history, each individual must connect with ʻāina (that which feeds) in a way that is meaningful for the individual, for the betterment of the collective.

The path to lifelong stewardship is linear. From connection, passion is born. Out of passion, comes the desire to protect. An island full of ʻāina warriors looks like: backyard edible gardens, agroforest farms, loʻi bursting with kalo, productive fishponds, and native forests teeming with life. Each citizen focusing on what brings life to our land, in the most meaningful way for themselves. But without connection, none of that is possible. The most impactful way to connect with ʻāina is to have a deeply meaningful and personal experience in her spectacular spaces. As of now, this experience is not so easy to attain. Property has been privatized. Forests felled. Ecosystems invaded. The Hele Mauna Trail aims to re-establish a way to experience that which makes us keiki o ka ʻāina.

Studies show that experiences in nature as a keiki, not only improve learning outcomes, but these experiences lead to actively caring about the environment into adulthood. Other studies have shown that time spent hiking or backpacking correlates with increased conservation contributions. The Hele Mauna Trail sets out to provide the opportunity for these experiences as a child and an adult, in the most targeted and thoughtful way. More than a simple path in the mountains, The Hele Mauna trail would have a library of curated knowledge encompassing the ecology, geology, history, and culture of the lands the trails pass through. All who walk the trail will emerge on a personal path to ʻāina stewardship.

The Right Kind of Visitor

Tourism is broken. In 2019, 10.4 million people visited our state hoping to experience a slice of Hawaii’s unparalleled natural beauty.  Yet, just $9 dollars per visitor was invested into our natural environment--our state’s most valuable resource and attraction. That same year in New Zealand, $188 per visitor was reinvested into the environment. In the Galapagos, $373. We are signaling to our guests and residents that we do not care about our kuleana to our ʻāina.

Tourism is an economy that is embedded in our biosphere, and not external to it. The Hele Mauna trail will be a permitted hiking system. Revenue generated will go directly back into the trail system that protects, restores, and perpetuates our most valuable asset--ʻāina. In the 2019/2020 season in New Zealand, a similar overnight, permitted, thru-hiking system generated about $3.2m USD. This model is not experimental, it is proven.

The dramatic cessation of visitors in 2020 led to what ʻĀina Aloha Economic futures calls a time of hulihia, overturning, and a “rare opportunity to shift mindsets and forward plans for a stronger and more sustainable Hawaiʻi founded on ʻāina aloha.” Using their in depth action agenda as a guiding principle, the Hele Mauna Trail sits firmly within the framework of Hoʻokipa. The Hele Mauna Trail will be an experience that supports the values of aloha ʻāina which will translate into long term benefits.

Biocultural Restoration

In a 2020 case study using Limahuli Preserve on Kauaʻi, Winter et al. concluded, “At a point in history where there have been global losses in the diversity of both humanity and the natural systems humanity is founded on, conservation needs to be focused on restoring cultural diversity as much as biological diversity.”

We can no longer fence off natural areas, plant native trees, and leave them alone hoping for the best. Humans are not separate from nature, we are an integral part of its functionality, and have been shaping terrestrial nature for at least 12,000 years . Studies show that oftentimes, the indigenous management of land improves the area's biodiversity. The Hele Mauna trail will provide an opportunity for native Hawaiians to get back into the areas critical to our heritage, and manage them in a way compatible with our island’s biological diversity.