This blog is a new project for us (!), and is lovingly maintained and updated by the staff at KAHEA: the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance. Ka hea translates to english as “the call.”
In 2000, in response to ongoing threats and the systematic destruction of Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources, a small group of Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and environmentalists united their efforts to form KAHEA: the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance.
Today, KAHEA represents a broad alliance of Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, environmental advocates, resource experts, activists, and and thousands of individuals worldwide concerned with protecting Hawaii’s fragile environment and unique culture. A grassroots non-profit 501(c)3 working out of offices in the heart of Honolulu’s Chinatown arts district just blocks from the state capitol, KAHEA is committed to securing the strongest possible protections for some of Hawaii’s most ecologically unique and culturally sacred places.
The organization’s core mission reflects the principle that “ho’okahi no ka ‘aina a me na kanaka” (the land and the people are one) and that the extinction of a species or destruction of a sacred place portends the ultimate demise of cultural heritage.
From small beginnings, KAHEA has become an islands-wide alliance, linking and amplifying thousands of local voices from diverse grassroots groups in a common call to protect the common resources upon which we all depend.
Mahalo for coming and visiting this blog. This blog is dedicated with aloha and many “mahalos” to the thousands of people who today stand up for culture, rights, and resources in Hawai’i through their involvement and support of KAHEA. MAHALO PIHA!!
take action + join the alliance
www.kahea.org
*yes, yes. we know some of the okinas are apostrophes, but we can’t figure out yet how to make them right using wordpress. anyone who knows how, should email us: kahea-alliance [at] hawaii.rr.com!
4 responses so far ↓
Anonymous // April 2, 2008 at 7:48 am |
I hope your blog is more accurate than some of the issues you have written about on your website, and that this new leadership bases its decisions and actions on facts and not emotion. PLEASE do Hawaii nei a favor and be honest with your writing. It is vital to protect our resources for us and future generations. It is as important to do so with truth and integrity. Mahalo.
kahea // April 3, 2008 at 9:14 pm |
Anonymous –
Truth and integrity are indeed important values which we believe we bring to our work. We also seek to work with respect, love, and passion. That something is emotional, or connects with people’s hearts, is not mutually exclusive of facts and data.
We believe we work daily at a crossroads, where people’s passions, their optimism, and beliefs about what is possible in the world, is married with good data and best-available information. We work every day with resource experts, cultural practitioners, scientists, and professors–experts who are themselves community members, activists, and human beings with passions and unique perspectives.
We strive to be factually accurate in each and every piece we produce and put our name to. If there are specific discrepancies in our website about which you have concerns, I encourage you to let me know. You can reach me at miwa@kahea.org or call me toll-free to you at 877-585-2432.
Aloha nui loa,
Miwa Tamanaha
Executive Director
KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance
Maha conyers // July 2, 2008 at 2:02 am |
Unfortunately I was unable to submit the letter today to the Hawaii County Council using the link you had in your website. ( submit, it is easy…)
Please inform me how I can let my voice be heard online in this grave matter of depleted uranium pollution.
Mahalo, Maha
kahea // July 2, 2008 at 2:19 am |
Aloha Maha,
Sorry the link didn’t work. We’re trying to figure out why right now. In the meantime, this link should work:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2699/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=25091
And MAHALO!! for taking action to protect Hawaii.