Projects & Programs
Waipa Foundation implements it's programs in the context of the management of the ahupua'a of Waipa, which encompasses 1,600 acres, mauka to makai.
Two of our long-range goals relating to malama 'aina are:
- To restore the health of the natural environment and native ecosystems of the ahupua`a, and to involve our community in the stewardship, restoration, and management of the land and resources within the ahupua`a of Waipa.
- To practice and foster social, economic and environmental sustainability in the management of Waipa's natural and cultural resources.
Today we are beginning to accomplish these by:
- Restoring native forests ma uka, and propagating our own native plants as well as plants for sale and outplanting outside of Waipa. Specific projects include:
- Perimeter and paddock fencing projects to fence cattle and horses in, and pigs out, and reforestation in 10+ acres of the riparian zone, through partnership with and funding from USDA/NRCS, Kamehameha Schools, and visiting volunteer groups. This project was started back in 2002 by creating native outplantings in a ¼ acre test area with an initial grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Many of the plants are surviving and thriving today.
- EPSCOR Greenhouse: Propagation and grow-out facility for native plants for restration at Waipa, plant sales, and other restoration projects on Kaua'i. Funded through a partnership with the University of Hawaii's EPSCOR Program.
- Restoring Halulu fishpond-a coastal wetland-and native plant communities ma kai
- Halulu Fishpond Restoration Project, this year we completed a several year project funded by NOAA, and implemented through a partnership with the Hanalei Heritage River Hui to restore 2 acres of the 7 acre loko pu'one, restore it's connection to Wai`oli Stream, and establish native plants along it's banks. The work is ongoing, however, as we continue to expand and manage the native plantings, maintain the clearing work which has been done, remove invasive species from the pond, and remove debris and silt from the pond.
- There are, today, at least two other coastal strand/coastal riparian areas along Hanalei Bay in which Waipa Foundation is restoring natives. A site which was started in 2002 along the coastal strand, with an initial grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and a site along Wai`oli Stream at Waipa's Wai`oli campsites, with support from Kamehameha Schools.
- Creating and restoring wetland and dryland farming areas, for kalo and other crops-for food, cultural practice, and other uses- in the farming areas.
- Waipa lo`i: A two acrea area west of Waipa stream, that Waipa Foundation farms with it's staff, volunteers and program participants, as a learning site, and to produce kalo for it's programs and to experiment with more organic and sustainable practices. These two acres are part of about 10 acres of lo'i at Waipa cultivated by 5 mahi'ai kalo and their 'öhana, in the same area, and utilizing the same water system as their predecessors and ancestors have for hundreds of years.
- Waipa Garden is an outdoor learning area and one of Waipa Foundation's oldest projects. This garden harbors canoe for cultural use, and many established natives which serve as both demonstration and seed source for propagation and outplanting. Lessons, experiments, and work at this site are incorporated into Waipa's Ahupua`a Learning Center programs.
- Field O Dreams is another of Waipa's older projects. This mala 'ai is another learning and work site utilized in our Ahupua'a Learning Center Programs, where we grow vegetables that we eat lot of today, like salad mix and lettuce, kale, chard, tomatoes and eggplant and herbs, among other things...This garden is cultivated and managed by staff, volunteers, and program participants, and produce is often prepared and consumed within programs, and/or sold at farmers market. Techniques are "beyond organic" and moving toward sustainable...
- Monitoring Waipa stream and it's tributaries and diversions, to ensure better management of our water resources and a balance of uses, and to ensure the future health of the ahupua'a and its ecosystems.
Community Use & Economic Development
Waipa produces food (poi and vegetables) for over 50 Hawaiian 'ohana on a recurring, or regular basis. We feed over 75 families from all over Kaua'i-most of them Hawaiians- poi on a weekly basis, year-round, and welcome an average of 500 customers and 20 vendors to our farmers market each Tuesday afternoon.
- Poi Day
- Farmers Market
- Na Mahi`ai Kalo O Waipa
- Field O Dreams
Waipa Ahupua'a Learning Center
Over the 25 years that we have been in existence, Waipa and Waipa Foundation have been able to develop and model Hawaiian community based ahupua`a resource management for the Hawaiian community and all of Hawai'i. Annually, we welcome over 1,000 lifelong learners to Waipa to participate in various cultural and 'aina based programs and projects, and to share what we do, and how we do it. In addition to welcoming groups from all over Hawaii, and beyond, Waipa directly impacts it's local Hawaiian community in Kaua'ï's Halele'a (north shore) district by providing various programs for keiki through kupuna.
Programs for local youth: Through our ongoing programs targeting youth from the Halele'a (North Shore Kaua'i) area it can be said that one of our goals is "Cultivating youth with roots that stretch deep into the earth, connected to the 'aina of Kaua'i o Manokalanipo". (Blaich, 2003, p.3) We strive to perpetuate Hawaiian lifestyle, culture, and values by providing opportunities for our youth to live and experience them. We know that our Hawaiian culture so highly valued the land and resources, and feel that by reconnecting our keiki with the culture and 'aina, we will inspire in them the knowledge of that value, and the desire to malama those resources. Enrichment and educational experiences are also incorporated into our work with our Halele`a youth.
- Waipa implements a targeting youth from the Halele'a district-specifically from 'ohana with historic ties to the community-for longer range, recurrent programs. To build on knowledge gained in each program, we offer preference to returning keiki and 'opio first. Enrollment to these programs is constantly filled, with usually just a few openings for new participants in each program. Inquiries can be made by calling Waipa Foundation's office a month or so prior to the start of each program.
- Summer Program, a 5 week, 4 day/week, day program; One Week long Intersession Break Programs (Fall Break, Christmas Break, and Spring Break); and afterschool programs.
- One on one literacy tutoring for youth expressing interest and need from the target communities.
Programs for visiting groups: Waipa is an ahupua`a learning center, through which we seek to serve a community of interest and of practice. Thus we welcome all manner of schools, special interest groups, and families interested in learning about Waipa, science, native plants, the water cycle, stream life, kalo, poi and Hawaiian culture, and much more through hands-on work and experience. Annually we welcome more than 700 individuals from schools, special interest groups and families. Such groups come from as close as Hanalei school next door, to the East Coast of the United States. A sliding fee scale for visiting groups is employed, based on each group's fit to our target population, and their budget. It is most important for us to connect people with the culture, land, and resources, regardless of budget.
- School Field Trips
- Special Group Visits
- Enriched Family Camping
Internships and Extended Volunteer Opportunities and Organizational Partnerships:
- Summer Natural Resource Conservation Internship- Need to add more
- Other Extended Volunteer/Learning Opportunities- Need to add more
- Partnerships with Public and Charter Schools for ongoing programs. We welcome partnerships with organizations such as charter schools and other nonprofits, who are interested in establishing longer term relationships to do repeat visits to Waipa to extend learning experiences throughout the quarter, semester, or year.