Hui o Ko'olaupoko - Ko`olaupoko watershed area, Waimanalo, Kailua, and Kane`ohe Oahu, Hawaii

About Hui o Ko`olaupoko

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The mission of Hui o Ko`olaupoko is to protect ocean health by restoring the `aina: mauka to makai. This is done in partnership with stakeholders including interested citizens, non-governmental organizations, government, educational institutions and businesses while using and focusing on sound ecological principles, community input, and cultural heritage.

Hui o Ko`olaupoko focuses organizational efforts in three main program areas:

· Watershed/ahupua`a restoration and monitoring.

· Natural resource coordination/stakeholder involvement.

· Scientific data and information dissemination.

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Watershed/ahupua`a restoration and monitoring
Hui o Ko`olaupoko (HOK) proactively implements projects in the Ko`olaupoko moku (Makapu`u to Kualoa) that address land-based pollution/watershed health as they impact water quality and the receiving waters of Waimanalo, Kailua and Kane` ohe Bay . Project areas include, but are not limited to:

· non-point source pollution

· riparian restoration/erosion control

· invasive species eradication

Projects are prioritized using a variety of tools including the recently completed Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (Kailua Bay Advisory Council, June 2007) and other scientific documents such as the Waimanalo and Kawa Stream Total Maximum Daily Load (Hawai`i Department of Health, 2004) or the Kaneohe Kahalu`u Stream Restoration and Maintenance (Wilson Okamoto Corporation, June 2004).

In concert with active, on-the-ground restoration, HOK will conduct monitoring for baseline water quality conditions, project effectiveness and assist with volunteer data collection.

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Natural resource coordination and stakeholder involvement
Hui o Ko`olaupoko is creating opportunities for community engagement and natural resource coordination. Three main objectives include:

· Volunteer opportunities

· Educational opportunities

· Natural resource management coordination

Hui o Ko`olaupoko offers monthly opportunities for volunteering and education such as stream restoration, native garden maintenance, water quality monitoring and public presentations. Participants at every event are educated on the health of the watershed, sources of pollutants and opportunities to take individual action for watershed health and ocean protection.

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Scientific data and information dissemination
In order for the public to make informed and educated decisions regarding natural resource management, understandable scientific information is needed. Data, reports, observations and technical memos are shared at talk story sessions, educational events, organizational presentations and HOK's website.

It is the intent of HOK to interpret and share information in a manner the lay participant can understand and utilize. HOK will create opportunities to provide scientific data and information dissemination to the community and constituents. This is done via a variety of methods depending on the audience. Significant data and final reports Hui o Ko`olaupoko collects will be uploaded to the website and provided to the appropriate groups such as State and Federal Agencies.