Kama to Lead Hawaiian Homes Centennial Conference

Tasha Kama. Courtesy photo.

Veteran homestead community organizer and Wailuku Councilwoman Tasha Kama will discuss housing at the puwalu, or conference, set for March 20 and 21 at Above The Wave.

The event launches a three-part Centennial Puwalu series celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA).

The federal trust provides the homesteading program benefiting native Hawaiians.

Open to the public, the series is set to start March 20, June 12 and Sept. 11, 2020.

The inaugural puwalu sessions will be held at 5 p.m. on March 20 and 4:30 p.m. on March 21, in advance of the March 26, 1871, birthday of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole.

The 10-term congressional delegate is the father of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.

The event will cover four pillars of the HHCA federal trust with accompanying speakers, as
follows:

• Live on the `aina (land)/housing: Councilwoman Kama and Kainoa Lei MacDonald of event co-sponsor Credit Edge Solutions LLC.
• Agriculture/ranching: Kekoa Enomoto of event co-sponsor Pa`upena Community Development
  Corporation, Sybil Lopez of Molokaʻi, Alohalani Smith of the fledgling Wakiu Community Development Corporation, and Kealapono Donna Sterling of the fledgling Kahikinui Hawaiian Homestead
  Association.
• Mercantile: Jeison Lokela Manaois of Kanu Ka `Ike and Hokunui Maui LLC.
• Water: Ka`eo Ornellas on water-catchment systems at Upcountry homesteads

In addition, Robin Puanani Danner of Anahola homelands on Kaua`i will speak on the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act with handouts. She serves as second-term chairwoman of the statewide SCHHA (pronounced SHAW), or Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations.

Admission is $75, or free to those committing to consensus actions, such as:

• Sign up with SCHHA
• Attend and/or volunteer for all three puwalu
• Attend monthly meetings of the Maui/Lana`i Mokupuni Council
• Sign up for the Credit Edge Solutions program

The event also showcases Maui chefs and tastings.

For information and registration, contact Kainoa Lei MacDonald at email [email protected] or (808) 419-5646.