{"id":4,"date":"2012-12-14T09:51:23","date_gmt":"2012-12-14T09:51:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.mauiculturallands.org\/?page_id=4"},"modified":"2024-08-07T06:23:17","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T16:23:17","slug":"who-we-are","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mauiculturallands.org\/mcl\/who-we-are","title":{"rendered":"who we are"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cPeople who help the land and the culture, who give unselfishly for the sake of the land, they are the heroes, the real warriors.\u201d<\/h3><\/div>

\u2014 Ed Lindsey, founder of Maui Cultural Lands<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div>

Maui Cultural Lands, Inc. (MCL) is a grassroots land trust organization. Our mission is to stabilize, protect and restore Hawaiian cultural resources\u2014and the success of our efforts depends upon volunteers like you!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

About<\/h4><\/div>

Maui Cultural Lands is founded on the principles of traditional Hawaiian values. It is through living these values that we are able to follow the path left behind by our kupuna.<\/p>\n

I ka wa mamua, ka wa mahope: Our future is in the past.<\/p>\n

Aloha: The foundation from which all of our values are built upon. Aloha is deep love and compassion.<\/p>\n

Malama: is to take care of properly. It is not enough to take care of something, we have to take care of it properly.<\/p>\n

Kuleana: is to be responsible. It is our responsibility to maintain the light that our Kupuna have lit, ensuring our Keiki and future generations can keep the flame burning bright.<\/p>\n

He ali\u2019 i ka aina, he kaua ke kanaka: The land is chief, we are its servants.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Project<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

What we do<\/h4><\/div>

Hawaiian culture is intimately connected to the native flora of our islands. Plants have been used for building, transportation, food, clothing, weapons, medicine and religion. Many of these plants are nearing extinction due to the massive influx of invasive plant and animal species to the Hawaiian Islands.<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Reforestation<\/h5><\/div>

Our primary goal is to reforest Honokowai Valley and the Kaanapali area with native and endemic Hawaiian plant species.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div>
GET INVOLVED<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Archaeological Stabilization<\/h5><\/div>

Important cultural information is contained within the ruins of Honokowai Valley. MCL needs your help to stabilize this archaeological site for future generations.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div>
Volunteer<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Education<\/h5><\/div>

Honokowai Valley provides an ideal setting for educational opportunities for the Hawaiian community, general public and visitor.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div>
Support Us<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

History<\/h4><\/div>

Edwin \u201cEd\u201d Robert Naleilehua Lindsey Jr. and his wife Puanani established Maui Cultural Lands as a nonprofit organization in February 2002. A Native Hawaiian and lifelong school teacher, Uncle Ed had the goal of bringing in the people of Maui\u2014both residents and visitors\u2014to help with the restoration of Honokowai Valley.<\/p>\n

This deep sense of kuleana, of responsibility for the land and its gifts, was inherent in Ed. His parents Ned and Pua Lindsey were visionaries who worked throughout their lives to preserve Hawaiian culture and lands, often reminding young Ed to pay attention to the \u201csticks and stones,\u201d native plants and pohaku, which the ancient Hawaiians used to build their self-sufficient society.<\/p>\n

Since Ed\u2019s passing in 2009, Puanani and Ed\u2019s eldest son, Edwin \u201cEkolu\u201d Lindsey III, carry on the work of Ed\u2019s legacy. As Uncle Ed often remarked, it\u2019s enough work for five lifetimes! But it\u2019s also work that gives back in quiet and long-lasting ways.
In this verdant archeological site, you may feel the presence of those who were here before us, working alongside you, weeding, digging, planting. As you pull the invasive vines away from the fronds of a tiny koa seedling, you may learn how the ancient Hawaiians used this all-important tree to build their mighty canoes. As you feel the breeze cool your hot face, you may sense the powerful spirituality, the mana, that breathes in the very air of the valley.<\/p>\n

In this way, Honokowai Valley serves as an inspiring example of sustainability and cultural preservation, a living classroom through the generations\u2014just as Uncle Ed envisioned.<\/p>\n

We welcome you to join us on our journey!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

Projects<\/h4><\/div>

Working across three main Hawaiian cultural land assets: Honokowai Valley, Malama Launiupoko, and Malama Kaheawa-Hanaula on the island of Maui. Maui Cultural Lands is dedicated to an ongoing campaign of reforestation, archaeological stabilization, and education for the Hawaiian community, general public and visitors.<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Beyond<\/span><\/div>
Honokowai Valley<\/h5><\/div>

Our primary goal is to reforest Honokowai Valley and the Kaanapali area with native and endemic Hawaiian plant species.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div>
LEARN MORE<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>
Malama Launiupoko<\/h5><\/div>

Just south of Lahaina, this ancient site was once home to a vibrant heiau, or temple. <\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div>
Learn more<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>
Malama Kaheawa-Hanaula<\/h5><\/div>

Maui Cultural Lands was enlisted by owner First Wind to restore the area\u2019s native habitat, which was disrupted by installation of the giant turbines. <\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div>
Learn More<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Featured Stories<\/h4><\/div>