Timmy Paulokaleioku Bailey,
NPS Biological Technician

"As a Native Hawaiian, it is not our right, but it is our duty to continue what our ancestors have set forth for us to proudly claim we are Hawaiian. We need to understand our 'past culture' and we need to recognize our 'living culture.'

"Malama Ka 'Aina…To take care of the land, our ancestors created this concept so that they could not only survive, but future Hawaiians could survive and so forth. What the land and sea provided them at their time, is what stores and modern society provide the majority of us today. If we do not continue Malama Ka 'Aina then we have failed as Native Hawaiians and we have lost our 'living culture.'

"The Natural Resources here in Hawaii, are found nowhere else in the world, and because of these Resources, Hawaiians can proudly say we are a unique culture. Our Ancestors learned the land and the sea, identified the resources and created the Hawaiian culture, similar in some ways, but very different in most, than other Pacific Isle Cultures. The reason being - The Resources.

"Malama Ka 'Aina is a recognized concept amongst conservationists. With new threats against these Natural Resources emerging with a constant aggression, it is our duty as Native Hawaiians in conservation employment, to continue Malama Ka 'Aina as a part of our 'living culture' towards protection of our unique resources. The same efforts that our ancestors used to survive, we must use to protect. A 'Bird Catcher' needed to learn the mountain to aid in his feather gathering for our ali'i (chiefs). We need to learn the mountain to aid in the survival of these rare birds that gave us the proud right to say…We are Hawaiian."

Ida-Lucille Kaleiho'omahie Hanohano,
NPS Interpretive Park Ranger

"To me, cultural resources are not just relics of the past. Cultural resources are alive today. I am Hawaiian, Chinese, and Caucasian. Because of my Hawaiian ancestors' diligent stewardship and dynamic culture, these Hawaiian places endure. Now I have a job that allows me to proudly share about the wise decisions they made that still affect our lands today. The unique birds and plants found only in Kipahulu Valley still exist because they were carefully cared for by my ohana (family). I continue to malama 'aina (take care of the land), just as they did, by enlightening people about my homeland, Hawaii. I am a cultural resource, connecting the present with the past and the future."

Mele Fong
NPs Management Assistant

"I consider myself a modern Hawaiian who has had the benefit of growing up in a suburban area, while spending summers in a very rural area. As an adult, I moved away from Hawaii, but have always carried my culture, my belief system and my upbringing with me. I am Hawaiian no matter where I am. Coming back to this [management] position at Haleakala has given me the opportunity to malama 'aina in a different way. How do you malama 'aina? How do you keep everything pono (balanced)? You do it through people. I want to take care of Hawaii, its land and its people. I do that now through other people. In my job, I try to bring people together and, in whatever way I can, provide people with the resources they need to do their job of taking care of the resource.
" I am a woman and a Hawaiian. I am the only Hawaiian Division Chief in the park. I feel a responsibility to myself and other Hawaiians to do what I can to protect these park resources, both natural and cultural. Sometimes I feel that other Hawaiians look at me differently because of my management position, and that's ok. I understand that. I will do my best as a manager to protect the resources by serving people. I will also do whatever I can to share my Hawaiian culture with the staff and the public…like playing Hawaiian music in the local parade while representing the park. That's easy for me because I sing. I play music. That's who I am. When I knew I had this job, my first thought was, 'What was that song about Haleakala? Oh, I remember that hula I used to do as a kid….' I was so excited to be coming back to Hawaii and to have the opportunity to, in my way, help take care of these resources."

Byron Cook,
NPs Interpretive Park Ranger

"Malama 'aina, a concept, means to 'take care of the land'. The park is about protecting the resources, the plants, the birds, and the archeological sites. What we do in the visitor center is more like aloha 'aina, sharing about the land. Aloha 'aina is what we do with visitors, share with them about these resources. How we're protecting them. And also what they can do to malama 'aina, like picking up rubbish, not taking away rocks. But it goes together. Malama 'aina to care for the land and aloha 'aina to share with others about the land."

Kehau Kimokeo,
HNHA Interpreter

"Hawaiian, this is an English word; Kanaka Maoli is being native to Hawaii. We are the Kanaka Maoli whose ancestors have taken care of, utilized and prized the land. It is our duty to take care of the land because it takes care of us. Malama 'Aina is the word for taking care of the land. Our ancestors knew that they needed the land to survive and take care of and utilize correctly one vital thing, water. Water is the source of life for everyone not only the Kanaka Maoli. It feeds the land, it feeds the taro patches (lo'i a'i), it feeds the people and it feeds our culture. The forest provides the water, the water flows down through living stream and flows down to feed the taro patches, and in turn our taro patches provide us with nourishment and roots to our culture. Everything works together hand in hand just like our state motto says. I am here because it is my duty to take care of what my ancestors left me. If I don't who will? It is our duty to take care of our home, our culture, our ancestors and our future.

"The Kanaka Maoli believed that the forest was sacred and that only a few were allowed. We should understand this because when we step into the past, into a forest that is almost untouched by invasive alien species, we can see why this place was so special. Have you been able to experience this, truly? In all this, from spreading knowledge, to hike these wonderful trails and wonders we are doing this to save this special place we call home. Save not only the environment but the culture and people that thrive with it.

"Hawaii has so much living culture, but many people do not realize or acknowledge it's there. Without all the culture we have here we wouldn't be as clearly a unique place. This does not mean only the Hawaiian culture but also the many different cultures that make up Hawaii. Our culture, the culture of the Kanaka Maoli, uses the land as a foundation. Our genealogy of all Kanaka Maoli says we were born after our brother the Kalo (taro). It also says we are to take care of the kalo and the kalo will take care of us. The kalo not only feeds us to nourish us but it feeds us our culture.

"We need to perpetuate our culture. The importance of what we do is not measurable. No matter how big or how small, how simple or how difficult our task may be, it makes a difference in our environment, culture and especially our future."

Kapu Kane,
HNHA Cultural Demonstrator

"Being a native son of these islands (Hawaii), the concept of the saying Malama 'Aina has always been a part of our up bringing. We were taught to take care of the land so it would provide the resources that we would need to survive for now and in the future. We also need to provide the care she has to have to survive too... such as planting trees and plants native and natural to her. Creating watersheds so the rains can return and bring her life again! The Hawaiians have a saying for this, "Ue kalani oe ola ka 'aina!" When the heavens weep the land lives! And so will the kanaka..."

Mona Oliveira,
HNHA Interpreter

"I am a Native Hawaiian, born and raised in the remote area of Koali on this beautiful island of Maui. Malama 'Aina is part of our lifestyle. We were taught to respect and care for the land and in return it will take care of us. I am very fortunate to work in the Kipahulu Area of the park where I can share my mana'o (thoughts or ideas) of the Hawaiian culture with the visitors and help them understand how important our cultural resources are to us and what we are doing to keep them 'alive.' Malama 'Aina…FOREVER."

Jeremiah Kaholoa'a,
RCUH Field Worker

"When I think of malama 'aina I think of growing up in Waipio Valley on the Big Island and all of the values my mother and family taught me. To me the 'aina and the ocean are like 'Mother Earth,' and she provides everything for us. Growing up, the 'aina and the ocean gave us everything, resources, just like a real mother. And we lived malama 'aina, because if we didn't take care of it, it wouldn't take care of us. Don't throw rubbish down, leave the rocks because they don't belong to you, they belong to the ocean or the land. Growing up with malama 'aina carries on through life-and it's not just the 'aina…you should malama the ocean, malama your neighbor, malama your job, malama everything!

"Before I worked with the park, I never understood what the national park was all about. I heard about it, protecting resources, but I was not involved in caring for them. But now, working first at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, and now Haleakala, I've learned more and appreciate the opportunity not only to see, and touch the resources, but be a part of saving them. Now we not only malama the 'aina, but we take care of what's on the 'aina…the native birds and plants. We are helping to keep it there for future generations.

"I am not worried about the future generations. Today people are involved in the hula worldwide. And the ukulele is known worldwide. And there are Hawaiian language immersion schools for the kids. When I was growing up, I used to wonder why I lived in Hawaii and in school, they were teaching me Spanish! But now, I see all kinds of people learning Hawaiian. At first I was jealous because they-Chinese, Portuguese, Haole-were speaking fluent Hawaiian and I couldn't. But then I realized that they had to learn the culture to learn the language and I admired them because they will pass it on. You don't have to be Hawaiian to learn Hawaiian. So I'm not worried about the future generations; I think that they will have it better than me actually. They have opportunities that I didn't have. But even though I can't speak full on Hawaiian or dance hula, I lived the life of a Hawaiian growing up. And that is what I bring with me to the park. Malama 'aina is part of everything and will be a part of keeping together what is Hawaiian. Without malama 'aina, we don't have anything."

Aloha Smith,
RCUH Administrative Assistant

"I was raised in Hana in my youth. Life revolved around Ohana (family), music, hula, animals, and plants. I was taught appreciation for these things-an opportunity that most never experience. Sharing what is precious is how it is preserved. Expanding knowledge is like eating poi. The old way was to share one bowl as a whole, no one could be separate. After eating the poi, the last one has the responsibility to kahi (clean the bowl to preserve), same with our kupuna (elders/ teachers). They are the roots. Our elders have the wisdom and knowledge to take care of the food for the next meal and the responsibility to share that knowledge with us.

"Working for the park makes it a reality that preserving and passing on the knowledge is the responsibility for all who want to learn and have a share in how to love and cherish the culture that is, and will be, Hawaiian. Having the opportunity to work along with the rangers, volunteers and researchers is a privilege for me to continue the education that our kupuna began."

John and Tweetie Lind,
Co-Founders of the Kipahulu 'Ohana

"Genealogy ties us to this land. Hewa hewa came to Kipahulu and we are descendant from him. Our genealogy (prior to 1778) ties us as natives, Kanaka Maoli, to the Kipahulu ahupua'a which is in the park. The park is responsible for taking care of these resources. For us, it is our birthright to work and live here-we work with the park to teach what we know, having come from this area. We teach the park and learn from each other.

"We can teach what Aloha 'Aina is about. We, the 'Ohana, have the resources, which are the people who know about the resources. Our focus is not only on preserving, but restoring and managing the resources for our kids, making life better.
The ahupua'a contains vital parts of Aloha 'Aina-the feet, the hands, the rocks have names and meaning from ancient times. Those are the kind of stories, our heritage, which we can share with the park. That's the kind of thing we can teach the park. As we take care of the land, restoring it and working with the park, we stress our genealogy which ties us to the 'aina that gives us life. We were here before the park. The Kipahulu 'Ohana, with our genealogy tied to the konohiki (headman of an ahupua'a under the chief), can share about how we malama the 'aina.

"We're still working, still pleading, how can we make it better? We want to keep involved in the management planning. We have some knowledge that came from the ancient days and we want to take that and make it better.
Most people, you have to put money in their hands to do the work; but us…we must do it.
Because the park is here, it won't get developed with big hotels or other developments. We work with all the other communities because we are all one ohana (family). And we will help keep the resources here and it becomes a living culture because we don't just do it, we live it"