Kipahulu Ohana receives grants

The Maui News
Friday, July 07, 2006

KIPAHULU – The Kipahulu Ohana has received more than $100,000 in grants from three organizations supporting the operation and expansion of the Ohana's Kapahu Living Farm project.

The Kipahulu Ohana is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the practice and promotion of Hawaiian culture, the conservation and restoration of natural resources and the development of culturally based economic opportunities in East Maui.

The grant awards were $96,575 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, $15,000 from the Hawaii Tourism Authority and $5,000 from the Atherton Family Foundation.

"We're very grateful for the support of our work and excited about the opportunity these grants provide," said Tweetie Lind, co-founder and secretary/treasurer of the Kipahulu Ohana. "With these grants we'll continue to open new taro patches and expand our education programs."

The Kapahu Living Farm is in the Kipahulu section of Haleakala National Park in an area where ancient taro patches have been cleared, restored and returned to traditional use, with other Polynesian introduced crops also grown.

The OHA and the Atherton grants will support staffing to work with project director John Lind, and pay for equipment and supplies. The Hawaii Tourism Authority grant will be used for the development of a training program for cultural hosts and interpretive hike guides.

For information on Kapahu Farm, call 248-8673 or visit Kipahulu Ohana Web site at www.kipahulu.org.

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