Reconnecting Kūāhewa with Kuaʻāina: toward the establishment of an ʻāina-based program in Kahaluʻu Mauka, Kona, Hawaiʻi

Abstract

Kūāhewa, Kona's vast dry-land agricultural system, historically fed and sustained Kona's community for centuries. This productive complex was the foundation of the social and cultural advancement in Kona, being only slowly abandoned in the decades following 1778. However much abandoned this immense system may be, it still retains a high potential for reestablishment. The goal of this Plan A thesis paper is to reintroduce and reengage the Kona community to Kūāhewa, a living agricultural system that has been covered for decades. This paper examines Kūāhewa's historical importance and current relevance, where developing and implementing an ʻĀina-Based Program is a effective method to reconnect the community of Kona to Kūāhewa. This thesis seeks to provide a theoretical framework for the restoration efforts of Kūāhewa, fostering a social awareness and consciousness to Hawaiian dry-land agricultural crops and practices existent in precontact Hawaiʻi.