How will the community benefit
from HKM’s presence in Makiki Valley?

• Since beginning work at the Makiki site, nearby residents and HKM staff have observed that presence of undesirable activities in the park has decreased (drug use, drinking, loitering, etc), and both out of respect and harsher penalties when such crimes occur near a public school, we expect this trend to continue
• Preferred education that balances academic rigor with environment, culture, and community-based learning is now accessible to those in Makiki, Papakolea, Maunalaha, and surrounding communities
• Hawaii Nature Center and Halau Ku Mana, as new neighbors, have already begun their long-term partnership with plans to merge their strengths in environment and culture-based curriculum and instruction, in hopes of expanding their total impact, outreach, and growth
• Halau Ku Mana intends to invest significant time, money, and energy in improving the state of the ‘aina that they and their neighbors call home; Possibilities include collaborating with Hawai’i Nature Center and the community on reviving gardens and lo’i, trail restoration and signage, and water quality studies of nearby Makiki Stream.
• Our parcel is still public property, we are a public school, and public will retain access and right of way through the property (to access hiking trails).

How will this impact the environment?

• Significantly – in the positive! All overgrowth and a significant number of trees deemed “unsafe” have been removed from the property with Halau Ku Mana funds and hundreds of volunteer hours. This came with consultation and approval from the Outdoor Circle, Hui Ku Maoli Ola (a plant nursery specializing in native species), and formally from State Parks and the Department of Forestry (both divisions of DLNR). All trees cleared were alien invasive species, and many were rotting, dying, dead, or deemed unsafe.
• Remaining trees in our area and in the Park area were selectively pruned to encourage healthy growth of new canopy in the area.
• Our parcel was once a Nursery Facility which included multiple structures exactly where our temporary trailers are. We plan to follow in this vein, via native plant restoration, and planting at least two native trees for every alien invasive tree removed.
• Halau Ku Mana is dedicated to preserving our natural environment. Our work has included restoring and maintaining traditional lo’i (native plant gardens) and loko i’a (fishponds), reef monitoring, water quality studies of local streams and rivers, removing alien invasive plant species, and restoration of native plant habitats. Environmental issues are a primary focus of our schools’ curriculum.

How was the community involved in the site development process?

• Individuals and groups learned of this exciting opportunity via face to face conversations and meetings, numerous email lists, and significant media coverage over the past year. In all communication efforts, communities were informed of our plans and progress, and invited to be involved.
• Hundreds of volunteers have already given thousands of hours to this vision for a community learning center, from helping fundraise to clearing the land of weeds and invasive species, to helping pack and move.
• Complete support from both the Board and community testimony at two DLNR meetings (September 22nd 2006 and May 25th 2007).
• Halau Ku Mana requested permission to present at a Makiki Neighborhood Board meeting on April 19th 2007. The Board gave their support of the project with no opposition. Our Executive Director, Keola Nakanishi, immediately agreed to another presentation, if asked, to address any community questions or concerns.
• Halau Ku Mana contacted and met with the Maunalaha Valley Community Association on two occasions.
• Upon learning of the Tantalus Community Association in February, Halau Ku Mana offered to present and address questions at any future meetings.

How will the school impact parking and traffic in the area?

• Halau Ku Mana has committed to not affect the parking available to hikers. We will not be parking in the lot designated for them
• There may be special events 1-3 times a year, which the community is invited to attend. On these days, there is ample parking alongside the road leading to the parcel, where people hardly park, outside of events like the Punahou Carnival.
• Last school year over half of Halau Ku Mana’s students (est. 50 students) rode the city bus to school. Another few dozen students are dropped off, many are siblings or part of a carpool. They do not all arrive at once, and in any case all will be shuttled from off-site (likely two designated bus stops) using one shuttle van.
• Another dozen students will be coming by van carpool.

Will noise from the school affect the community?

• It really shouldn’t! In most cases, there will only be 20-40 students on-site at once. For most of the week, three to four of Halau Ku Mana’s five projects are off-campus, at their computer lab at Wailupe, or at their auxiliary learning sites (see our website!).
• Exceptions include the first and last 15 minutes of the school day, where students begin and end the day together. On Fridays, 40-55 students will be on campus from 12-130pm, where community-led workshops occur for elective credit.
• Nearly all residences are at least a quarter mile away.
• Enrollment will always be well below mainstream public schools. Over the next few years, official enrollment count at this site will be between 90 and 115 students, and no plans to exceed 125 students.
• Sound travel to the picnic tables and hiking trails above the parcel will be minimal, if any, aside from the sound of Hawaiian oli and hula, which a few regulars on the trail have said they would love to hear return, after decades of this being void in the area.

Were proper permits secured for this project?

• Every step of the way, approvals and clearances were obtained with State agencies that have jurisdiction on the property.
• A Right of Entry permit was issued by the Department of Land and Natural Resources on May 15th, 2007, which allowed Halau Ku Mana to mobilize the modular trailers to the site and begin the light construction of ADA compliant walkways and ramps.
• There was an EIS done for this parcel, and an educational facility was deemed consistent with both the Master Plan and EIS prior to DLNR’s formal approval of the lease.
• After the original submittal, the Office of Conservation and Coastal Land’s only stated request was to resolve the lack of fire suppression, which will be achieved by the installation of a private fire hydrant at the school’s expense that will serve, if needed, any purposes in the community beyond Halau Ku Mana.