HAPA Newsletter
Letter from the Executive Director
Hoʻomaikaʻi to Kuleana Academy cohort 8!
On October 18th, 23 participants from across the pae ʻāina graduated from HAPA’s Kuleana Academy. We spent the past six months together, including one in-person weekend and one virtual Saturday each month, for a total of over 120 hours of workshops, training, educational talks and panel discussions. There is a deep shared learning and pilina building that happens over the course of our time together. Every time we come together I am reminded that the fabric of our movements is only as strong as the relationships that we build and tend to over time. Witnessing our KA alumni show up in decision-making spaces and show up to care for each other renews my hope in our ability to take on the most intractable forces that seek to exploit and desecrate Hawaiʻi’s ʻāina and people.
Too often myths of “inevitability” are wielded to tamper down our visions for a more just future.
Yet the systems, power dynamics and policies that are portrayed as inevitable now, are often quite recent interventions. It is not inevitable that Hawaiʻi’s public lands and waters be dominated and desecrated by agrochemical corporations, the US military and other extractive corporate interests. It is not inevitable that our economy siphons off wealth for an elite few, or that our housing is dominated by speculative interests or that over a quarter of Hawaiʻi households are food insecure. And no, it is not inevitable that the Hawaiʻi remain occupied by the US. As we witness the crumbling of the US empire, accelerated by a federal administration fueled by hate, bigotry, misinformation and greed we must challenge the myths of inevitability and dare to envision a different path forward. Kuleana Academy is a place where we plant seeds of a better future and tend to them together.
Mahalo piha to all of our cohort 8 participants, trainers, guest speakers and everyone who came together to make this cohort so special. I am truly blown away and humbled by the shared commitment this cohort made to each other and to the shared work.
In solidarity,
Anne Frederick,
Executive Director
Fair and Sustainable Food Systems
by Fern Holland, Pesticides & Public Health Campaign Director
Over the past few months, we have been focusing on expanding community education and awareness around neonic pesticides and biosecurity and highlighting how this class of pesticides is increasingly linked to pollinator decline, soil and water contamination, and broader ecosystem disruption. A key takeaway from our outreach is that many people are still unaware that neonics are used not only in agriculture but also in landscaping, turf, and home products, making community exposure more widespread than many assume.
At the same time, we have been moving deeper into analysis of Hawaiʻi’s mapped Restricted Use Pesticide data, now expanding beyond the initial 2019 review into 2020 and 2021. This work will allow us to identify trends, compare usage changes year to year, and pinpoint areas where environmental or community vulnerability overlaps with concentrated pesticide application. We are also encountering gaps, inconsistencies, and reporting errors that limit how accurately communities and policymakers can interpret the risks. This highlights the need for stronger reporting requirements, clearer definitions, better enforcement of data submissions, and modern digital systems that improve accuracy and transparency. We look forward to sharing a some of our findings in the coming months as we continue working to ensure this information is accessible, meaningful, and community driven.
Reclaiming Democracy
By Aria Juliet Castillo,
Reclaiming Democracy Director
Last month, HAPA proudly celebrated the graduation of Kuleana Academy Cohort 8, marking another milestone in our decade-long journey to cultivate community-rooted leaders across Hawaiʻi.
Over six weekends of workshops, reflection, and connection, 23 incredible participants explored the foundations of values-based leadership, communications, and campaign strategy.
On our last Saturday, participants wrapped up their final Media & Messaging workshop with Dr. Dawn Morais Webster. At lunch, the group also enjoyed a special screening of HIFF award-winning “Lāhainā Rising” directed by graduate De Andre Makakoa Takahashi.
Later that afternoon, everyone gathered at the PA‘I Arts & Cultural Center for the official graduation ceremony, where each graduate delivered a heartfelt, two-minute speech sharing their story and vision for Hawaiʻi’s future. We also heard keynote remarks from Brandon Makaʻawaʻawa, Vice President of the Nation of Hawaiʻi, and reflections from HAPA board president and State House Representative Ikaika Hussey.
“We need to do more than perpetuate a moment — we need to build a movement,” said Brandon Makaʻawaʻawa. “It’s not about fighting for the ʻāina anymore. The ʻāina is always here. We have to fight for the kuleana. Leadership means stepping into the responsibilities that others cannot or will not take on, and doing so with aloha.”.
Sunday offered time for reflection and renewal, with Mason Chock leading the cohort through their final Leadership Practices workshop. We concluded the program with a picnic and closing circle at Liliʻuokalani Gardens, grounding the experience in gratitude and kuleana.
Since its founding in 2016, over 140 graduates have gone on to serve in elected office, nonprofit leadership, and grassroots organizing across the islands. Cohort 8 now joins that growing ʻohana of changemakers helping to build a more just, sustainable, and community-driven Hawaiʻi.
Mahalo and congratulations, Cohort 8 — we can’t wait to see what you’ll do next!
Social and Economic Justice By Kencho Gurung, Communications Organizer
HAPA Supports Maui's Bill 9 for Housing Justice
Bill 9 will again be heard by the Maui County Council early next week, and if passed, would phase out short‑term rentals in apartment‑zoned buildings on the “Minatoya List”, returning them to long-term housing for residents. Vacation-rental speculation has driven up rents, displaced families, and strained our communities. This bill is about more than housing- it’s about stability, dignity, and the right for ʻohana to thrive. We must prioritize people over profit.
No New Leases
As leases for tens of thousands of acres of state land used by the U.S. Army approach expiration, Hawai‘i faces a critical moment. For decades, the military has paid almost nothing for lands rich in cultural, ecological, and historical significance. Rushing to renew these leases risks bypassing environmental review, public input, and proper stewardship. HAPA calls on state leaders to reject fast-tracked renewals, ensure cleanup and restoration, and prioritize the ʻāina and communities over the U.S. military.
