Today, new RAMSAR signs at Nā Pōhaku o Hauahine were dedicated. The Ramsar Convention established a mission to protect key wetland habitats. Na Pohaku has been a work project of ‘Ahahui Mālama i ka Lōkahi, a non-profit whose Board I happen to sit on. Nā Pōhaku has been a site that we have been restoring for over a decade, removing invasive plants and replacing them with endemic and indigenous plants. The restoration is part of a much larger vision to see the entire marsh habitat and its surroundings restored at least somewhat to it’s former glory. It includes not only recreating the native habitat, but restoring cultural practices to the area. It is an ambitious project of which I am fortunate to be a part of.
My friend Sam ‘Ohu Gon conducted the blessing. When we did the call to enter the sacred area, you could feel the change in the weather. As ‘Ohu prepared the air seemed to get heavier and as he chanted the rain came down in earnest. You can even hear it hitting the stones it was falling so hard. Toward the end, water started muffling the microphone so the sound quality isn’t quite as good.
As blessings go, it was impressive and bodes well for the future!
