Yesterday we met to discuss the future of Kapoho as a community. The meeting was positive and full of hope for a sustainable lower Puna.
Sustainability is one of those words that is used so much lately it is losing its power-until you think of what it really means. Sustainability, as defined by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is “based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations. Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have, the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment.”
About 50 people attended the meeting, held at Green Lake and listened to Smiley Burrows, Margarita “Dayday” Hopkins and Graham Ellis speak encouragingly about what could be the future of Lower Puna.
Green Lake, currently the home of the Friday Fruit Market will become much more to the residents of Kapoho and the surrounding area. The USDA has approved the land for a commercial cow and dairy venture. Burrows said, “We all have to think about what we do best and that is what we need to provide to the community. We’re really going to have to come together deeper than ever.” She asked the audience to communicate their needs as far as food and vegetables because she wants the community to participate in the process. Establishing a food co-op was mentioned by residents to bring in items that cannot be produced in the area.
Graham Ellis, a community development pioneer for over 30 years, is the chairman of Hawaii Sustainable Community Alliance as well as Hawaii's Volcano Circus and the founder of Bellyacres Eco-village. He has been working with various groups along the red road trying to figure out solutions for the longterm. “If we are going to get help from the government, we’re more likely to get it if we’re united, not as separate groups.” He said that Kalani Retreat is opening a food store that will stock items as well as take co-op style orders for bulk items.
Margarita “Dayday” Hopkins, an employee of the County Department of Research and Development for 24 years, spoke about the necessity to build a community in Kapoho to suit our needs. She said, “ It is high time to start planning (before the lava flow crosses the highway). You will be the ones to show the world what sustainability is.” She advised the group to look at developing countries for examples of where to start.
The next step for the Kapoho community will be to organize committees for various agricultural projects. All of us who have been living in this remote part of Puna have had to travel long distances weekly just to feed ourselves and provide for our basic needs.
This first meeting determined that we all have a willingness to stay in lower Puna. We have pledged to support each other and the new businesses that may grow as a result of Pele’s latest eruption, so that we can evolve as a sustainable community.
by Jill Steele
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