(BIVN) – With Pu‘u Huluhulu visible in the distance, a group of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries set up an “Aloha Safety Checkpoint” by the Mauna Kea Access Road on Prince Kūhiō Day, part of the next phase of “Aina Mauna Solution”.

According to a media release issued by the Beneficiary Trust Council:

Today, on the birthday of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole, founder of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, we, the Beneficiary Trust Council – Moku o Keawe (BTC), with beneficiaries from all 6 districts of Hawaii island, move forward to fulfill the Act and initiate the next step in the “Aina Mauna Solution” in the DHHL’s Aina Mauna region. Our dedication of Hale o Kuhio as an Aloha Safety Checkpoint is the first phase of community-lead Malama Aina programming by our beneficiaries to maintain a presence and better manage roughly 1/3rd of the total DHHL lands, some of the most important and critical cultural and natural resources in the Hawaiian islands. Starting with gathering invaluable data that has never been produced here, monitoring an accurate number of daily vehicles and visitors to the Aina Mauna and instilling a sense of protocol for these lands, the BTC will also be working with the Department on developing the necessary partnerships and programs for kanaka to serve and protect the health and safety of this Aina Hoopulapula. We are inspired by our Alii’s work and compelled to honor his legacy as well as remedy the over 27,000 native Hawaiian beneficiaries currently waiting for a chance on our national lands. Actively working to protect our wahi pana, sacred places, and critical natural resources from environmental degradation, highly invasive species such as gorse and other threats, begins with returning kanaka to their aina, and we urge all of our beneficiaries, successors, and kanaka aloha aina to join us in realizing this great kuleana. The Land is our Chiefess, and no longer can we afford to neglect our responsibility to serve and steward her.

Big Island Video News covered the first phase of the Aina Mauna Solution back in December 2016.