We recommend practicing S.A.F.E. guidelines to protect you and your ʻohana from exposure to toxins from seafood harvested in Pu`uloa!
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For More Details on Preparing Crabs Harvested From Pu`uloa Check Out Our New Video!
To those community members concerned about pollution in our drinking water systems, we recommend buying bottled water and/or considering installation of a cost-effective water filter systems on your taps with activated charcoal filters
(and replacing those filters as recommended by manufacturers).
Our Intention
At one point in time, Pu`uloa was rich with at least 30 loko i`a (traditional Hawaiian fishponds) and acres of loʻi kalo (taro patches). Both the loko iʻa and loʻi kalo were fed by an abundance of estuaries, perennial fresh water springs, shallow aquifers, and the healthy nutrient runoff of 12 different watersheds.
Over time, Pu`uloa’s aquatic ecosystems have been contaminated with mercury, PCBs, dioxins, pesticides, microplastics, lead and more from multiple sources of polluted run-off. Many of these toxins persist in the environment for great lengths of time and bioaccumulate in the tissues of fish, aquatic plants, and wildlife, becoming concentrated as they move up the food chain.
We aim to empower the people of `Ewa with information while restoring the shoreline of Puʻuloa, and ultimately returning abundant food production to the region. We continually seek to learn more from our community and partners to increase our capacity to address pollution that threatens public health and wildlife.
The primary goal of Malama Pu`uloa is to help begin to restore Pu`uloa to abundance - ʻāina momona. We believe that this work must be done through a community-driven approach built on trust. In order to heal the land and waters, we must (re)build pilina and come together to do so. Current health and scientific narratives must acknowledge, respect, and compliment indigenous wisdom, place-based knowledge, and cultural practices.
Over time, Pu`uloa’s aquatic ecosystems have been contaminated with mercury, PCBs, dioxins, pesticides, microplastics, lead and more from multiple sources of polluted run-off. Many of these toxins persist in the environment for great lengths of time and bioaccumulate in the tissues of fish, aquatic plants, and wildlife, becoming concentrated as they move up the food chain.
We aim to empower the people of `Ewa with information while restoring the shoreline of Puʻuloa, and ultimately returning abundant food production to the region. We continually seek to learn more from our community and partners to increase our capacity to address pollution that threatens public health and wildlife.
The primary goal of Malama Pu`uloa is to help begin to restore Pu`uloa to abundance - ʻāina momona. We believe that this work must be done through a community-driven approach built on trust. In order to heal the land and waters, we must (re)build pilina and come together to do so. Current health and scientific narratives must acknowledge, respect, and compliment indigenous wisdom, place-based knowledge, and cultural practices.
We are members of the University of Hawai`i Red Hill Task Force
The University of Hawaiʻi Red Hill Task Force was formed in December 2021 following the confirmation of contamination in drinking water supplied from the Red Hill Shaft. The Task Force is coordinated through the Water Resources Research Center and consists of faculty, staff, and students from UH-Mānoa (UHM) and Leeward Community College (LCC), independent scientists, and trained community volunteers.
Hui o Ho`ohonua is an invited member of this group and participates for the purpose of learning, sharing information with the community, bringing community concerns shared with our organization to the attention of the UH Red Hill Task force, and working to build collaboration that increases the shared capacity to address the challenges of pollution in Pu`uloa.
Members of the UH Red Hill Task Force are developing a comprehensive Red Hill Information Hub that will be shared publicly soon but in the meantime, HOH is sharing an information resource developed by our staff.
Click on the diagram image below to access the interactive version and embedded information links
Hui o Ho`ohonua is an invited member of this group and participates for the purpose of learning, sharing information with the community, bringing community concerns shared with our organization to the attention of the UH Red Hill Task force, and working to build collaboration that increases the shared capacity to address the challenges of pollution in Pu`uloa.
Members of the UH Red Hill Task Force are developing a comprehensive Red Hill Information Hub that will be shared publicly soon but in the meantime, HOH is sharing an information resource developed by our staff.
Click on the diagram image below to access the interactive version and embedded information links
Free Learning Resources For All
Click on the titles below for free access to materials weʻve developed with a number of partners!
The Watersheds - the Waiwai of `Ewa (Presentation) - It all starts with knowing where our water comes from! This is an introduction to the watersheds of `Ewa and their importance
We Canʻt Eat the Fish? (Presentation) - How can we protect community from toxins in seafood harvested in Pu`uloa?
Ola i ka Wai (Presentation) - A collection of resources created to provide kumu, haumana and the community the opportunity to participate in kūkākūkā (deep, thoughtful discussions and reflection) around the topic of water in Hawai`i.
Fish Safe/Eat Safe (Brochures) - color brochure masters available in 6 local languages
The Kapūkaki (Hawaiian name for Red Hill) Educational Resource Collection - sponsored by Ola i ka Wai and Kanaeokana - note that HOH808 did not contribute to this resource collection but we highly recommend it!
Our new "toxins in the food web" coloring sheet (Single PDF document) - Excellent for use with keiki (and adults who still like to color)...we teach that toxins are "yucky chemicals" that we donʻt want inside of us
We Canʻt Eat the Fish? (Presentation) - How can we protect community from toxins in seafood harvested in Pu`uloa?
Ola i ka Wai (Presentation) - A collection of resources created to provide kumu, haumana and the community the opportunity to participate in kūkākūkā (deep, thoughtful discussions and reflection) around the topic of water in Hawai`i.
Fish Safe/Eat Safe (Brochures) - color brochure masters available in 6 local languages
The Kapūkaki (Hawaiian name for Red Hill) Educational Resource Collection - sponsored by Ola i ka Wai and Kanaeokana - note that HOH808 did not contribute to this resource collection but we highly recommend it!
Our new "toxins in the food web" coloring sheet (Single PDF document) - Excellent for use with keiki (and adults who still like to color)...we teach that toxins are "yucky chemicals" that we donʻt want inside of us
