Malama Loko Ea Foundation

From a Tourists Perspective, Hawaii Is a Beautiful Paradise With Tons of Activities to Do While on Vacation.however, to the Native Population, Tourism Mars the Natural Environment as Well as Their Own Homes. the Continued Struggle of Land Being Taken Dates Back to Origins of the Kingdom of Hawaii Being Overthrown by the U.s. Government. Although Tourism Is a Major Industry in Hawaiis Economy, It Comes With Problems Affecting Their Environment, Economy, and Residents. Tourism Has Caused Environmental Damage to the Land and Water Sources, Which Has Led to the Ongoing Water Crisis in Hawaii. the Residents Not Only Have to Deal With the Limited Water Supply But Also the High Cost of Living. Yet Hawaiis Popularity as a Tourist Destination Has Grown. the Number of Visitors Have Consistently Remained in the Millionswith Pre-covid Numbers From 2019 Showing 10 Million Tourists and in 2023 Numbers Reporting Will Exceed 10 Million. the Large Number of Visitors to the Islands Has Resulted in the Misuse of Their Scarce Resources. According to an Article About the Spring 2022 Resident Survey From KHON2, a Hawaiian News Network, 67 Percent of Residents Agree That Hawaii Is Being Run for Tourists at the Expense of Local People. the Survey Lists the Major Problems Residents See as a Result of Tourism, Which Include Overcrowding, Damage to the Environment, and the Higher Cost of Living.the Hololea Wahi Pana Kele Ao Program Will Provide a Variety of Culturally Informed Visitor Experiences. First,the Virtual Tours That Loko Ea Will Develop Will Allow Visitors to Immerse Themselves in the Rich History,culture, and Life of a 500 Year Old Pond. SECOND,12 Monthly Community Volunteer Workdays, Will Offeropportunities of Community Service Learning and Public Outreach to the Community and the Visitor. Third, Mlefwill Host Events Which Will Include Food, Music, Local Storytellers and Cultural Practitioners to Experience Avariety of Mediums to Experience Native Hawaiian Culture.mlama Loko Ea Foundation (MLEF) Is a Community-based Organization Situated at Historic Loko Ea, a 500-YEAR-OLD Fishpond in Haleiwa, Hawaii. Loko Ea Is Located in a Highly Visible and Accessible Area, Just Off of Kamehameha Hwy, the Main Road That Runs Through Haleiwa Town. the Hololea Wahi Pana Program Will Attract and Educate Positive-impact Travelers and Group Attendees Who Are Mindful of How They Respect and Interact With Residents, of How Their Movement Through Hawaii Impacts the Environment Positively and of How They Value and Respect the Hawaiian Culture and Other Cultures of Hawaii. the Hololea Program Was Developed in 2018 to Focus on the Foreign Student Traveler and Has Become Our First Paid Visitor Experience. the Program Has Been Revised Throughout the Years to Suit the Needs of the Pond and Our Mission as Well as the Cultural Experience the Visitor Craves. Mlef Team Understands Educational Programs Serve People From All Walks of Life. the Main Focus of These Visits Is to Educate the Importance of Mlama Ina and the Significance of Cultural Sites Like Loko Ea. With Steady Growth Through the Years, Mlef Continues to Broaden the Reach and Impact of Its Programming to Benefit Residents and Visitors Alike. Now in Its 14TH Year of Expanding Operations, Mlefs Designation as a Preferred Cultural Learning Site With Hta Affirms Its Unique Position to Respond to the Indigenous Pursuit for Environmental and Cultural Restoration. the Hololea Program, a Timely and Necessary Project, Reflects the Hawaiian Understanding That Overall Well-being Is Deeply Interconnected With Place, Language, and Culturally Relevant Educational Experiences.