Pōhaku Pelemaka aims to protect and preserve cultural and natural resources along the Puna Coast through culture-based education and community-based input to mitigate the impacts of visitor and resident traffic within the wahi pana. Part of a larger effort to strengthen and unify the voices of partnering Hawaiian organizations in Puna, they host convenings, coordinate kōkua in Kīlauea Recovery efforts, and as the fastest growing district in Hawai’i, they work tirelessly to ensure that community voices are a part of this growth.
The hui will host the 1st Annual Puna Maka’ala Summit in lower Puna, a convening of nine huis and family members serving the lower Puna coastline. As community-based stewardship is an integral part of caring for the cultural, natural, and spiritual resources in Puna, the gathering will build on their efforts to bring awareness to the impacted area, and unify and uplift those working to heal their community following the devastating impacts of the 2018 eruption.