Learn more about who we are. We feel, we have kuleana, responsibility for the land, for the people. That's what this is all about. - Kūpuna raised in Wanini, March 2015 Our Why Keeping ʻohana lands in ʻohana hands sustains communities. ʻĀina, meaning “that which feeds,” is the Hawaiian word for lands and waters. ʻĀina encompasses all that feeds us, from heavens to earth to ocean, especially relationships between places and the people who call them home, who have fed their families here across generations. Traditionally in Hawaiʻi, ʻāina, an embodiment of our Gods and ancestors, could never be bought, sold or owned, but was held in trust by the governing aliʻi of an area, who gave it to area ʻohana as their responsibility without right of ownership. Under Hawaiian land tenure, families could stay and pass this land to their descendants, even as ruling aliʻi changed, as long as they cared for it well. Today, long-time families from the island of Kauaʻi are finding it increasingly difficult to continue to live here and care for the lands that feed them. Under western and American law, people from other parts of the world, many of whom vacation on the island, can buy lands on Kauaʻi for vacation homes, real estate investments, or residence in a place that feels like paradise. The land here has become some of the most coveted and expensive on the planet, with over a million visitors a year recreating across the island. Meanwhile, long-time residents struggle, working multiple jobs to pay for food, rent, and rising property taxes tied to escalating land values; simultaneously, they face the loss of homes, decreased access to ʻohana fishing and gathering areas, and increased pressure to move from their communities and the island. Most who buy land on Kauaʻi have no idea they are displacing long-time area families, have no way to learn about the ʻāina they are becoming caretakers of, and have no connection to surrounding communities. Kīpuka Kuleana restores relationships between people and ʻāina by restoring land and the ability of local communities to care for it. Our Kuleana Enhance pilina, connections to place and between area ʻohana. Build a community archive of knowledge of Kauaʻi lands, cultural practices, and ʻike to guide future restoration, caretaking, education, and governance. Provide support to families working to keep ancestral lands. Connecting ʻohana to legal, counseling and hoʻoponopono, financial, genealogy, and other resources. Work with government on policies to protect ‘ohana and their lands. Hold lands in trust as kīpuka, spaces of community caretaking, family reunions, workdays, cultural workshops, education and resurgence. Discourage sale and development of vulnerable properties. Encourage local level, community-based natural resource management grounded in cultural approaches. Promote contemporary models of relationships to place based on kuleana.

Perpetuating kuleana to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands. KīPUKA KULEANA Perpetuating kuleana, ahupuaʻa-based natural resource management and connection to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands. This place will feed you, if you know how to take care of it. - Young Hāʻena Fisherman, 2009 On Kauaʻi, long-time families are losing connections to ancestral lands due to escalating land values, rising taxes, restricted access, development pressure and other challenges that threaten identity and perpetuation of cultural practice across generations. Established in 2018, Kīpuka Kuleana is a 501(c)(3) Hawaiʻi nonprofit organization and community-based land trust that protects ancestral lands under threat and revitalizes relationships between people and ʻāina (lands and waters) on Kauaʻi. We strive to grow kīpuka (places of community caretaking and cultural restoration) grounded in kuleana (responsibility) in every ahupuaʻa (traditional land division from mountain to sea) on Kauaʻi. Vision Kupa ʻāina ʻohana (long-time families) continue to thrive in, share the history and practices of, and care for every ahupuaʻa (traditional land division from mountain to sea) on Kauaʻi. Mission Perpetuating kuleana, ahupuaʻa-based natural resource management and connection to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands.

Meet our awesome team. Our Team Kīpuka Kuleana was founded by four mothers living and raising their children on the island of Kauaʻi. These women include an associate professor, a lawyer, a GIS specialist and archival researcher, and a nonprofit director with expertise in conservation easements - all dedicated to perpetuating kuleana and connection to ʻāina across generations. A volunteer-run hui since 2016, Kīpuka Kuleana became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2018, hired its first part-time staff member in 2021 and welcomed its first executive director in 2024. Our Staff Tina Aiu Executive Director, Co-Founder tina@kipukakuleana.org Tina Aiu grew up in Wailua, Kauaʻi, where her family roots span generations. Inspired by her kūpuna, she brings nearly two decades of experience working with land trusts and grassroots organizations to protect ʻāina and strengthen communities across Hawaiʻi. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Loyola Marymount University and her J.D. and Environmental Law Certificate from the William S. Richardson School of Law. Her career has included work with Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Hawaiʻi Land Trust, and Livable Maunalua Hui, where she led conservation, ʻāina-based education, community stewardship, and food systems initiatives. She has also taught Conservation Transactions at the William S. Richardson School of Law and high school social studies at Island School. A co-founder of Kīpuka Kuleana, Tina volunteered her time to help establish and grow the organization, serving as Vice President from 2016–2024. After spending much of her career supporting communities across Oʻahu, she is grateful to bring that experience home to Kauaʻi. At home in Wailua, she enjoys spending time in the mountains, playing with her keiki, and practicing martial arts. She lives with her husband, Franz, and their two children, Makaʻalohi and Laʻikū. Mālana Lopez Born and raised in Kapaʻa on the moku of Puna, Kauaʻi, Mālana Lopez was brought up through the Kaiapuni education system. Immersed in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and ʻike kūpuna, she developed a deep understanding of the connections between ʻāina and the expression of Hawaiian culture and values—a foundation that continues to guide her personally and professionally. She earned a B.A. in Sociology and Music from Colorado College, where she cultivated a broader social justice lens and passion for community-centered work. For four years, Mālana worked in the nonprofit sector supporting the unhoused community, gaining experience in social work and program development. Returning home as Kīpuka Kuleana’s ʻOhana Outreach & Education Coordinator has been a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with ʻāina, ʻohana, and the values that shaped her. She is honored to serve the Kauaʻi community and support the vision of aloha ʻāina and ea for future generations. malana@kipukakuleana.org ʻOhana Outreach & Education Coordinator Chantal Zarbaugh Community Engagement Coordinator Chantal serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Kīpuka Kuleana, where she works alongside longtime Kauaʻi families to document ʻohana stories, strengthen community relationships, and support efforts that help families remain connected to their ancestral lands. Her work focuses on uplifting community voices and advancing initiatives such as the Wanini project, grounded in kuleana to mālama ʻāina and preserve generational ties. She brings a diverse background in community engagement, business development, and nonprofit leadership. She has held roles with Kauaʻi Federal Credit Union and the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, and previously worked with the Kauaʻi Chamber of Commerce, building partnerships that strengthen Kauaʻi's social and economic fabric. She currently serves as Treasurer of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, where she previously led marketing and fundraising efforts for the Kauaʻi Lifeguard Association. A dedicated community advocate, Chantal volunteers her time supporting several local boards and organizations across the island. Guided by her faith, family, and service, Chantal is committed to fostering trust, uplifting others, and helping ensure that future generations remain connected to their ʻāina, culture, and community. Mahi'ai Naihe Stewardship Coordinator As a lifelong steward of the environment with deep roots in Kauaʻi, Mahiʻai brings both professional expertise and a profound personal commitment to the Stewardship Coordinator role. His background in native Hawaiian preservation, combined with years of hands-on experience in native ecosystem restoration, has provided him with the technical skills necessary to manage and protect precious lands. Mahiʻai's connection to this ʻāina, and specifically to the Wanini area where he spent his formative years exploring the reefs, harvesting kalo, and learning from kūpuna, fuels his passion for this work. Mahiʻai is motivated to serve Kīpuka's mission because he believes in community-led stewardship that honors and perpetuates the island's unique natural and cultural heritage, ensuring that these vital resources can thrive for generations to come. Envy Naluz Grants & Communications grants@kipukakuleana.org Rooted in the moku of Haleleʻa and in service to the community on Kaua'i, Envy supports organizations engaged in meaningful, place-based work. At Kīpuka, she supports grants and donor relations while contributing to community initiatives and collaborative efforts that strengthen cultural resilience. Her work is guided by respect and humility, and carried out with intention, a willingness to keep learning, and a deep sense of accountability to people and place. Outside of work, she is most often in the ocean surfing, studying 'Ōlelo Hawai'i, usually with her dog Tuff by her side, whom she jokes should have been named Holoholo, since he goes everywhere with her. Board of Directors Malia Akutagawa Interim President Malia Akutagawa is from the island of Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi. As a Kanaka ʻŌiwi, she was raised in a traditional, subsistence lifestyle; learning to fish, crab, gather limu (seaweed), prepare traditional foods and lāʻau lapaʻau (traditional herbs for medicinal healing). Malia was influenced strongly by her mākua (parent generation) and kūpuna (elders) in the aloha ʻāina movement to protect traditional lands from developers. This inspired her to become an attorney. Malia focuses her legal advocacy work on Native Hawaiian access, gathering, and religious rights; historic preservation and native burials protection; land use and environmental law issues; climate change law, policy, adaptation, and action planning; indigenous governance; native landback; and peacemaking utilizing traditional hoʻoponopono principles. Malia is an Associate Professor of Law and Hawaiian Studies and is part of Hui ‘Āina Momona, a consortium of scholars at the University of Hawaiʻi - Mānoa charged with addressing compelling issues of Indigenous Hawaiian knowledge and practices. Elif C. Beall Interim Vice President / Treasurer Elif Beall is a licensed attorney, community advocate, and budding writer. Elif was founding Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA), and has served in many non-profit positions including executive leadership, development, and communications. Elif lives on the north shore of Kauaʻi with her husband, where she has resided since 2004. In addition to Kīpuka Kuleana, Elif also serves on the Kauaʻi Island Council for the Hawaiʻi Land Trust. She's happiest when in nature, or when practicing hula or lei-making, or discussing good questions and hopeful futures with family and friends. Laura Kaakua Secretary Laura Hokunani Edmunds Kaakua was raised in Niu, Oʻahu, now lives in Waiʻalaeʻiki, Oʻahu, and has ancestral ties to Maui, Kāneʻohe on Oʻahu, and Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island. Laura is the Climate Mitigation Adaptation & Culture Manager at Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) where she oversees fulfillment of the historic Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation settlement agreement, leads development of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, is helping to create a Native Hawaiian Consultation Policy, and supports collaborative transportation solutions and projects that are based in community, indigenous knowledge, and nature. Prior to HDOT, she served as Deputy Director of the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), President and CEO of Hawaiʻi Land Trust, and Native Lands Program Manager for Trust for Public Land. She enjoys building and strengthening teams, strategic planning, facilitating unexpected collaborations, storytelling, and causing good trouble. Keiki sports games, ʻohana beach time, hula, and mālama ʻāina fill her free time. Pua Rossi-Fukino Board Member Pualiʻiliʻimaikalani Rossi is from the ahupuaʻa of Wailua, in the moku of Puna, on the mokupuni of Kauaʻi. She holds a B.A. in Hawaiian Studies and in Anthropology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and an M.A. in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She is currently working towards a PhD in Aloha ʻĀina Leadership in Education from UH Mānoa's College of Education. She is an Assistant Professor of Hawaiian Studies at Kauaʻi Community College and teaches both Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Language. Her interest in Hawaiian research first started when she began learning about the various wahi pana (significant places) in Wailua. Understanding that we must look to the past to be successful in our future, Pua continues to learn all that she can to support Mālama ʻĀina practices, indigenous knowledge, and the study of Hawaiian culture and history. In her spare time, you can find her either at the beach or up in the mountains. Her two young and active boys also keep her extremely busy! Devin Kamealoha Forrest Board Member Devin Kamealoha Forrest is from Hāʻena Kauaʻi and is Kumu Hula of Hālau Hula ʻo Keʻalalauaʻeomakana located in Waipā, Haleleʻa, Kauaʻi. Devin was raised by his maternal grandparents Francis and Elizabeth Chandler. Hula has been a part of his ʻohana for generations, his great grand uncle being the revered Kumu Joseph ʻĪlālāʻole. Kumu Kamealoha went through formal ʻūniki training under Kumu Hula Lehua Matsumoto, who was a student of Kumu Hula Maiki Aiu Lake and Kumu Hula Mae Kamāmalu Klein. Kumu Kamealoha is also a student of Kumu Hula Kimo Alama Keaulana from whom his ʻike on the hula of ʻĪlālāʻole comes from Kumu Kamealoha is also a haku mele, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi scholar, and an attorney at the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation. Dominique Leu Cordy Co-Founder and Board Member Dominique Leu Cordy grew up all over Oʻahu and now lives and farms kalo with her kāne and their two keiki in Haleleʻa and Koʻolau, Kauaʻi. She does freelance research across the pae ʻāina. Focusing on land in Hawaiʻi, she specializes in archival research and GIS mapping. She has a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from University of California at Davis and an M.A. in Pacific Island Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She has over 17 years of experience in the field of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) in Hawaiʻi, archaeology, EA and EIS review, community ethnography, historic land and historical research, and GIS research. She has guest lectured for six years for the Wahi Kūpuna Internship Program (WKIP) as well as the University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu. Ms. Cordy has managed and developed cultural and historical GIS databases for government agencies, including the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE-POH), the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. She engages actively in community organizations that seek to protect, preserve, and educate about Hawaiʻi's precious wahi kūpuna (cultural resources) and is a participating member of the Kaliʻuokapaʻakai Collective, the Waioli Taro Valley Hui. Dominique is the Deputy Director of Huliauapaʻa and a co-founder of Kīpuka Kuleana.

We work with government on policies to protect ʻohana and their lands Hoʻomalu Policy and Protection We work with the government on policies to protect ʻohana and their lands We collaborate on county and state level policy to codify protections of ancestral lands. We educate new landowners about the ʻāina under their protection, while discouraging the sale and development of vulnerable properties. We work to promote contemporary models of relationships to place based on kuleana. IMG_3035 IMG_3035 1/1

ʻOHANA ʻĀINA WORKSHOP January 21, 2023 About On January 21, 2023, we hosted an ʻOhana ʻĀina Workshop at Liliʻuokalani Trust in Līhuʻe that brought 65 community members together to learn from each other and share resources for keeping and protecting ancestral ʻāina. Community experts facilitated small group discussion on a range of topics, including: - Genealogy of Lands & Power of the Affidavit (Keʻeaumoku Kapu, Community Activist & Educator) - Hoʻoponopono in Navigating Family Land Issues (Kamanaʻopono M. Crabbe, Practitioner and Trainer) - Legal Tools for Ancestral Land Protection (Andrew Sprenger, Land Defense Attorney) - Tax Exemptions for Ancestral Land (John Kruse, Real Property Assessment Division, County of Kauaʻi). Below are downloadable resources featured at our workshop, including handouts on hoʻoponopono, legal resources, a worksheet to guide ʻohana members in setting goals and next steps to protect and mālama ʻāina, and more. To read about Keʻeaumoku Kapu's recent court victory to protect ancestral 'āina on Maui, check out this Civil Beat article . Mahalo to everyone who participated and to our wonderful partners at Liliʻuokalani Trust - Kīpuka Kauaʻi, Java Kai and Kapaʻa Ship, Print & Storage for your contributions to our community event! 1/26 Resources KiKu Presentation KiKu Presentation 1/1 Kīpuka Kuleana Presentation Slides about our nonprofit organization, an overview of the workshop, and our workshop goals and group agreements Download Agenda Agenda 1/1 Workshop Agenda Meeting schedule & s peaker bios Download Legal Resources Legal Resources 1/1 Legal Resources for ʻOhana List of Kauaʻi and state-wide resources for legal assistance in estate and family trust planning, mediation, navigation of quiet title and partition lawsuits, etc. Download Hoʻoponopono Hoʻoponopono 1/1 Hoʻoponopono Broad framework and principles of hoʻoponopono, a traditional Hawaiian healing process that may help families navigate difficult conversations around ʻohana ʻāina Download Tips for Interviewing Tips for Interviewing 1/1 Tips for Interviewing Kūpuna Tips for documenting stories and interviewing kūpuna about ʻāina Download Worksheet Plan Worksheet Plan 1/1 Plan for Mālama of ʻOhana ʻĀina Worksheet to guide ʻohana members in creating a plan to protect and mālama ʻohana ʻāina Download

Enhancing connections to ʻāina through education AʻO Education and Research We enhance connections to ʻāina through education Lead cultural field trips with local schools, an annual summer program for keiki (children) and ʻōpio (youth), college courses, workshops, and trainings for community learners of all ages. Center stories, place names, land-use history, policy, and ecology of particular ʻāina while building capacity to care for these places across generations. Projects and Resources (W)Anini Project A project to increase historical and cultural understanding of the past and present-day Wanini (Anini) area ʻĀpana ʻOhana Five-part workshop series in partnership with Huliauapaʻa and OHA in 2020 focused on maintaining kuleana and ʻohana heir lands Resources

Individuals, partners, and organizations who help support our org. Partners He Wahi Mahalo Mahalo to all of the individuals, community partners, and organizations who help support our work. Aloha Collection Mālama ʻĀina Giveback Program Common Ground Kauaʻi Hawaiʻi Community Foundation Hawaiʻi People's Fund Kapaʻa Ship, Print & Storage Native Voices Rising Stupski Foundation Education Partners Ann Eu (Hawaiʻi Land Trust) Kilauea School Lei Wann (Limahuli Garden & Preserve) Liliʻuokalani Trust Waipā Foundation Research Partners National Science Foundation (Grant #2133398) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Program Office (Grant #NA21OAR4310280) Stanford University Earth Systems Program University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa The Rising Voices Center for Indigenous and Earth Sciences Our "Land to Sea" Indigenous & Allied Research Partners LiKEN: Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (CA/KY) Asian Pacific Environmental Network (CA) DUNAS/Descendants United for Nature, Adaptation and Sustainability (Borikén) First Peoples Conservation Council (LA) Lowlander Center (LA) Para La Naturaleza (Borikén) The Sierra Fund (CA) Sogorea Te' Land Trust (CA) Advisors: Louise Fortmann Alan Di Vittorio Beth Rose Middleton Sibyl Diver

Get the latest updates from Kīpuka Kuleana Good News September 25, 2024 Publication about Kīpuka Kuleana Our publication in Frontiers in Sustainability explains why ancestral land protection and community stewardship are essential to climate adaptation on Kauaʻi. It also weaves together lessons in Land Back from our community partners in California, Louisiana and Hawaiʻi. September 12, 2024 Spotlight in Pacific Business News Our new Executive Director Tina Aiu shares why she is inspired by Kīpuka Kuleana's work and her goals for the nonprofit in an interview with Pacific Business News in this small business feature . July 1, 2024 Tina Aiu to lead organization as Executive Director Tina Aiu, a co-founder of Kīpuka Kuleana, has been hired as our first Executive Director. Mahalo Kong Radio, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Pacific Business News , Ka Wai Ola for sharing the good news. April 27, 2024 Lahaina Homeowner's Workshop Though a Maui Aloha Grant from Hawaiʻi People's Fund , we partner with Lahaina Community Land Trust to host their first Lahaina Homeowner's Workshop, providing support and tools for land protection and rebuilding in Lahaina. Learn more about LCLT's work here . March 1, 2024 ʻOhana ʻĀina Workshop Ka Wai Ola spotlights our annual ʻOhana ʻĀina Workshop in Līhuʻe, which brought together 65 community members to share resources and manaʻo for ancestral land protection. Devember 4, 2023 Kaiāulu 's First Book Review Seattle-based writer and community organizer Siobhan Ring finds Kaiāulu: Gathering Tides during her family vacation on Kauaʻi and writes about the book's lessons through an organizing lens in this review in The Forge . October 31, 2023 Kīpuka Kuleana Founder Receives Stanford Alumni Award Mehana Blaich Vaughan, our board president and co-founder, is honored with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability's 2023 Early to Mid Career Alumni Award . November 5, 2021 Kīpuka Kuleana Featured on Hawaiʻi Rising The Hawaiʻi Peoples Fund team sits down with co-founders Mehana Vaughan and Jennifer Luck, who share Kīpuka Kuleana's moʻolelo and why this work matters on Kauaʻi in this podcast episode .

Support Kīpuka Kuleana First Name Email Last Name Phone (optional) Where are you from / Where do you live? How would you like to kōkua (support)? * Volunteer time and skills Host a training workshop or presentation Partner with Kīpuka Kuleana on a project Fund or support Kīpuka Kuleana What skills or passions would you like to share? (e.g, bringing communities together through educational workshops, ʻāina research, social media/blogging, educating people about place, etc) Is there a place that you are interested in protecting? How did you find out about us? Questions or comments? Submit Mahalo nui for your kōkua! We'll reach out as opportunities arise.

Learn more about who we are. RESOURCES For ʻohana Below is our living library of land protection resources, which we update regularly. You can click on a specific topic below (see six tiles) or scroll through all sections. We know that all of this information can be overwhelming. Often, ʻohana aren't sure where to begin. If you'd like to talk story with our team about your situation, we can help you find a starting point and offer suggestions for next steps. You can message us through our Contact Form at the bottom of the webpage or send an email to admin@kipukakuleana.org . Mahalo nunui! We are hosting workshops on many of these topics in 2025. Learn more about our ʻOhana ʻĀina Workshop Series here ! Pathways of ʻĀina Protection Hoʻoponopono & Mediation Bring ʻohana members together to share their connections to ʻāina and talk about pono decisions for protecting ʻāina Hoʻoponopono is a process that can help guide ʻohana through discussions to find pono, heal and articulate goals and vision for their ʻohana ʻāina. Below is a list of hoʻoponopono practitioners on Kauaʻi who are willing to serve as a resource for ʻohana: J. Kauʻilani Kahalekai - Lihue (808) 652-1012 Gwen Cardijon - Kekaha (808) 651-4749 Momi Kaiakapu - Hanapepe (808) 651-3811 Carol Lovell - Anahola (808) 635-1125 Mediation is another option for bringing ʻohana together with a trained facilitator to resolve conflict or disagreements related to ʻāina. Two resources for mediation services are: Kauai Economic Opportunity (KEO), Inc. Website: https://keoinc.org/services/mediation Phone: (808) 245-4077, extension 234 Email: mediation@keoinc.org Location: 2804 Wehe Road, Lihue, 96766 Offer mediation and group facilitation sessions that can last up to three hours and are usually held on ʻohana ʻāina, a neutral location or at KEO Cost of session is on a sliding scale, based on income The Mediation Center of the Pacific Website: https://www.mediatehawaii.org/mediation Call (808) 521-6767 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and ask for the Client Services Department Email: mcp@mediatehawaii.org Location: 1301 Young Street, 2nd Floor. Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Dispute Prevention and Resolution Inc. Website: https://dprhawaii.com/ Phone: (808) 523-1234 Location: 1003 Bishop St. Pauahi Tower Suite 1155. Honolulu, HI 96813 Click to view Hoʻoponopono handout Click to view KEO Mediation Brochure Click to view Plan for Mālama of ʻOhana Āina handout Estate & Trust Planning Plan for long-term protection of and care for ʻohana ʻāina across generations using legal tools Estate and trust planning is one way to preserve ʻāina for future generations. You can learn more about options for wills, trusts and other estate planning tools in the Hawaii Estate Planning Resources handout and online . Family Land Trust Model For land owned by multiple family members, formation of a family land trust may be a proactive option for keeping land in the family for generations to come. A family land trust can be flexible and tailored to each ʻohana's unique needs. For more information, see our Family Land Trust handout. Legal providers that offer this service include: Okura & Associates (808) 593-8885. www.okuralaw.com Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (808) 521-2302. www.nativehawaiianlegalcorp.org Probate Probate is a legal process that deals with the assets and debts left behind after someone passes away. We have indicated in the list below probate attorneys who are accepting new clients, open to working with Kauaʻi ʻohana, and offer services for i nformal probate (also called "standard" or "uncontested" probate) and formal probate (contested, involving litigation). Referrals Below is a non-comprehensive list of estate planning attorneys who can help determine which legal tool is best for your ʻohana's goals. Cynthia Hannah-White and Katherine A. Caswell | Kauai Estate Law LLLC Estate Planning, Estate and Trust Administration (3 month waitlist for new clients) 4334 Rice Street, Suite 203, Lihue, HI 96766 Phone: (808) 245-9991 Email: info@kauaiestatelaw.com Website: http://www.kauaiestatelaw.com Okura & Associates Estate Planning, Probate Oʻahu office: Interstate Building, Suite 760, 1314 South King St. Honolulu, HI 96814. (808) 593-8885 Hawaiʻi Island office: 155 Wailuluku Drive, Hilo, HI 96720. (808) 935-3344 For probate inquiries: Call the Probate Line (808) 937 9510 and fill out their question form to receive a quote. Website: www.okuralaw.com Michael D. Scarbo (Kauaʻi-based) | McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP Estate Planning, Uncontested Probate Five Waterfront Plaza, 4th Floor, 500 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 529-7300 Email: Joy Clemente (jmc@m4law.com ) and Vera Tabe (vtabe@m4law.com ) Website: https://www.m4law.com/ Samuel K.L. Suen Estate Planning, Probate 1575 South Beretania Street, Suite 205, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826 Phone: (808) 282-4411 Website: www.sklslaw.com Yuka Hongo Estate Planning, Probate 2155 Kalakaua Ave #410, Honolulu, HI 96815 Fluent in Japanese and English Phone: (808) 204-4700 Website: www.hongolaw.com Sheryll Bonilla Estate planning, Uncontested probate Honolulu Phone: (808) 670-6177 Sterling & Tucker, LLP | Kanani M. Makaimoku Estate Planning Oʻahu office: 201 Merchant Street, Suite 950. Honolulu, HI 96813. (808) 531-5391 Maui office: 2158 Main Street. Suite 109. Wailuku, HI 96793. (800) 807-3820 Hawaiʻi Island office: 614 Kilauea Avenue Suite 8 (first floor). Hilo, HI 96720. (800) 807-3820 Website: https://www.sterlingandtucker.com/contact-us/ Law Office of Keoni Souza, LLC | Keoni Souza Family Estate Planning, Planning for Children, Special Needs Planning, Asset Protection Planning, Estate Tax Protection Planning Monday - Friday: 9 am - 5 pm, by appointment only. Services are provided exclusively online. 1188 Bishop Street, Suite 2706, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Phone: (808) 725-3456 Email: team@keonisouzalaw.com Website: https://www.keonisouzalaw.com Click to view Hawaii Estate Planning Resources handout Click to view Family Land Trust handout Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH) Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH) works with attorneys to provide pro bono (free) legal services – including setup of wills, advanced care directives , and power of attorney – to ʻohana with low to moderate income (household incomes at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level for the State of HI). If you are on Kauaʻi, you can call 808-698-8210 to see if you are eligible for those services. www.vlsh.org Click to view VLSH Flyer Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs / Kauai Legal Aid Office Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs works with the Kauai Legal Aid Office to provide free wills, advanced health directives, and power of attorney to people over 60 years old . You can call 808-241-4470 to go through the intake process, and then they will refer you to legal assistance. The entire process could take between 2-6 months, start to finish. Conservation Tools Blend Western conservation tools with Hawaiian values to protect and care for ʻohana ʻāina with community kākoʻo. Some examples of conservation strategies include: Partnering with a land trust or ʻāina organization to place a Conservation Easement on ancestral ʻāina. Forming a descendant-led nonprofit organization or another entity (e.g., family land trust, LLC, etc.) to hold and mālama ʻāina. Working with a land trust to identify a conservation buyer who can purchase vulnerable ʻohana ʻāina and deed transfer the land back to descendant ʻohana. Partnering with a land trust who can purchase and protect your ʻāina, ensuring that it is not sold to an outside buyer and that it may be a community gathering place and piko for ʻohana. Creating stewardship agreements with other owners, community partners, etc. Expanding community access to ʻāina by partnering with a landowner or hui to host community work days and educational programs on ʻāina. If you have questions about what conservation strategies could work for your ʻohana ʻāina, please reach out to us through our contact form. We are always happy to connect you to our partners at other conservation organizations like The Trust for Public Land and Hawaiʻi Land Trust who may be aligned with your goals. Click to view Conservation Easements handout Legal Services Navigate title, access and other challenges related to your ʻāina with support from legal experts Challenges tied to ancestral ʻāina in Hawaiʻi can feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate, especially when numerous owners are involved. Many of these ʻāina issues stem from historical and ongoing colonization in Hawaiian communities. Increasingly, we are seeing landowners take legal action (e.g., quiet title and partition action lawsuits) that dispossesses long-time families of their ancestral lands. Kīpuka Kuleana is not a legal service provider; however, we support ʻohana who are unified in their vision to protect ʻāina and connect them to legal service providers who can support their goals. Below are issues that can be addressed with legal expertise: Clearing title (probate, quiet title) Partition action defense Enforcing trust obligations (Lands Trust, Hawaiian Home Lands) DHHL leases Protecting traditional and customary practices Kuleana land rights Water rights Access rights Easements Iwi kūpuna/Burial protection Subdivision and consolidation of lands Contact: Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (NHLC) 1164 Bishop Street. Suite 1205 Honolulu, HI 96813 info@nlchi.org 808-521-2302 www.nativehawaiianlegalcorp.org Click to view Quiet Title and Adverse Posession handout Genealogy Learn about your ancestry and proactive measures to protect iwi kūpuna In 2023, we launched a series of moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy) workshops guided by volunteer genealogist Uncle Milton Ching that offered personalized genealogy research services to ʻohana working to keep their lands. We hope to resume these small group workshops in the fall of 2024. Below are basic steps for researching your genealogy and more detailed videos from our partners at Huliauapaʻa. I. From any search engine, type in www.ulukau.org Click on Māhele Database, search by Name/Claimant Browsing the collection, click on Kauai, click on moku, LCA, etc Can search by claimant name II. From any search engine, type in www.familysearch.org This is a free site. Create a user name and password. Click on Records, type in any name Click on Family Tree, type in any name Go to Catalogue, type in Hawaii, scroll down to Voting Register 1887 Other Resources Click to viewTips for Interviewing Kūpuna handout Click to view Descendancy Claim Application Click to view Iwi Kūpuna Registration Form Financial Resources Stay rooted to ʻāina amidst escalating land values on Kauaʻi Tax Relief There are several tax relief options for homeowners on Kauaʻi. In addition, homeowners can set up a payment plan with the tax office if they need to address backtaxes over time. We encourage you to contact the Real Property Assessment Section and they can guide you through options: (808) 241-4224 Location: 4444 Rice Street, Suite A-454 Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 96766 Front Counter Hours: 8am - 4pm (Mon-Fri, except for Holidays) In partnership with the Real Property Assessment Section, we created a handout to summarize property tax exemption information and answer frequently asked questions. The deadline for filing tax exemption applications applied to the next year is September 30 . For an explanation of all tax exemption options and downloadable applications, visit: https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Finance/Real-Property-Tax/Assessment We have listed several tax exemptions below, as examples. Click here to view and download this summary handout on property tax exemptions Kuleana Land Tax Exemption Minimum property tax rate ($150/year) Only 20 ʻohana on Kauaʻi receive this exemption (as of 2024) Contact us (admin@kipukakuleana.org ) if you need genealogy assistance Click to view application Home Exemption Click to view application 2026 Additional Exemption Based on Owner-Occupant's Income/Very-Low Income Tax Credit Click to view application Disability Exemption Click to view application Long Term Affordable Rental Program Click to view application Resources for Homeowners Hawaiʻi Community Lending offers grants, loans and other resources to Kauaʻi ʻohana, with specific focus on Native Hawaiian homeowners. Phone: (808) 587-7656 Website: https://hawaiicommunitylending.com Contact form: https://hawaiicommunitylending.com/contact/ Hawaiian Community Assets offers homebuyer and homeowner assistance, as well as financial counseling services. Phone: (808) 587-7886 Website: https://hawaiiancommunity.net/