O U R S T O R Y
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O U r M I S S I O N
Our mission is to educate and raise the awareness of communities in Hawai’i and beyond on the spiritual, historical, cultural, environmental, and political significance of Mauna Kea and provide cultural learning opportunities to everyone from keiki to kupuna, residents, visitors, and others concerned about native and cultural rights and responsibilities in order to create a platform for the protection of sacred places and for social justice and positive change.
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O U R V I S I O N
MKEAs vision is to increase knowledge and connection to Mauna Kea and the host culture and to foster a sense of kuleana, or responsibility, to revitalize the traditional practices and indigenous rights in regards to Mauna Kea and all sacred places.
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F U N D I N G
MKEA is currently funded by donations and grants through Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, Inc.
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Goals & Objectives
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To provide support for the protection of Mauna Kea through providing educational materials, culturally relevant trainings, workshops, ceremonies, and gatherings to assist in preparing the kiaʻi, protectors and their supporters to engage in legislation, court proceedings and spiritually led, culturally grounded front line actions.
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Solidify and strengthen outreach networking, alliances and relationships within and beyond Hawaii to sacred places and protectors of those places through social media as well as person to person delivery of formal presentations at ceremonial gatherings, institutions, conferences, schools and other cultural and academic settings and through front line support.
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Showcase the four present locations which house Kūkulu, a Heartfelt Tribute to a Sacred Mountain Art Exhibition created by MKEA, as puʻu honua, a sanctuary, hālau, training center, a kauhale, gathering place and piko or foundational center of each exhibit. Presentations and training for the youth and community are targeted to raising future Kūkulu or pillars grounded in Indigenous knowledge, skills, values and protocols and add two more locations this year. BEAI Strategy D.
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Increase the level of resilience, resistance and land repossession by sharing the variety of methods and strategies that the Mauna Kea Movement have formulated as a framework for non-violent peaceful resistance based on protocols and guidelines encompassing Indigenous life-ways, cultural traditions, skills, knowledge, thinking, wisdom, environmental connections and a system of values throughout and within all efforts.
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Work with individuals and organizations to formulate a vision for the future of Mauna Kea that will be supported by the Native Hawaiian community and allies.
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Utilize the film Standing Above the Cloud to serve as the Piko, the central theme, the catalyst, the focal point by which to share, teach, explore and address positive strategies and solutions with key women leaders and protectors following each film presentation. The question , “How do you stand for what is sacred?” will be explored through the eyes of the women who organize the movements from the frontlines. Document positive experiences and lessons that will provide a written framework to be distributed to the young women who will follow their elders to the forefront of the movements to come.
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impacts
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MKEA will continue to be a presence for Mauna Kea to set the momentum, create the materials, and deliver the instruction necessary to spread the message regarding the sacredness, history, and current status and issues regarding Mauna Kea and other critical environmental and cultural issues that connected to all places and all people around the world.
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MKEA will exemplify the incorporation of prayer, chant, dance, spirituality, and cultural and traditional values and life ways to set a precedence of protocols that guide non violence for social and environmental justice.
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The Mauna Kea Movement, through the efforts of MKEA, will be pivotal in local and global coordination and facilitation to align and network with peoples of all nations to connect to sacred sites, strengthen alliances, network, plan, and coordinate with one another to protect land base, water ways and culture and tradition.
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MKEA will encourage and inspire Native Hawaiians and protectors around the world to become more involved, to stand steadfast, to learn more about Mauna Kea and issues within their own communities and use the framework of the mauna movement to facilitate actions to protect and safeguard Hawaii for the next seven generations.
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PROGRAM DIRECTOR
P u a C a s e
Pua Case, born and raised on the Island of Hawai’i surrounded by the high mountains of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualālai and Kohala, the fresh waters of Kohākōhau and Waikoloa and the plains of Waimea. Pua’s life path and purpose has led her to become a Kumu Hula, a teacher of traditional dance and chant, and a teacher of the life ways, culture and traditions of the kanaka maoli or native peoples of Hawai’i. With a degree in Hawaiian Language and culture, and a teaching degree in Social Studies, interwoven with the traditional teachings, philosophies and expectations from her kupuna or elders, Pua has integrated ‘Ike Hawai’i or Hawaiian knowledge and lessons into the public school system for over 30 years.
Pua serves on various educational and cultural boards and is the Lead Coordinator of Mauna Kea Education and Awareness. As the Lead Coordinator of MKEA, Pua has worked with a team of organizers, practitioners and instructors to provide cultural learning opportunities, instruction, ceremonies and presentations essential to the revitalization of the cultural expression of Hawaiians in their relationship to their sacred mountain and places around the world. She has supported the efforts of native and local communities who are protecting their own resources, life ways and places. She and her family have traveled extensively in regards to their involvement as stewards and petitioners on behalf of Mauna Kea.
Pua has been a part of the Mauna Kea Movement over the past ten years and has been involved in both community and frontline actions to safeguard the mountain and unify peoples of all nations in a collective mission to network, plan, and support one another.
Pua has supported many stances around the world including Standing Rock in North Dakota, Split Rock Camp in New York, Ohlone and Winnemem Wintu in California, Oak Flat in Arizona, and has assisted organizations and individuals in areas such as Louisiana and Minnesota in their efforts to protect their rivers, bayous and wetlands.
Puaʻs work is one of commitment, dedication, and passion with a focus on incorporating her native prayers, chants, dances, spirit, and cultural and traditional values and life ways into all efforts and actions to set a precedence of protocols for social and environmental justice and positive change for the highest good for the earth.