Ahupua'a: Native Hawaiians Taking Back Their Watersheds 

this is one of the most respectful and thorough depictions of indigenous agriculture I've ever seen online. Including history, detailing the layers of the system, letting the people tell their own story and articulate their own goals and ideas about what natural harmony, cultural sovereignty, and decolonization should be like.. absolutely well done. My heart goes out to the people of Hawai'i, and I hope they continue to make strides not just in their own land development and community goals, but also in getting autonomy, land, and respect back from the government and the people of the US.

Especially in light of the US Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage facility leak, these restorative projects are even more important. Everyone who cares about this restoration should also learn about the decades long ongoing harm being done by the US Navy to the beings, water, and land of O’ahu. ❤

I love that last line. "If our intent is strong enough, Mother Earth is gonna help us. She gonna help us rebuild things." The determination and optimism of the folks in the video is really moving. Thank you as always Andrew. Wonderful job with this project. I hope it's not the last we hear from Hawaii

Less golf courses, more indigenous land! Landback now!

Thank you so much Andrew for bringing this to us. There is much to learn from the indigenous people of every nation, and we need to let them teach us through examples such as this. The world needs to stop and take notice!! Thanks again!!

The gate for smaller fish to come in and larger fish to stay is so simple but awesome

Hawaiians, it is my hope that you all reclaim as much of your lands as possible. Hawaii belongs to you!!

As a mahi'ai, I've been following your channel to learn about other permaculture systems and thought how cool it would be for you to see our ahupua'a systems! Mahalo for producing this video and having the kanaka 'oiwi (native people) to explain our systems to the rest of the RU-vid world as you uplift our culture and how it can benefit others. Mahalo piha a e malama!

We shouldnt ignore, but be inspired of the ways that our ancestors lived with nature. I remember Aboriginals of Australia also had very organised systems on how to carefully work together with the nature around them.

I love that you let the people speak for the majority of the video.

It's wonderful seeing that the wisdom of living in harmony with the earth is being restored here. The world has much to learn from you. Mahalo for your labors of love.

All the blessings for Hawaii, may the land and natives be abundant and protected.

The Ahupua’a is a treasure to the worlds culture; definitely should be added next to the UN list of GIAHS (globally important agricultural heritage systems). You already covered another one on that list, the chinampas 😉💪. Thank you for using your platform to highlight indigenous wisdom 🙏.

Mahalo for spotlighting the wisdom of both ancient and modern Hawaiians and mahalo for including some of the important history that many do not know or understand! I have been so fortunate to learn these things first hand on the island of Hawaiʻi. Aloha ʻĀina 🤙❤️

Mahalo piha e Andrew! Thank you so much for showing our home and the wonderful things being done by those extraordinary leaders in our communities to show us the way we can live again. 🙏🏽💗🌱

Mahalo nui for sharing my culture with the world. May the knowledge of my ancestors bring restoration to the world 🌎

I love the videos Andrew creates! As an architecture student they are so inspirational: I think these videos really represent outlooks into what the future of human settlements may look like: not a single video does but the combination of them do. I got so inspired I recently tried making a video about water management and how it will relate to architecture and urbanism in dry lands myself. Thanks for creating this high quality content!

Deep respect for native hawaiians and kudos for wise land and water management.

Really do appreciate your watershed learning video presentations available here on this platform. Watershed thinking and action is how we ought to be in right relations with the lands and waters. Thanks for your commitment to sharing watershed knowledge by good storytelling, compelling stories and graphic illustrations that aid the viewer in connecting the dots.

I'm getting slightly obsessed by organic people. There's just no end to the positivity they breathe. Been watching hiker videos, gold seeking, organic builders such as Earth ships, log houses, cabins, cob houses, organic farming, off grid communities, coral farming, ocean clean up....and now Hawaiian people reclaiming their land, ways of living, values, customs & traditions and bringing innovation to a new level. Thank you for sharing this. I've had enough of the mechanical system and was about to lose faith in humanity. It's like a whole new world opening its self up.

Thank you Andrew and the Nation of Hawaii. This made me cry, for the injustices and the renewed hope. My heart has been touched.

This was a great documentary and I am moved by it. I live on Oahu, and am admittedly a PR🇵🇷 transplant from NY, but I have a heart filled with love for this place...I hope what they are doing spreads. We live on the fringe of the West Side and my son came home and said his school plans to replant the original plants back on the slopes of Makakilo in an effort to restore what was taken and messed up long ago. I'm proud of what he's doing and plan to help him as I can to do this. I'm hoping Hawai'i's government can encourage more of these projects with funding. I don't know if these guys in Waimanalo are getting any funding (I doubt they are, which makes them even more incredible), but I am hoping we can do more things like this all across Oahu.

Thank you for protecting the water… this was heartbreaking to learn the history… but well needed. Blessings to you.

Wow - this was amazing! I am Canadian, and I am thrilled that I found this video. Several years ago, I went to Hawaii - Oahu. I stayed in the North Shore in Laie the second time I was there. My favorite part of being in Hawaii was the Polynesian Cultural Centre - its people, language, dancing, and food. I really felt "at home" amongst the real Hawaiian culture. You are experts in knowing about the land, Mother Earth, the weather, caring for your beautiful people, etc. It broke my heart to discover what happened to King Kamehameha many years ago, etc. I send much love, warm hugs, and prayers that you regain every inch of your precious land, etc. for all the sandwich island known as Hawaii. PS I bought a vinyl record many years ago of a famous Hawaiian singer Danny Kaleikini. It breaks my heart what has happened in Lahaina, Maui. As someone else - who posted here on your page about 7 months ago - "The World needs to stop and take notice. May you always be blessed in everything that you need! ,

I am from Guam. I noticed your playlist, Ive been looking into India too. Its one of the countries that protects their knowledge and their land and peoples. We are going thru the same thing with the US military. Peace and Love you always.

The taro area with the raised beds standing in water reminded me of your video in Mexico City. What you can do, if you have a village, is amazing.

I had been researching Ahupua’a for a class last semester and seeing the beginnings of its restoration on video is just amazing! Thank you so much! I will not forget this!

Came to this, after hearing about the horrendous fire in Maui. God be with you all.

My man Andrew dropping top quality content on our heads ! Bless you, my brother. Thank you.

i grew up on Oahu after leaving my homeland, Cyprus as a little girl. The island and it's peoples engrained within my soul the spirit, heart and determination that i have today to fight for Freedom and Sovereignty as women and men of the LAND and i am so honored to have been able to experience the magic that i did while i was there. i left a huge part of my heart on those islands and i would love to return one day but now we are in the fight for our lives as men and women to take back, rebuild and recreate what was stolen from us. We have a common law community here in Cyprus that is fighting the system and the ''strawman'' (fictitious name) that these entities create for us using our birth certificates as a bond to claim us living beings as their property. It is time to relearn, come together and rebuild no matter where we are from in this world. We are all an ocean of consciousness together and a force to be reckoned with!!!! With so much love, admiration, respect and positive energy to all of you in Hawaii and around the world. MAHALO for sharing what you're doing!!!!

I was so excited when I saw you posted a video that was 30 minutes long about one of the most special places in the world. It warms my heart to see the Hawaiian people's connection to their land restored, even if it is just one watershed.

So amazing! I want to go live there and help day to day. What incredible knowledge and vision in such a beautiful place.

What’s taken place is so incredible. Thank you for sharing this piece and showing how people can love the earth again and restore life back. Truly there is a better way for things to be 🤎🤎🤎

I visited Hawai'i for the first time on Dec. 31st, 2022 and left Jan. 9th, 2023. I came back completely humbled and in love with Hawai'i and its people. Thank you for making this video. Do you or anyone reading this recommend an organization or a non-profit that I could donate to to help the Hawaiian people in remaining a sovereign nation or supporting them in their permaculture endeavors? I checked out both websites but couldn't find anything specifically where I could donate. Thanks in advance!

Wonderful. The people who say it can't be done are so often interrupted by the people who are already doing it.

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing. Not only is the content engaging and inspiring, but the production quality is great too; makes it really shareable. Thank you so much for creating this. Keep up the great work!

Mahalo Braddah 🤙🏽 Currently living on the mainland for college, but super thankful you posted this kind of content to educate everyone

i really felt what the guy at 01:25 said about peeps loosing their connection to Mother Earth. Peeps in cities and suburbs have an emtiness because of this loss...we all try to fill it with purchased garbage.

Amazing work - there is nothing more important than this! 🇨🇦

This was a beautiful example of what regular people can do when they get their land back. Is there a possiblility of Hawaii regaining its sovereignity and nation hood? I am from Ireland so I know what a long and bitter struggle it is to regain a country stolen. Keep fighting. I hope your struggle is crowned with success. Our struggle is entering its last chapter. (I hope)

Super interesting! Love the idea of it’s not what you get, it’s what you give back, that matters. Create that abundance mindset.

Another amazing video! Thank you Andrew for bringing this to our attention. It is so insightful and educational. Keep doing what you're doing :)

Mahalo Nui, Thank you so much for documenting sharing, perpetuating this sacred and important knowledge!! I am so inspired and grateful to the Native Hawaiians who share their wisdom and vision for caring for the islands and the planet. You have my undying support, see you in the Lo'i =0)

Love from An Indian student thanks from entire world to you teacher Andrew

It's awesome that they uncovered the terraces (3:14). It highlights how there really used to be farming all the way back into the valley and Hawai`i really could feed itself using its own natural resources, but once the state took over they weren't allowed to use it.

Thank you, love getting a deeper look at an ahupuaa. If you get a chance to see Limahuli garden on Kauai, definitely check that out.

Incredible video, thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge with people around the world!

Great job Andrew and Ohana. Your an inspiration and these Kanaka are the real deal, you’re all living legends. I feel blessed to have seen this knowledge in my lifetime. Mahalo Nui Loa 🤙🏼

This is so amazing, thank you for creating this with so many wise voices. Your videos have helped me find what i want to focus on in my career, so thank you.

Your videos are always very refreshing amongst all the doom and gloom going on. Amazing what the people can do when governments just get out of the way....

This was one of your best videos ever! I knew something about the occupation, but never this profound.

Andrew your videos are always amazing. Each one is better than the last and definitely worth the wait. I eagerly await the next one!

I love what your channel is showing us!

Fantastic video! Thank you so much for highlighting the awesome restoration and forward-facing regenerative projects they're implementing.

Mahalo nui loa. Hawaiian, we will never give up till we get back what was stolen. Aloha!

This is an absolutely amazing video!!! Thank you so much

Good to see Bumpy, looking well. Continue on Kanaka Maoli. Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka AIna I Ka Pono.

Loving the work they are doing for their future generations.

In 2010 when I first stayed in one place pretty much for about 6 Mos. was in Waimanalo. Usually, other times I visited, it was the tourist section and only for a few days to a couple of weeks. In 2010, I stayed w/relatives and drove in to town for medical treatments I couldn't access from where I'm from. We ended up staying there and fell in love with the people and the place. Our cousins live there currently and we've been back a couple more times for short visits. We always say as we take that drive from the airport and come upon those mountains as you enter Waimanalo.......we're coming home. It truly was and is a very special place. ~ Ed & Irene from Guam 🌺🌴🇬🇺

First. What a banger, right on time for fresh Andrew Millison content. My watershed is renewed.

I hope they are able to get ahold of the golf course and restore that too.

Was on Maui back in the 1970's on the river where Elvis's Blue Hawaii was filmed. The gorgeous waterfall was a trickle. The majority of the water was being used by the sugar plantations for the corps. I was appalled. My family had to leave Ireland due to The Famine & religious discrimination. This is what Native Americans face on the Mainland. The Spirit of the land is being stifle. Thank the Goddess people are doing something! The Spirit of Hawaii sings!

Incredible video. Had my eyes watering at parts. I love learning, and being a student of life. Mahalo 🤙🏼🙏🏼

Great footage. Thanks for the video! Sharing

Incredible! Thanks again for another impactful video!

This is so, so wonderful ! The island I live on has the same climate as Hawaii. We have the same type of fruits, vegetables and other agricultural produce. Post Covid19 has seen a sharp rise in cost of local food production and retail prices. Hope things go well as you wish. Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.

I really enjoyed watching this video and learning about the issues indigenous Hawai'ians face and the beauty of their culture and lands - I was vaguely aware of the issues re: tourism, but this video has really brought home both the historical context and the reality in the present of their reclamation projects. #LandBack is so crucial for the health of the planet, I think. I also enjoyed, Andrew, how you foregrounded the voices of Indigenous Hawai'ians and minimized your own presence in the video in order to give your guests more airtime; settlers have a terrible history of narrating Indigenous peoples' experiences and lives for / to them, and breaking the cycle in this highly visible way really lends credibility to what you are doing and to your intentions.

Thank you so much Andrew for all your hard work. I've been watching your videos for a long time now and I'm so thankful that you did this video of my kanaka maoli brothers and sisters and all the hard work they're doing. 🙏

bravo on your efforts... was stationed at Kaneohe... good to see you doing this... congratulations.

Only positive things to think/say about your work. Keep it coming! Inspiring!!

Amazing content as always

Thanks for share this beautiful knowledge and experience prof. Millison. Best!

❤☮❤ I so appreciate your teaching and documentation of regeneration, renewal around the globe, Andrew.

This makes me feel like hope is not lost

It’s the water! These folks have a good head in their shoulders. Much aloha to them from Michigan

Mahalo nui for educating us all about the different Wao of the Ahupua’a, and the Pu’uhonua o Waimanalo. Waimanalo was my home for 8 years and I would love to come back for a visit. E ola mau ka lahui o Hawai’i! 🙏🏼🤙

Amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this!

I love this video! Really cool to see the terracing, hear the story of Hawaiian culture relating with their land. And the sluice gate, wow! Thanks for diagramming that, Andrew.

Keep strong brothers and sisters they will never take away our connection to land and sea...from Oz

Thank you , you are restoring the nature. Which is giving you back in abundance to feed your people and respect nature more.

This is what permaculture principles are based on. Our BELIEFS CREATE OUR REALITY. WE ARE FREE, WE SIDESTEP EVIL, WE CHOOSE HEALTH AND VITALITY FOR ALL.🙏💕

So informative. I am inspired. Thank you for this video. May the Spirit Gods of Hawai'i look upon you with great favor and bring you abundance and help you get back your rightful sovereignty as Hawai'ian Nationals.

Awesome work has been done by the native hawallan people it's beautiful haw the people faulgt for their land

Damn, how much of an incredible paradise is that?

Simply beautiful, thank you for sharing

Always liked your vids man but seeing this one made me love you man. From Hawaii used your vids to help build up my land and now I say thanks brah.

excellent documentary, Mr. Millison!

Greatful to thoze Native born who are picking up the Kuleana to malama aina - and even more greatful for the open, inclusive education on the topix. Az someOne who iz blessed to have lived only in the foothillz near the Redwoodz in Cali, & here in Hawaii nei - with 2 keiki born here - I am honoured to receive the Wizdomz of this land - although, the same mindfulness that will improve quality of Life here iz what will do the same in Pomo territory where I waz raized - az it will WorldWide. Aloha iz a Lifestyle. Mitakuye Oyasin Mahalo nui loa Muchas gracias Namaste (Each time We eat, We say Mahalo Akua, Aloha Aina)

Amazing video and very informative as well! Powerful to see a culture that is so close to its local nature and caring for it!

Most excellently informative and reverent. Thank you.

The land belongs to the natives. The beauty of the land goes hand n hand with the beauty. Of the natives. We could learn much from them.

Thank you for this presentation!

Beautiful video yet again! So cool seeing the Ahapua'a getting the attention it deserves

Aloha 🌺 from northern Germany. Mahalo for your very good video. It s so good what are you doing there... Go on please! This is the way of ALOHA. Love and light - healing mother earth. 🥰🙏🌈

This was so beautifully done... Thank you Andrew and all involved in this video! 🙏

Mahalo for the documentary!

Doing incredible work, I hope to one day be able to do work like this

Loved by all who come to see. Blessings Abound

Amazing stuff thank you!!!

Never give up!!!!! Stay diligent and we support you!!