For the Pohoiki-Project:
Vision: Develop a community house for the
support of the cultural, physical and spiritual needs of the contributors,
neighbors and the island community as well as growing to serve visitors
with social, educational, scientific, recreational and healing opportunities.
Goal: Form a growing, cohesive intentional community of people who
have their permanent dwelling elsewhere but who come together for
community functions. As available, the house and property may also
be scheduled for retreat purposes for individuals and groups. Participants
would have first choice of available times and preferential rates,
if any, to cover expenses such as overhead, preparation, services
such as meals, and clean-up if provided.
The Property
A 10 acre parcel overlooking the ocean on Poihiki Road is under
contract for purchase on September 25, 2001 by a hui of interested
individuals and families that is forming to support this process.
The property is one of 20 in a new subdivision, of which all parcels
were originally sold within 5 days of listing, even before any computerized
listings became available.
The desirability of this location is underscored by the ocean view,
the availability of county water, the access by paved road and the
immediate proximity to the surfing, swimming and fishing facilities
at Pohoiki. This property is located within 2 miles of both the
county operated public warm ponds and the clothing-optional Kahenna
beach, as well as nearby to the steam vents and the ongoing active
lava flows.
On nearly adjacent properties within the immediate future there
are planned both a major new county park (at Pohoiki) and a golf
course, as part of the spa facilities to be located across from
the warm ponds. The golf course will abutt several of the lower
lots in the same subdivision.
With community cooperation by landowners in the subdivision, a community
walking/bike path could be planned and developed to link to these
other park areas for the benefit of the whole community. This could
even serve as the foundation for a more extensive trail system to
parallel at least parts of the red road, again for the benefit of
both the community and visitors, both for safety and enjoyment of
the natural beauty of the area.
Many of the property owners of the subdivision are already a community
of friends, as many of them were referred to the realtor by Sky
and Jeneye Stone, who are purchasing one of the lots, and invited
us to join the community. With landowner cooperation, a centralized
solar electric system could be developed on this property with distribution
to all the other lots.
The upper two lots are being purchased by the owners of Yoga Oasis,
a resource already functioning in the neighborhood. Also nearby
is the abandoned University of Hawai’i agricultural experiment
station. Eddie Clark is spearheading a proposal to develop this
large food forest as a land-based community to support research
into sustainable agriculture with the blessings of the University
under a long term contract.
A centralized multi-use water catchment/pond with a white sand bottom
could also be planned to supply irrigation water to lower lots as
well as provide emergency water backup to individual catchment systems
on lower lots, as the lots below ours have no access to county water.
Because county water is available to our lot, this pond could have
its own backup system as well for times of prolonged draught.
This would be nicely complemented by a solar hot water pool for
alternating hot and cold hydrotherapy as well as watsu water massage
in a low bacteria water treated with oxozone or ozone.
Hydrotherapy waters could potentially be superoxide microwater and
function both therapeutically as well as providing a second stage
use on agricultural crops and golf courses, where this approach
reduces use of chemicals by 70% in today’s conventional (chemical
based) operations.
Future Directions
A parcel located next to the warm ponds is envisioned as a possible
future site for major expansion, once the community is established
as a functional working unit. This parcel could lend itself to more
intensive, yet ecologically appropriate development for community
and visitor services and serve as a show-place for higher-order
alternative solutions to the problems we face today in housing,
health care, energy and economy.
The first property would continue to serve nicely for local community
needs as well as an agricultural support for local organic produce,
herbal ingredients for locally made products and other agriculturally
based products and services, to be sold, if appropriate at the facilities
by the warm pond.
This facility is envisioned with its own hydrotherapy facilities
to complement those already available to the public, utilizing ozone
or oxozone technology for sanitation and therapeutic effects. Far
infrared sauna and other healing technologies are also envisioned
for both locations.
Alternative building techniques to be incorporated, which serves
the additional function of educating the community about better
solutions, would include use of native materials such as bamboo
(e.g. see Leimana’s work here on the island) as well as the
free-flowing capabilities of ferrocement designs (e.g. see the Monkey-Temple)
and geodesic principles, plus elements of traditional design from
the Hawai’ians, as well as the East and West.
Composting toilets and composting in general would lead the way
in intensive soil building, perhaps in raised beds for intensive
herb and vegetable gardening.
Subscription farming would provide ongoing support once produce
is available on a sustainable basis, hopefully in coordination with
other sustainable sites such as Pangaya, La'akea and others. Plots
could also be available for community gardening.
The two ends of the property are appropriate locations for planting
taller tree species as a mixed food forest for the future, while
intermediate height species such as dwarf fruit trees and dwarf
Samoan coconuts would be appropriate at an intermediately peripheral
location at both ends of the property.
In the short term, maintenance of open areas by judicious use of
grazing animals such as cows or horses is a possible consideration.
Propogation of low maintenance nitrogen fixing ground covers is
an excellent long-term plan in place of grassy areas such as a possible
soccer field as well as lawns, ground cover for orchards and open
walkways. Free range chickens could also be utilized as a self-spreading
manure source to support optimal productivity, while minimizing
insect pests.
In general, permacultural concepts of sustainable intercropped agriculture
would be applied, drawing on the extensive experience of many members
of the local community, such as those at Pangaya and La'akea as
well as Roy Oness and others. In addition, we will draw on Greg
and Lulie Learned for input, and possible future participation,
in the area of Biodynamic farming principles.
Who are we? [these descriptions will be replaced by brief submissions from the participants covering their academic/professional background and relevant special interests]
Glen Swartwout
Works with natural medicine and teaches health practitioners and
the public.
Rae Luscombe
Teaches Naka Ima for personal growth, honest communication and community
building
Whitney Schatz
U.C. Santa Cruz student; Former intern at Alu Like, with plans to
stay connected and return to the Hawai’i community.
aloha, my name is whitney schatz and i am in my last quarter at
ucsc(university of california-santa cruz) where i am majoring in
community studies (a major that focuses on social change). my focus
has been indigenous land rights in the south pacific, which brought
me to the big island of hawaii where i met all of the amazing and
inspirational people that led me to this amazing opportunity (thanks!).
while on the big isle, i was working at alu like helping native
hawaiian youth get summer jobs and go to summer school. it was an
amazing experience that has opened me up to the possibility of some
day starting a non profit of my own. where to begin about my dreams
for graceland...so many things. most importantly i am thrilled by
the prospect of forming a foundation. community is the most important
thing because it makes so many things possible. i want the land
to be everything to everyone involved as well as to the larger community.!
bsp; at some point i might have interest in forming a non profit
and i would like to tie that into the land. i am interested in embarking
on the great journey of equipping the big island with a sustainable
public transportation system using biodiesel technology. i am also
interested in someday teaching in an alternative, nurturing, and
open school (maybe waldorf?). i am currently taking a grant writing
and web design class so i am hoping to gain some skills that i can
use to give back to the community. i am also interested in continuing
my educational experience after i graduate and i hope the mand can
serve as a medium for that (through workshops and experimentation
with sustainable agriculture, building eco-friendly structures and
learning different modes of natural healing) i am really eager to
put love and attention into the land in pohoiki
Sky Kubby
Outdoor educator with Island Outpost, currently centered at the
Volcano Outpost. Island Outpost, A Whole Earth Experience
http://www.islandoutpost.org
Maura Hoffman
Facilitator and project coordinator for development of a Yoga Center.
Adam Dubuclet
Research and development in alternative energy, transportation and
health.
James “Jagdesh” Bae
Author of multiple books on vedic philosophy and spirituality, Jagdesh
is also interested in ayurvedic herbal medicine.
Nina Perez
Education: Vassar College.
Others to be added...
