More than the names of our present day towns and communities, and the ancient land divisions that were at the core of the Hawaiian nation state for centuries, na ahupua'a are socio-natural systems. Each ahupua'a is what today's western scientists call a watershed. Except, as native peoples of these lands have understood for centuries, the system's boundary's extend beyond the land to the fringing reefs, functioning as a single integrated land-water system. Even more than this, though, the ahupua'a, and Ko`olaupoko as a whole, is a stewardship system. Families, neighborhoods, communities, and local organizations, linked by informal ties developed over years of dedicated caretaking represent a complex network across Ko`olaupoko. Ka Hui o na Ahupua'a o Ko'olaupoko and the Windward Watersheds Web Ring are an expression of this system.

For each ahupua`a various individuals play leadership roles in the stewardship of natural and cultural values -- water resources, streams, wetlands, lo`i kalo, fish ponds, etc. The following is an initial list of key resource people for each ahupua'a, informally organized into a regional alliance. They can be considered contact persons in community-based watershed monitoring, planning, education, and/or restoration activities.

Hakipu --

He`eia -- Carole McLean

Ka`alaea -- Snookie Mello

Kahalu`u -- Amy Luerson

Kailua -- Chuck Burrows, Diane Drigot, Roberta Tokumaru, Kawao Durante

Kane`ohe -- Diane Drigot, Roberta Tokumaru

Kualoa --

Waiahole -- John Reppun

Waihe`e --

Waikane --

Waimanalo -- Lisa Ferentinos, Andrew Jamilla