• Editor’s note: This is part two of a series introducing the Waipa Foundation. The first article appeared Oct. 2 and discussed the history of this 25 year-old effort supporting educational and cultural programming. WAIPA — One mile north of
• Editor’s note: This is part two of a series introducing the Waipa Foundation. The first article appeared Oct. 2 and discussed the history of this 25 year-old effort supporting educational and cultural programming.
WAIPA — One mile north of Hanalei there’s a lavender sign that reads, “Farmers Market Every Tuesday 2 p.m.”
Welcome to the Waipa Foundation, an organization formed 25 years ago by a small contingent of North Shore families created with the intent to nurture Hawaiian culture.
“The land is the context for the practice of Hawaiian culture,” said Executive Director Stacy Sproat-Beck.
The 1,600 acre valley serves as an outdoor classroom for educational programs for long-time residents of Kaua‘i. Families with ties to the community and land are a primary target for programming.
This is the population that has been most impacted by the “resortification” of the island over the last 30 years, Sproat-Beck said. “They are the struggling population.”
The programs include cultural and educational enrichment programs during school breaks, as well as after-school tutorials, literacy and mentoring.
Another target population is for service learning, a stewardship program open to the island’s schools and clubs as well as off-island learners seeking to know more about Hawaiian Culture.
“We try to link all the lessons of the ahupua‘a,” Sproat-Beck said.
Historically an ahupua‘a was a Hawaiian socio-economic land division.
“It allowed people within it to live sustainably,” she said.
From the taro fields looking mauka one can clearly follow the outline of the Waipa ahupua‘a that begins at the tip of Mamalahoa, dips down to the taro fields and culminates at fish ponds near the beach.
Pointing to a scorched rise at the foot of Mamalahoa Sproat-Beck talked about the history of the land.
“Waipa was a cattle ranch for decades,” she said. “They cleared forest and stripped the top soil for cattle ranching. That’s where we’re doing reforestation.”
“It’s like a blank slate here,” she continued. “So using Hawaiian values the question is, what do we need to do to practice our culture today? This is ancient knowledge wed to modern techniques. It’s all a huge, beautiful experiment.”
The learning spaces include the native plant nursery; an organic garden; Hawaiian garden; taro patch; poi garage where taro is processed; koa reforestation site; stream learning center and the fish ponds. During the summer program up to 80 children can be at Waipa simultaneously.
“You can take eight groups of 10 kids and rotate them through all the learning sites,” she said.
Tutu and Me, a parent-accompanied traveling preschool, is one of many groups utilizing Waipa’s programming.
“This is our fourth year coming to Waipa,” said teaching assistant La Contrades. “For the grandparents Waipa is a reflection of how it used to be while they were being raised.”
“This is a good place for kids who haven’t had this experience,” said Tutu and Me participant, Uncle Herman Paleka of Anahola. “They know what poi is but they don’t know where it comes from. What better place to learn to work than in a taro patch.”
Sproat-Beck joined her father, David Sproat, at Waipa in 1991.
“When we started (in 1982) we were like pioneers in covered wagons,” Sproat said. “When Stacy came she brought us to the 21st Century. We did all we could and luckily she was there and stepped in. We’ve wanted this for the future, for the kids. …education doesn’t have to be in a classroom.”
• Pam Woolway, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or pwoolway@kauaipubco.com.
