PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc. reposted this
I was honored to attend the National Outdoor Recreation Conference in Duluth, Minnesota as a New Professional Scholarship recipient. As an emerging outdoor recreation professional and growing planner, the conference truly deepened my understanding of the multifaceted world of outdoor recreation and allowed me to bring back tools and perspectives that I can meaningfully apply in practice back home in Hawaiʻi. Mahalo nui to the Society for Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) for selecting me for the New Professional Scholarship. The opportunity was such an honor. I am also grateful to have presented on a panel featuring a project near and dear to my heart, along with my friends and colleagues Catie Cullison, Julie Davis, Jackson Bauer, and Lokelani Brandt: The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Interpretive Plan. https://lnkd.in/gEXAn_Yd The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a 175 mile corridor on Hawaiʻi Island that encompasses a network of ancient, historic, and modern trails. While designated as a National Historic Trail under the National Park Service, segments are also recognized by the State of Hawaiʻi’s Nā Ala Hele Trails and Access Program. The trail crosses a complex patchwork of land ownership—resort properties, rangelands, open space preserves, commercial corridors, and private residences. This fragmentation has contributed to disconnection, inconsistent stewardship, and the loss of important trail features. During our presentation, we shared how we stepped away from traditional planning practices and instead followed an approach grounded in Hawaiian ways of learning— centering relationships, respect, and attentive listening. Through this process we developed an Interpretive Plan aimed at reconnecting people, history, and place. We also reflected on how this experience reshaped our understanding of planning: revealing layers of history, geology, governance, and meaning; and explored how these lessons may be transferable to other contexts. Learning Objectives: - Move beyond traditional constructs of jurisdiction and land ownership to support long-term community stewardship - Expand planning processes beyond standard best practices through meaningful community insight - Reframe trail corridors as layered landscapes with multiple histories - Gain insight into a Hawaiian approach to learning with broader applications for practice Mahalo nui to SORP, NORC, and PBR HAWAII for giving me the opportunity to both learn from and contribute to this broader community of outdoor recreation professionals amidst the incredible landscape of Duluth. I hope to carry these conversations and experiences forward— continuing to grow as a listener, collaborator, and steward while supporting approaches that deeply honor place, environment, community, and the countless stories embedded within our ʻāina. E mau ko kākou hele ma na ala i maʻa i ka hele ʻia e ko kākou mau mākua.
-
-
-
-
-
+4