Land and People

EP 16 Season 1 recap: Melissa & Clay on what they learned, surprises & what’s next

Co-hosts Melissa Chimera and Dr. Clay Trauernicht reflect on Season One of "Land & People"; what they learned, surprising moments, favorite parts of producing the show, and what's next for Season Two.

EP 15 Waipi`o Valley’s Mock Chew family on how multi-generational kalo farming is love for the land & each other

In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Clay Trauernicht and Melissa Chimera go on-location to the Hamākua coast of Hawai`i Island. They interview Jayson and Alberta Mock Chew and their daughter Kahealani about the history of kalo (taro) farming and the family transition into poi production with their business Mokuwai Piko Poi. Their kalo farming roots go back six generations in Waipi`o Valley, a sacred and highly productive valley that still sustains farmers and residents, some with centuries-old ancestral ties to the land and sea. Kahealani and her parents talk about the hardships, joy and love brought by a life close to the land and how this affects their relationships, livelihoods and outlook on life.

EP 14 Botanical curator Mike Demotta on how native ecosystems perpetuate Hawaiian culture

Mike Demotta, curator of living collections for the Hawai‘i National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) on Kaua'i has lived many lives: from being the garden's horticulturalist, a hula kane (male hula dancer), and speaker of `ōlelo Hawai'i (Hawaiian language) to NTBG's curator of both native and introduced plants at the Limahuli Garden and Preserve. Mike speaks to his knowledge of Hawaiian native ecosystems by way of ancient chant and mo`olelo (stories), while painting the picture of remote places like Ni`ihau and Lehua at the the oldest end of the Hawaiian archipelago. He brings us an appreciation for the role of botanical gardens in both education and rare plant restoration.

EP 13 Lani Cran Petrie on the role of ranching in Hawai’i for holistic land management

Native Hawaiian paniolo Lani Cran Petrie manages Kapāpala Ranch founded in 1860 in Ka'u on Hawai'i Island, one of the island's largest remaining ranches where her great-grandfather was a foreman. Having studied animal nutrition at Washington State University, she has also served as the president of the Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Association. Lani sheds light on the ecosystem benefits and economic challenges of managing 24,000+ acres of state-leased land for cattle while keeping weeds at bay and providing trails access to the public. She speaks frankly about the negative perceptions of the cattle industry, and its role as an essential food source for the islands especially during crises.

EP 12 Ted Rodrigues retired Haleakalā ranger on community hunting & love of place through deep observation

Ted Rodrigues, retired National Park Service animal control and fencing manager built some of Hawai`i's first ungulate (hoofed mammal) exclusion fences in the mid 1980s in Haleakalā National Park. He helped pioneer non-native animal removal through fencing and organized hunting aimed at limiting the damage of goats, pigs and deer in native ecosystems—programs now widely adopted throughout the state. He is the living example of an old-school park ranger versed in everything: facilities and trails maintenance, visitor education, predator and weed control and offers the natural and cultural expertise of having walked and observed all parts of Haleakalā mountain, otherwise known as Kealahele.

EP 11 Suzanne Case former Chair of the Dept. of Land & Natural Resources on the complexities of water, land and tenure

Raised on Hawai`i Island, Suzanne Case has worked for forty years in public and private law and conservation as the executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Hawai`i and Palmyra, and most recently as Chair for the Department of Land & Natural Resources. Listen to her unique perspective as one raised in the wilds of Hawai`i Island and how her deep love of place has helped her navigate the legal conflicts, commonalities and moral complexities of natural and cultural resources stewardship, water rights, and public access.

EP 10 Former Molokai Nature Conservancy director Ed Misaki on seeing watershed protection through hard times

Ed Misaki, retired director of Molokai conservation programs for The Nature Conservancy worked since 1982 on the island where he was born and raised. He faced personal and professional challenges most of us can't imagine. His controversial non-native animal removal programs--aimed at removing deer, pigs, and goats--protects the most fragile upland forests. His story is one of resilience through difficult times, inspired by his love and desire to restore and protect the wao akua (native upland forest, or realm of the gods). Ed demonstrates true community engagement and commitment through the good and bad, and the value of ahupua`a protection in garnering and sustaining broader support.

EP 9 Brian Naeole on the value of hunting while keeping the native forest free from introduced animals

Brian Naeole, former Field Coordinator with The Nature Conservancy Molokai speaks to growing up homesteading on Hawaiian homelands, hunting, farming, raising pigs, and surfing while restoring native ecosystems on his home island. He describes the hard work that goes into fencing watersheds and removing the non-native animals like pigs, goats and deer that do so much damage to Hawaiian ecosystems within those fences, while at the same time raising livestock on his homestead for food.

EP 8 Penny Rawlins Martin on the stewardship lessons that voyaging on the 1976 Hōkūle‘a sailing canoe can teach us

Penny Rawlins Martin is one of the first two kānaka maoli (Native Hawaiian) women to sail as a crew member on the first 1976 voyage of the Hōkūle‘a Hawaiian sailing canoe between Tahiti and Hawai‘i, a 2,500 mile journey of her ancestors. She takes us back to the energy of the 1970s during the Hawaiian renaissance where the language, music, dance, voyages and land-back initiatives were being fought for, revived and uplifted. Penny shares with us her many lessons aboard the canoe, namely care for one another through love of the land and concern for its limited resources--now commonly referred to as aloha ‘āina. She brings these historical, social and environmental perspectives to Moloka‘i students through her work with Papahana Kuaola, a non-profit education organization aiming to connect students to culture, place and history with an eye towards a sustainable future.

EP 7 Insect biologist and ecosystems advocate Steven Montgomery brings us the beauty & fragility of Hawai`i’s smallest creatures

Beginning with his arrival in Hawai`i in 1968, Dr. Steven Montgomery University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa entomologist has studied genetics and molecular biology while discovering insects and plants new to science. While his expertise includes an extraordinary array of Hawaiian insects--from picture wing flies to the carnivorous caterpillar found no where else in the world--his passion includes everything from bee keeping and keiki education to Hawaiian ecosystem protection as a former member of Hawai‘i's Land Use Commission.