Learning Journey: Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, Ka'u (Week 14a)

Learning Journey: Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, Ka'u

Keauhou, Kapāpala, Kaʻū is a sacred land, which encompasses Kīlauea and Halemaʻumaʻu from 9,014ft in elevation on Mauna Loa to the seashore below Kīlauea. About 33,000 acres of this land is the old Keauhou Ranch that’s now in conservation, which is privately owned by Kamehameha Schools. ʻĀina-based education is a high priority for Kamehameha Schools and the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, however the opportunity to visit is restricted, and demands preparation, respect, and purposeful access.

Our visit to Keauhou was part of our class initiative to further our “sense of place” here on Hawai’i Island. We learned about Hawaiian endemic species and conservation efforts to re-introduce species, such as the ‘Alala, back into the wild. My students and I had the special opportunity to see and appreciate the ‘Alala in person. Currently, my class is learning about the importance of kīpuka, both from an ecosystem and cultural lens, in the preservation and management of our natural and cultural resources. We just completed a unit on forest restoration and native Hawaiian species. I believe Keauhou offered us a unique opportunity for a place-based experience that will continue to be meaningful and memorable.