From the Mountains to the Sea

Traditional Land Management in O'ahu, Hawaii

Illustration accompanying an article for The Nature Conservancy magazine
May 2022
 

Illustration accompanying an article on the revival of traditional land management practices on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii. The scene depicts the ahupua’a, or ancient land division, which centres on the understanding that all parts of a system are connected and influence each other. Natural mountain streams feed taro farms and wetlands, inhabited by birds and freshwater fish; the water then drains back into the stream and continues to the sea. A large, rock-walled fishpond is community-managed, ensuring aquatic life is not depleted.