Hawaii FEP - Western Pacific Fishery Council

island society. Rapid changes in the patterns of environmental utilization are disruptive toecological systems that developed over millennia into a state of equilibrium with traditionalnative cultural practices. The environmental degradation and social disorder impacts the largercommunity by reducing the quality of life for all island residents. The result is stratificationalong social and economic lines and conflict within the greater community.The primary process for the indigenous community to formally participate in the Council processis through their participation in the Subsistence and Indigenous Advisory Panel discussions.Grant workshops and other Council public fora provide additional opportunity for the indigenouscommunity to participate in the Council process. As described in Chapter 1, the Council issponsoring the Hoohanohano I Na Kupuna (Honoring our Ancestors) conference series inpartnership with the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (AOHCC) and in consultation with thenative Hawaiian community. The conference has received the support of the KamehamehaSchools/Bishop Estate, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, various departments of the State of Hawaii,the Hawaii Tourism Authority and numerous community organizations and projects throughoutthe State of Hawaii. Fishery ecosystem management provides the Council with the opportunity toutilize the manao (thoughts) and ike (knowledge) of our kupuna (elders) – ideas and practicesthat have sustained na kanaka maoli (native Hawaiian) culture for millennia.The conference series was initiated by the Council to engage the Kanaka Maoli community inthe development of the Hawaii Archipelago FEP and to increase their participation in themanagement of fisheries under the FEP’s authority. A series of workshops with the KanakaMaoli community to promote the concept of ahupuaa (traditional natural resource unit)management began in 2003 through the AOHCC. This endeavor was continued by the Council inorder to take the ahupuaa concept to the next level, the development of a process to implementtraditional resource management practices into today’s management measures.Under the Hawaii Archipelago FEP, this conference series will continue in Hawaii and willsubsequently be extended to the other areas of the Western Pacific Region. Although the specificformat will be tailored to each area’s cultures and communities, in all cases the Council will seekto increase the participation of indigenous communities in the harvest, research, conservation andmanagement of marine resources as called for in Section 305 of the MSA.There are two programs specifically mandated by the MSA for these communities to participatein the Council process: the Western Pacific Community Development Program and the WesternPacific Community Demonstration Project Program.7.3.1 Western Pacific Community Development ProgramThe Western Pacific Community Development Program (CDP) establishes a process to increaseparticipation of the indigenous community in fisheries managed by the Council through fisheryplan amendments, program development or other administrative procedures to manage fisheries.The Council will put into service a Community Development Program Advisory Panel (CDPAP). The advisory panel will review recommendations made by a community and report to the218