Oʻahu Cultural Protocol Cheatsheet
Structured protocol data across reef, taro, and native forest workdays. Operator-vetted; updated when guidance changes.
Last updated:
| Protocol category | Reef restoration | Taro farm (loʻi) | Native forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival time | 7-9 a.m. (beat the heat + trade winds) | 8 a.m. (Saturday + weekday mornings) | 7:30-9 a.m. (then 30-60 min hike in) |
| Opening oli (chant) | Yes — stand quietly, phone in bag, listen. | Yes — part of the work, not a warm-up act. | Yes — at the trailhead before hike-in. |
| Photo etiquette | Don't pose for photos with the cultural lead unless invited. | Don't photograph the cultural lead, property entrance, or signage without asking. | Leave camera in bag during oli + when kumu is speaking. Ask before photos at the site. |
| What to wear | Rashguard or wetsuit + reef-safe sunscreen. | Clothes you don't mind staining (the mud is iron-rich red). | Long pants + sturdy hiking boots; mosquito repellent. |
| Footwear | Snorkel fins provided; barefoot fine. | Closed-toe water shoes or tabis. Bare feet not recommended. | Hiking boots that get cleaned at site. No open-toed shoes. |
| Biosecurity | Reef-safe sunscreen only — chemical sunscreens are banned in Hawaiʻi statewide. | Don't bring outside food into the patch. | Clean boots + alcohol-spray tools before entering preserve. No food in / no plant material out. |
| Physical demand | Comfortable snorkeling in 4-6 ft water; swim 30+ min; age 12+. | Wade in shin-to-knee mud; kids 5+ with parent. | 30-60 min uphill hiking on slippery clay trails + 3-4 hrs on uneven ground at elevation. |
| Duration | 3-4 hours in water + debrief. | 3-4 hours in the loʻi. | Half-day total including hike in/out. |
| Tipping norms | Generous tip if there's a tip jar. Cash if possible. | Donation in lieu of fee accepted; tip kumu if it feels right. | Donations support fence repair + seed-program costs. |
| Don't step on... | Live coral. Stand on sand or dead substrate only. | Kuʻauna (bank walls between patches) — they're structural. | Cleared restoration plots without explicit guidance. |
Cultural authority boundaries
Holoholo does not claim cultural authority over the protocols above. They are compiled from operator-partner guidance and reviewed with cultural leads. When operator guidance changes, this page is updated. When in doubt, defer to the kumu running the workday.
License
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Attribution: Oʻahu Cultural Protocol Cheatsheet, Holoholo.ai (CC BY 4.0).