Windward O'ahu's majestic Ko'olau mountains have a new adornment. Bright pink ribbons tied along roadsides serve as temporary boundary markers for the 11 ahupua'a of the Ko'olaupoko district. The Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club put in most of the markers from Kualoa to Maunalua Bay in Hawai'i Kai, and members recently took a driving tour with city and state officials for approval to replace the ribbons with permanent markers.

"We wanted to educate the community so that they know what ahupua'a they're living in and so that they can better connect with the land," said Civic Club President Mahealani Cypher.

Members of the nonprofit civic and community organization followed the last official Kingdom of Hawai'i map from 1876 to determine the ahupua'a boundaries. The initiative began after the creation of the 'Aha Moku council in 2007, which provides community input for natural resource management issues. State designers have been working on a culturally appropriate marker to accompany the signs. For more video, visit Edgy Lee's blog at http://LifeIsGood.honadvblogs.com and the News Channel at http://news.pacificnetwork.tv/.

— Alyssa S. Navares, PacificNetwork.tv