This Steward Success Story highlights the work of Regional Roundtable Grant Recipient and RBC Core Steward Organization, Huliauapa'a. Huliauapa'a is an Indigenous-led nonprofit whose mission is to grow Hawai'i’s communities through culturally based innovative learning, leadership development, and collaborative networking in wahi kūpuna stewardship. Their roundtable provided dedicated space for critical dialogue around shared ideas, resources, and strategies to mobilize the Kūlana Kahu'āina.

Regional Roundtable grants support our Core Stewards who are leading land and water stewardship solutions and initiatives in their homelands. They explore what we have in common in terms of the systems change we are leading, the sectors they are engaging, the barriers and resiliency factors, and recommendations for reinforcing Indigenous-led solutions going forward. In 2025-26, four RBC Core Stewards received the Regional Roundtable Grants.

The impact of climate change and ecosystem collapse can no longer be ignored. We have reached a critical moment, a tipping point that calls for informed and effective climate action. “Engaging Indigenous communities” as suggested by the United Nations, national governments, researchers, and others is not enough. Indigenous-led systems transformation is needed to inform legal, regulatory, policy, and practical approaches to ensure an abundant future. Now is the time to deconstruct the systems and practices that reinforce colonialism and perpetuate inequities. In 2021, Red Star International, Inc. (Red Star), an Indigenous-led non-profit organization based in the U.S., explored the potential role a global, multi-sector Indigenous collaborative could have in advancing systems transformation for the well-being of humanity and the environment. This practice brief summarizes the participatory process utilized and Red Star’s future directions based on project outcomes.