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IDEAS Office, Ha. Kelaa, Rep. of Maldives

+960 7890384

ideas.kela@gmail.com

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Category: Kelaa

June 16, 2017 Kelaa by ideas 0 Comments

Explore With Kelaa Water Sports

When your country is made up of 1190 islands, there are bound to be many untouched hidden gems ready to be explored. HA. Kelaa is just one of these many gems, but one that will definitely leave an impression if you visit. Since 99% of the Maldives is water, a visit to the Maldives will only be 1% complete if you spend your time solely on land!

Kelaa boasts one of the biggest lagoons in the Maldives, measuring up to 20km2 compared to the 2.02 km2 of the island, and is enclosed by a 7.28 km house reef. A shallow lagoon area encloses a deep area (vilu), where the depths reach 5-6 m and 10-20 m respectively.

Kelaa Water Sports

In this blogpost, we want to introduce and throw the spotlight on a group of youth who recognize the vast potential for exploration and fun involved in our lagoon, reef and beach by operating water sports in Kelaa. In the spirit of youth empowerment and supporting local businesses, we applaud their efforts and vision to boost local tourism in Kelaa.

With Kelaa Water Sports, you can explore our enormous reef and one of the biggest lagoons in the Maldives in multiple ways. Whether you want to go to specific snorkeling sites and jump into the turquoise blues off their boat, or you want to take the jet ski out for a spin, these guys have you covered.

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One of the best parts of experiencing water sports in Kelaa is because the reef enclosing our island and lagoon creates a calm and still area for you to boost the speed on the jet ski up to the maximum and try out stunts and spins safely.

In addition to this, you can try out stunts on the wake board, water ski, or try out the fun tube with your friends and family.You can also have a go at wind surfing, learning the ropes from the experienced staff at Kelaa Water Sports.

If that is too much excitement to begin with, you can kick off with a smooth sail on their catamaran. A catamaran, a sunset, and a pod of playful dolphins are the makings of a good day. If you’re lucky, you may be able to sting rays sail past in the water as well.

If you want to have some quiet moments of reflection just to yourself, take a paddle board or a standing board out, drinking in the scenery and the sunset. There is nothing like a paddle either alone or with company to make you feel rejuvenated!

Visit Kelaa

Kelaa being a hidden gem really has its perks for visitors. Often, you may find that you are the only one in the calm and peaceful lagoon. It is a true get away from all things that weigh heavy on your mind, away from busy resort life, and the guest houses inland. Just you and breath taking scenery.

For all this and more, we cannot recommend a better group of people to guide your exploration of our waters. The friendly, young and energetic group that runs Kelaa water sports grew up on the beach and exploring the lagoon. They know the area like the back of their hands, and so we can guarantee that you are indeed in the best hands with them.

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June 10, 2017 EnvironmentKelaa by ideas 0 Comments

The Wonders of Gaa Muli

Kelaa is an inhabited island found in the northern most atoll in the Maldives, Haa Alif. It is home to a unique reef formation, boasts a magnificent beach area, and is ripe with the telltale signs of tropical paradise: palms on palms on palms. In addition to this, the local population of Kelaa still maintains local traditions and customs, and their traditional celebrations are hard to rival.

Currently, there are efforts underway to build an integrated resort in the Thundi area of Kelaa, which also has a natural bay. This bay has a unique V- shape and is a protected section of calmer waters where a different ecosystem thrives. The area is rich in marine biodiversity, with baby sharks and rays flourishing among a significant number of juvenile fish. The proposed project will be constructed in this area of island.

Locals know the area by the name gaa muli, a name given to the site because of the coral gravel and small rocks (gaa) that cover an area which bends into the land (muli). The turquoise area is called fungandu which means deep area. In the past fungandu was much deeper with a vertical drop from the sandy area to the sea bed, hence the origin of the name. However, today with the construction of the harbor at the other end of the island, the changes in the current and wave patterns have now accumulated sand to the area and is much shallower.

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The rich biodiversity that can be found at gaa muli is apparent even in the different species of fish that exist there. Besides baby sharks and sting rays, there are significant populations of samoan silverside (thaavalha), Redtailed Pipefish (venu bandeyri), Bluespotted cornet fish (onugandu tholhi) and many others. (For a more comprehensive list of fish species, please scroll to the end of the article).

For obvious reasons, this area is very popular for Stilt/Pole fishermen. They sit on their stilts for several hours, often with packed snacks to keep them occupied, while they fish for uniya and kalhu oh in Hulhangu moosun (southwest monsoon) when the sea is too rough for tuna fisheries. The age old custom of fishing in shallow water from vertical poles secured in the lagoon is unique and gradually dying out.

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Kelaa’s gaa muli area is therefore not only important on biological levels, but also as a place that is deeply intertwined with local customs, traditions and history. As the integrated resort project continues to take shape, so do some concerns regarding the protection of the area.

The Maldives unfortunately has a bad track record of developmental efforts that directly pits economic activities against natural ecosystems and cultural heritage sites. Harbor dredging, large scale land reclamation, channel blasting with dynamite are modifying our coastal landscapes and island topography on scales we have never witnessed before. These coastal modification projects must take place with proper environmental impact assessments, which unfortunately is not the case with all the projects. Often, we are blind to the ecosystem impacts that these projects have, instead focusing on anthropogenic needs.

On the other hand, the Maldives also has some protected marine areas and few terrestrial sites. However, protection does not necessarily ensure conservation and appreciation. When poorly managed and monitored, these areas can suffer more damage than good.

These issues are a result of poor policy management that does not hold sustainability (of our people and culture as well as environment) as a key value. In contrast, if we moved past the idea that sustainability and development are at odds with each other, there are many opportunities to grow while ensuring future environmental, economic and social stability.

One of the ways in which we can do so is by exploring ecotourism on a strategic national level. The Nature Conservancy defines ecotourism as “environmentally responsible travel to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promote conservation, have a low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local peoples.”

What this means on the ground is identifying ways in which our rich biodiversity and cultural heritage can be celebrated and preserved while reaping the benefits of tourism income. To do this, we must support local conservation efforts and incorporate locals in decision making. Often, they are the best identifiers of places that hold environmental and cultural importance.

We believe that the Thundi area in Kelaa is a prime example of such a place. For reasons outlined above, the protection of the area stands to have multiple benefits, not just on the environment but also on local income.

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In addition to this, ecotourism poses educational benefits for both visitors and local communities – by teaching both to appreciate and conserve nature and heritage for future generations. To do this, we must encourage low-impact visitor behavior and a sensitivity towards local culture and biodiversity.

Furthermore, we must take a different approach to design with the idea of showcasing our local strengths without exploiting them. What are ways we can build for tourist accommodation without destroying natural habitat? What are ways in which we can design that celebrates local art and history?

As the integrated resort project efforts continue, we at IDEAS emphasize the importance of incorporating these biological and cultural aspects of the area into the project. The area must be left intact from human encroachment and preserved as a natural heritage site that benefits present and future generations. We hope that the bay area will be left intact in the form of a natural park to attract tourists.

With the right approach, the HA. Kelaa Thundi area is a prime location that can be used to promote ecotourism and showcase the diversity of marine life in the Maldives. We hope that these issues are taken into account, and conversations are held with local stakeholders and policymakers. Ecotourism when adapted on a policy level will promote economic and social development as well as environmental protection.

Fish species found in the area:

Baby sharks
Sting rays
Samoan silverside ( Local name : Thaavalha)- A seasonal fish used as bait.
Redtailed pipefish ( Local name : Venu bandeyri)
Bluespotted cornet fish ( Onugandu tholhi)
Half beak ( baipen tholhi)
Trevally ( handhi)
Double Spotted gueenfish ( Kashi vaali)
Small spotted dart ( Goru vaali)
Snubnose pompano ( rindha Vaali)
Big eye scad ( mushimas) – A seasonal fish
Bengal snapper ( Reendhoomas)
Common silver biddy ( Uniya)
Fringelip mullet ( Mekunu)
Baby trevally ( Korakali / handhala)
Humpback red snapper ( Ginimas)
One spot snapper ( Filolhu)
Painted sweetlips ( Kilanbu Guruva)
Thumbprint emperor ( Lah filohlhu / Vilu filolhu)
Six-fingered threadfin ( Keyla)
Dash-dot goatfish ( Maa kalhuoh’)
Side-spot goatfish ( lah kalhuoh’)
Barred flagtail ( Kattafulhi)
Seven –banded sergeant- major ( Gui burandha/ Gobbooru)
Convict surgeonfish (raabulha)
Spotted Unicornfish ( Thunbi/ a’mas)

Aerial Photography: Island Beauty of Kelaa
Landscape Photography: Adam Saaneez

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May 16, 2017 Kelaa by ideas 0 Comments

Back to the Roots with Faththaah

Imagine yourself as a movie director, excited about a new story you want to film. You spend ages researching the perfect places for the location, because of course, location is key. You pack up all your equipment, and finally your crew and cast catch a flight to one of Maldives’ pristine islands for the shoot.

Upon arrival you expect to find a stunning location but every morning you face a rude awakening. Because even though the sky is perfectly clear, although the sea is stunningly blue, and even if the palm leaves continue to dance in the wind – the beaches are constantly littered with all sorts of plastic and other waste.

This is the story of how Abdul Faththaah came to know and understand the deep rooted problem of waste management in the Maldives. He speaks of how there are days where his crew had to clear 20 bags of waste just to begin shooting! And the problem does not only stay on the beach, it extends inland as well.

From seeing and experiencing these problems, and from talking to locals about their issues, Faththaah has developed a passion for working towards good practices in waste management. Some of the success stories that came out with his involvement as a volunteer include Faresmaathodaa, R. Ungoofaaru, Girllankan Fushi and so on. (You can follow his facebook page here for updates on the work he is involved in).

Because of his experience in helping communities gather and pool their resources to tackle waste management problems at grassroots levels, IDEAS decided to invite him to speak at Madhrasathul Sheikh Ibrahim (MSI) on 16th February 2017.

The session was well attended with all students from grades 5-10 and their parents showing up. In the session, Faththaah spoke of the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, with an emphasis on the REDUCTION aspect.

One of the examples he took was that of energy drink cans. He identified them as one of the most recurring sources of waste on many islands and pointed out the multiple layers of hazards that it causes. Energy drinks cost you wasted money, has negative health effects, and also harms the environment when not disposed properly. Faththaah stressed the importance of making small changes to your lifestyle to make a big positive impact on the environment. For example, reducing the use of such drinks, and opting for a more organic, more environmentally friendly and healthier alternative: fresh juices!

Moreover, he introduced the participants to the Ukulhas model of waste management as a success story, and explained the pros and cons and the feasibility of implementing it in Kelaa. He further connected Kelaa’s agricultural resources and activities to a potential for creating compost on a large and economic scale.

Afterwards, Faththaah and IDEAS also met with the local council and school senior management members to have a fruitful dialogue about how the community and school can come together to tackle issues of waste. In this meeting, we discussed the possibilities of starting sorting and segregation of waste at a school level to increase awareness about different types of waste and different ways to reduce our waste. Faththaah also spoke of how our main hope is the next generation, as our generation has unfortunately handed over an environment in near-ruin.

For us as an NGO passionate about these issues, we too believe that our main hope lies in strengthening our roots – at the school level, at community levels, at grassroots levels.

We thank Faththaah, MSI management, students and parents, and Kelaa council for their time, energy, and active participation.

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March 15, 2017 KelaaMaldives HistoryMaldivian Culture by ideas 0 Comments

Maliku Dhandi and Kelaa Dhandi Group

Age group of performers: 15 – 35 years old
Average no. of performers: 30

Kelaa Dhandi Group is a group of youth living in Male’ who are proud of the culture and heritage of Kelaa. They strive to preserve their traditions through participating in community events and keeping traditional activities alive by performing them consistently over the years. They are firm believers that sharing cultural activities with the public is one of the main ways to preserve Maldivian culture – through exposure, education, and enjoyment.

Maliku Dhandi

Maliku dhandi originated in Maliku Atoll, which is the southernmost atoll of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, north of the Maldives. Maliku dhandi was taught to the people of Kelaa by visitors from Maliku. Although the exact dates of origin are unknown, this is an ancient tradition that the people Kelaa has worked hard to preserve. It has been changing over time with variations added by the locals. Today, the art has been lost from Maliku and is only practiced in Kelaa. Maliku dhandi has two types of stick dance, Mulhifoa Dhandi and Maali Dhandi, both of which the Kelaa Dhandi Group will perform.

All the sticks are made from locally sourced materials such as iron wood (Kuredhi) and Lime berry (Kudhi Lunboa) which are abundant in Kelaa. These are decorated with a ‘Maa’ made of cloth and/or wool. A loose ring of metal caps called Fulus is also attached to the sticks at the bottom. The dance is accompanied by traditional music from a hand drum with singers. The hand drum is called Thaara and is made using the skin of goats or rays.

The people of Kelaa have worked hard to preserve this tradition. Between the years of 1990 and 2000 the art teacher in Kelaa, Amir Usmaan, taught Maliku Dhandi to all male students (grades 5-7) at school as an extra activity. This was done in the hopes to conserve the cultural art of performing Maliku Dhandi. As a result, today many Kelaa youth know the history, culture, and art behind Maliku dhandi because of his hard work and commitment. The members of IDEAS and Kelaa Dhandi Group remember Amir sir and his 2-4 pm Friday afternoon practices fondly, and express their heartfelt gratitude to him.

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