Sustainability is known by many different definitions. Some say its through action, while others say its through the words we speak. Lets turn to the root word of that which is sustainable. Sustainable means the ability to be able to be maintained at a certain rate or level, or, the ability to be upheld or defended. I can relate this to our honua, earth. We need to be more sustainable so that this place can last and have a positive impact on the future generations. I am very much thankful for the personal characteristics and traits that being sustainable has taught me through this class. While we are trying to be sustainable and have sustainability in our actions through growing plants and learning about food and land, I have also learned about being humble, taking care of our responsibilities, reaching out and providing for others, as well as learning the knowledge of history and insight that can be passed down from generation to generation. So very much in sustainability I am thankful for the opportunity where I can learn from others to help boost and gain my knowledge and insight into a whole new level of greatness.
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Responsibility and taking self-action is not always in the vocabulary of some people in today's society. Many of us are either too lazy or are too busy with the life style of today's world that we are not able to do things that can make us more sustainable or more eco-friendly. Individually it would be hard to make a chance on our own, but if we find motivation, inspiration, and drive, that is when we can truly make a difference for and with others. We can become more responsible for our own food production my taking small steps. These may incluse, growing a plant or two in our garden/yard, recycling materials, reusing items that can be used again, as well as reducing the amount of trash, pollution, and harm that we do to the environment. These are ways where we can be more responsibile, take care of our earth, and live a healthier lifestyle all ultimatley taking care of the ideology of becoming better caretakers of our aina and our wahi pana. Though we may not a see a direct connection, there is always good thing that come out of changes our lifestyle to become more sustainable.
Being given this oppportunity to experience this place was amazing. Before going, I used to see this island a lot as I used to paddle for the school and practices were held right there. But now being able to say I have been there and experieced the place is a whole new story. Our job there was to internalize the place using our senses and observations as well as to give back to the place by doing service. During this time, I was part of the data collection team and by data that I collected was on the salinity and pH levels of the water around the island as well as in the loko iʻa. I got to really feel the hurt that this island endured. Hearing the chanting of the native birds crying out in plea, to the native sea snails that lay hidding under the rocks from the danger that lies ahead, I got to get one on one with nature and understand that we need to do something to protect our land for the future generations. I want to give others the opportunity to get connected to our land and stand up for it. One huge aspect that hit home on this trip was when aunty spoke to us about its history and the struggles that this place endured, which caused broken lives, hearts, and ultimately land. All in all, like Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world", lets be the first ones to make a move to change this world for the better!
We will be going on a learning opportunity trip to Mokauea island located at the kai area of kapālama ahupuaʻa. Traditionally this placed housed the master navigators and fishermen of our people. There I hope to learn about the things that reside there, such as the animals, life, plants, and invasives. Another aspect that I really want to learn about is the ancient moʻolelo or stories of the place along with the history. One major aspect that I hope to experience on this learning trip is to feel the mana and hurt that is here at the place. This wahi pana has experienced great negative change and so it will be interesting to feel this change in my heart and through my eyes, using all of my senses to understand the responsibility that I now have to care for this place.
Makahiki is an aspect of our Hawaiian culture, if anything, the biggest aspect of our culture that makes us Hawaiian. This was about half of our calendar year, consisting of games, fun, minimum work, praise to the God Lono, giving thanks, and ringing in the New Year. During the time of Makahiki, the best craftwork, woodwork, featherwork, fishing, hunting, and many other things were given to the Gods and the Aliʻi to show thanks and paying respects to them. The aliʻi nui, kahunas, and many others, carried the big staff, Lonoikamakahiki, around the island collecting the goods "taxes", that the people would offer in this time. Games that strengthened skills, knowledge, intelligence, and reaction were played to train people in certain ways. Also during this time, there was no battles or war that took place as it was forbidden. But what does the word Makahiki itself, actually mean?
When understanding the makawalu of a name, everyone can interpret it in different ways. In the Hawaiian language, one word can mean many things, and the way you break up big words can be interpreted one way or another. For makahiki, I interpreted that into two words. One being Maka, eye. The other being hiki, or to arise. The reason why I believe that this is the correct makawalu for this time is that the beginning of the Makahiki season is signaled by the rising of the "7 seven sisters" constelation, called makaliʻi in Hawaiian. Being that my makawaly on Makahiki means the eyes that arise, it makes sense that the "eyes" are refered to the 7 stars in the sky that "arise" to signal the time of Makahiki season. Thus why I believe that this meaning seems correct and appropriate to believe about the name Makahiki. |
AuthorBeing Hawaiian isn't just understanding who you are and where you come from, but feeling within your nāʻau the passion to learn ʻike to pass on to the future lāhui. Here is my journey through Mālama Honua and how I am making a difference here in Hawaiʻi. Archives
December 2016
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