tagged w/ Hawaii
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The University of Hawaii Board of Regents unanimously approved a plan Monday to build the world's largest telescope at Mauna Kea's summit.
Link: http://www.zeenews.com/news637540.htmlThe University of Hawaii Board of Regents unanimously approved a plan Monday to build... more
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eva2
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1 year ago
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Our great ancestors still live, a coincidence or not? The spiritual connection they shared must have been felt. Our connection to each other as Hawaiians in modern times has been exploited and culturally decimated. We need to keep our bond to this planet close to us and many of us choose to block our cultural duty to our mother earth. The Kahanamoku Family lost their moku like so many other 'ohana please research and protect and perpetuate what is left of our dying blood.
http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/532434.html?nav=10Our great ancestors still live, a coincidence or not? The spiritual connection they... more
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Kepano
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1 year ago
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Hawaii's state Legislature has had enough of the birthers. It has passed a law that would allow state officials to ignore repeated requests for President Barack Obama's original birth certificate.
More @ linkHawaii's state Legislature has had enough of the birthers. It has passed a law... more
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Ah, the Maui onion – as different from average onions as Maui Gold Pineapple is from … other pineapple, and hence, deserving of its own festival:
Purported to be the sweetest onions in the whole wide world, these glorious bulbs are the star of Maui’s annual festival. The Maui Onion Festival has been a signature event at Whalers Village since 1990. It’s dedicated to the cultivation and promotion of the world-famous Maui Kula Onion and is attended by thousands of visitors and residents every year.
Receive a free Maui Onion Festival canvas bag when you spend $150 or more.
• Free admission
• Recipe contests
• Games & prizes
• Beer garden
• Maui Onion Pairing Dinner • Chef demonstrations
• Live entertainment
• Food booths
• Special retailer offersAh, the Maui onion – as different from average onions as Maui Gold Pineapple is... more
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The Governor of Hawai'i and the Republican demonated caused Hawaii's crisis including failed super ferry. Very unfortunate. Tourism, development and factors never controlled by the minorities who benefit from this. All of Hawaii's money has been outsourced and our dumb ass governor continues to take care of outsiders/foreigners also known as HAOLE aka Sky People :)The Governor of Hawai'i and the Republican demonated caused Hawaii's crisis... more
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Kepano
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2 years ago
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Last year I gave myself a goal: Choose one environmental issue I am passionate about, and rather than send money to an organization, create a hands on project where I can get personally involved and see the difference I make. Without too many deep thoughts involved, I decided to figure out how much garbage I was personally responsible for putting into the ocean, and then go remove it. I got my diver's certification, and...well..that's as far as I got!
There is a part of me that realizes this is ridiculous. It's just a drop in the bucket. At the beginning of the day I believe we ultimately need to be changing large systems so that we aren't forced to live in a way that is inherently damaging to the planet. In the middle of the day, I believe we each need to do our part both personally and politically. At the end of the day, I believe we need to address the damage that has occurred in the past and fix it.
So this New Year's Eve, I made the resolution again, but this time I opted to ask everyone in the Internets to help me, (I also posed a challenge on Current for people to join me and choose just ONE green thing to focus on, and ask us for our help. So far 13 people have taken the 1 Green Thing Challenge.)
So I announced my challenge and asked people to help with the following:
1. Find out how much garbage each American is responsible for dumping into the ocean
2. Discover organizations who are doing clean up efforts and train divers
3. Identify locations in the ocean that are most in need of clean up
I received the following information on garbage stats:
@fakeplasticfish from Twitter offered the following info: You could contact the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and see if they’ve come up with any estimates. Keep in mind though that some of that plastic has been out there since the advent of plastic itself, and also much of it comes from the other side of the Pacific, specifically Japan. I don’t know if anyone knows the answer to that question at this point. But maybe there are rough estimates.
derk is the all time star and delivered this slew of information and the following calculation: 14 billion pounds of garbage was being dumped into the ocean every year - US is responsible for 1/3 (at least) - - so 4.6 billion pounds each year Divide that by the 304,059,724 Americans on record - and you get ... 15.1286067731... lbs.!!!!!!!! I am so committed to removing my share and more!!!!!!
As for locations I received the following advice:
Celia Alario recommended Jaguar Island in the Caribbean
versasrev offered the following map and advise:
Is this the kind of trash in the ocean you are talking about?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_...
Because we seem to have scientists researching the most effective way to clean this up right now, without causing more environmental damage. It seems like the current plan is to think really hard about what the plan should be.
This gal is out and about in the ocean right now studying it.
http://theoystersgarter.com/category/north-pacific-...
OK: So according to Derk's calculation, 15.1286067731 x 37 (my age in 2010) if I am to remove the garbage that I am personally responsible for: I'll be removing 559.758422, aka 560 pounds of garbage out of the ocean.
Today's questions I would love help with:
1. What does 560 pounds of garbage look like?
2. Where should I store it?
3. I need to contact a diving association or organization that specializes in garbage removal: anyone have suggestions?
4. Of course: where should I collect the garbage?
Last year I gave myself a goal: Choose one environmental issue I am passionate about,... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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The Internet connection in Hawaii is very much like the general mentality of Hawaii: easy going, chill, not in any rush to get going. So with that said, I'm going to give you a sneak peek into a few of the good people I have met over the course of the last week at the [re]think Hawaii conference. Couldn't help but notice and enjoy a refreshing perspective that gamers are bringing to the "so, how are we going to deal with these environmental problems?" conversation. Thinking outside the box and the pixels.
The first is Henk Rogers, you may know him as the founder of Tetris, I now know him as the guy who speaks about passion, purpose, and big ideas about saving the planet with Blue Planet Foundation.
The second introduction is to Jill Buck of the Go Green Initiative who shared about an inspiring collaboration that blossomed over the weekend (with another gamer no-less, @adamontherun):
The Internet connection in Hawaii is very much like the general mentality of Hawaii:... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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Guy Toyama, executive director of Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii Authority gives an introduction to the sustainability issues and innovations on the big island. It's a fascinating weaving of science, innovation and "techno-tourism" (aka eco geek vacation destination)
Where does Hawaii stand on the sustainability? It's all about geothermal on the Big Island:
Water and desalination:
The future of NEHELA shows us the solar focuser:
Guy Toyama, executive director of Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii Authority gives... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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A few reflections after a busy day on the Big Island. I went out on the boat with Captain Nancy of Dolphin Journeys with high hopes to swim with a dolphin but came back with reflections on relationships:
This footage is not from Dolphin Journeys, but it is of dolphins swimming in Hawaii, so enjoy!
Video footage of dolphins swimming with the boat:
A brief intro to sustainability efforts on the Big Island at the Hawaii Gateway Energy Center:
A few reflections after a busy day on the Big Island. I went out on the boat with... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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On a daily basis we are bombarded with information that tell us that we need to heal the planet. And yet, I find one of the reasons I have come to love the wilderness is because it (the natural world) heals me. So while in Kauai, I wanted to take some time to connect in with some of the local healers and learn about their relationship to healing and if their is a practice of healing with the land. I ended up getting introduced to Kahuna Valley and aqua craniosacral therapy.
The I worked with Kristen Lukus who worked in a natural salt water tub, who describes the technique below:
So how did it feel? What did Krsten do? She had me wear floats so I floated on the surface of the water and gently moved my body through the water. It was very different, and incredibly relaxing. We had been rushing around at full speed trying to interview as many people as possible about sustainability issues and I had wound myself up into a little anxiety ball and the next thing I knew I was grounded and had a deep sense of calm. I think the thing I remember most was this moment when I was breathing and all of a sudden I was taking a deep breath in and I could continue to breathe in and in, and in, and in, and it seemed like was no limitation to the amount of air I breathe in, it's hard to explain to be true.
At the end of session, we talked about her teacher, Rebecca Geoff, who has special permits to work out in the open ocean and practice this healing technique in the presence of whales and dolphins (it is usually required that you leave the location and are not within a specific distance of whales). She authored the book, Kissing Whales Healing Dolphins. I was fascinated by the idea, and later met an amazing woman on the big island, who takes people out to swim with dolphins. The stories she told me were amazing stories about the healing abilities of dolphins (more on that soon).
Related content:
Eco Travel in Hawaii: the difference between being a tourist and a guest
What lies beneath: Diving into the belly of the planetOn a daily basis we are bombarded with information that tell us that we need to heal... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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Yesterday was sustainability day at the [re]think hawaii conference. While the majority of the conference is tech focused, it was interesting to bring in local people working on sustainability issues to explore and discuss the issues they are addressing. I'm going to introduce you to one of the panelists, Ramsay Taum, who spoke on the panel.
One of the things I am learning to love about the culture of Hawaii is that people answer questions through stories. Ramsay speaks about sustainability and tourism by talking about the tradition of giving and receiving when visiting, and the difference between being a guest and tourist.
Yesterday was sustainability day at the [re]think hawaii conference. While the... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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When you ask most divers why they took up diving, you’ll hear the same thing repeatedly:
1) It’s the last frontier
2) They can’t afford to go to space but they can afford to dive in the ocean
3) They want to experience weightlessness
I took up diving because I am a pragmatic Capricorn:
1) I am afraid of the open ocean. I hate having things around that scare me.
2) This past new year eve I promised myself I would make two commitments to the land. The first was going to be a commitment of time and resource to an organization. (I selected The Woman’s Earth Alliance because I am inspired by the organization’s mission and leaders.) The second promise was that I would focus on one environmental issue that I could have a hands on relationship with. The first thought that came to mind was the images of sea turtles drowning in plastic and getting caught by fishing lines. So I figured what better way to engage than to go into the great mystery of the ocean: source of life, of food, holder of our garbage... and take on the simple project of removing the garbage that I am personally responsible for? (There has to be a stat for that.)
3) I made a new years resolution to have more fun, and I do believe this will fit in that category.
And... the ocean just so happens to be the place whales calls home. I like whales. After all, they are the only mammal that has migrated out of the water, onto land, and back into the water.
I think I feared the ocean because I couldn’t see into it, all I could imagine was a deep dark place teaming with wild creatures prepared and waiting to eat me if I don’t eat them first. Ok, actually, all I could imagine are dead zombies waiting just inches beneath the surface of the water waiting to pull my feet to the bottom of the ocean. But the fact that 71 percent of the planet is covered in water, and that there is this entire world under just under the surface that has volcanoes and deserts and valleys got the best of me~
...so I got my diving certification. I started at my local dive shop in San Francisco, but my schedule didn’t match up with their open water training schedule so I went down to Monterey for the first two open water dives, and then completed my last 2 dives in Maui. While slightly unorthodox to go through 3 different dive shops for my certification (if this of interest, I appreciated each and everyone: The Dive Shop in SF, the one in Monterey (yeah kelp forest), and then finished the open water certification at the Maui Dive Shop in Maui (Juan, my teacher, had the patience of a saint)). I actually appreciated and benefited from the exposure to different teachers, different equipment, and different teaching styles. I’ll also confess that given that I got into this due to my deep seeded fear of the deep dark ocean, I liked the one-on-one attention I received in these individual classes, and eventually managed to succeed at what I now refer to as the highly prized skill of selective thinking.
For me, diving begins on the surface: you begin by floating, then release all the air from BC, and then start the process of sinking to the bottom. It’s in that moment when looking through the goggles: in the top half I can see the sky, in the bottom half I see into the ocean, that I think, "I could die doing this."
And that’s when I start the process of selective thinking. Just as when you are afraid of heights, they tell you don’t look down, I quickly learned not to look up. It is like the container has disappeared and all of a sudden you are in a new planet where there is no end of the world (and btw, no zombies).
There are some things that are used on the surface of the planet that are useless and pointless once inside the belly of the ocean, and time is one of them. I now understand why they teach you to obsessively check your gauge: because once you enter this other world, it's easy to forget you need to return.
The things I had seen and feared turned out to be fine: eels and sharks I swam with turned out turned out be harmless, and after swimming past my first shark in the wild, all I had to do was remind myself that it's name was not jaws.
I became aware that I was the one that could harm this place, and not the other way around. All it took was one moment of carelessness with my fins or fingers, just one touch to the coral and I could kill it. No matter how many times I understand it with my brain, my eyes do not register that that huge rock like structure is by all practical definition an extremely fragile living animal.
It’s hard to comprehend that I was swimming in the belly of one of the sources that sustains this planet.
It’s bazaar to comprehend that we have spent less time and resources exploring the oceans than we have space, that every time the deep water expedition goes down they discover new things.
It’s surreal to imagine that this place which has become a place that feels serene and safe is also a death trap with wayward nets that are killing turtles and dolphins, and that each day it takes in a little more plastics and toxins.
The only rules I need to abide by are don't run out of air, and stay with my partner. Other than that, there are no rules, road signs, right of way, traffic lines, it’s one of the few places you can go on the planet that isn’t regulated. There is space, plenty of space, space to get lost in, a quiet that allows you to get lost in your imagination, in your thoughts, if you can manage to distract yourself from the crazy foot dance of the fish that can’t swim (who knew?) and the pencil fish, and the moray eel, and the parrot fish, and the dolphins, and the mantas...and somewhere out there, the largest beings that have ever lived on this planet are out there, swimming in the same body of water that I am swimming in.
(many thanks to Jack's Diving Locker for providing the video footage)When you ask most divers why they took up diving, you’ll hear the same thing... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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Waikik reminds more of Miami than Hawaii... but I'm here! And so is the ocean~ so life is feeling pretty sweet. And the exciting news to this nature lover, is that right around the corner are the mountains.
I was hoping to get a real sense of place and get the stories of the land and of the people when I was here, and yet it takes time to gain a true sense of pace, so I figured I would cheat and hook up with a local expert.
When I heard about Hina Adventures I was beyond excited: they promise to take you on hikes, talk about the local plants and their medicinal meanings, and best of all, tell the local lore and legends.
I remember when I worked as a naturalist in Alaska and how people would go from elated to slightly deflated as soon as they realized I was their guide. They were expecting a rough and tough macho man with a big beard and a checkered shirt and gun to protect them from bears. Instead, they got me and a can of bear spray.
I experienced a bit of that same deflation when I opened the van door to discover my guide was a young white woman. I had been fantasizing about an older Hawaiian native medicine man with tattoos and hula skirt :)
But founder, Ena Sroat won me over in two seconds flat with her authentic interest, sensitivity, love of the land, extensive knowledge, and knack for story telling.
Ena introduces the local gardens (a native plant restoration project): Na Pohaku o Hauwahine (The Stones of Hauwahine = a lizard/dragon shafeshifter goddess/ protector water-spirit of the marsh & ancient fishpond), on the edge of Kawainui Marsh outside of Kailua town on the Oahu.
Taken at the Ulupo Heiau, and aquaculture temple (heiau = place of worship), outside of Kailua on Oahu.
Ena tells the legend of the at Na Pohaku o Hauwahine (the tree you are looking at in this video)
Of all of the travel I did, this was one of the most connective days I had to Hawaii. It provided me a sense of place...total random side bar, but the experience reminded me of this story:
I worked on one of the first environmental expeditions on Everest a few years back. During that time I spent three months coordinating service projects in the Solu Khombu valley, and spent my time toggling between Namche Bazaar and Everest base camp. I mention it now because I was sitting in a tea house talking to another American as she trekked through the area. When she discovered that I was spending my entire three months in Nepal in this one valley she asked with authentic surprise, “How could you spend all of your time only in this valley?” and my response was, “How could you not?” I had gotten the opportunity to participate and get to know the people, experience the culture of sitting in the kitchens rather than just sit on the outside. It changed the way I wanted to travel forever, understanding that less (travel) really can mean more (experience).
Related links:
Coconut! Build with it, eat out of it, heal hang overs…and more~
[re]Thinking sustainability in Hawaii
Video Postcards of Hawaii
Waikik reminds more of Miami than Hawaii... but I'm here! And so is the ocean~ so... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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Guess what I found on my way to the conference this morning?
COCONUT BASKETS!! So cool. I chatted with Ronnie as he wove baskets from coconut trees on the side of the street. He was kind enough to chat about coconut trees, his wild and unusual life, and of course...sustainability. Ronnie explained that coconut palms have incredibly strong fibers and that these baskets last for years. (He also told me he was able to build a house from coconut. If I disappear, you have 1 hint about where to find me.)
Ronnie went to explain the many uses of coconut trees:
When we started to talk about why I was here, (to explore sustainability issues in Hawaii), Ronnie explained the hot topic on everyone's minds~ that Hawaii only has 3-5 days worth of food at any given time on the island. But then he went on to explain that there are plenty of ways to think about sustainability and living off the land, and that he is able to harvest plenty of fruit and food off of the trees just out of town.
Not a bad way to start the morning (and don't let the cat out of the bag about what I'm giving my family for Christmas this year :)Guess what I found on my way to the conference this morning?
COCONUT BASKETS!! So... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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What's green and blue and twittered all over? This week: Hawaii. Why? because Christine Lu is at it again~ and has organized an international group of innovators (she fondly refers to them as geeks on a plane) from around the world to come together and [re]think Hawaii.
We’re creating an intersection – bringing an international group of people together who might otherwise never cross-paths – in the certainty that they’ll connect, share and learn from each other who have shared interests in solving problems and rethinking tech, business and sustainability.
I am honored to be apart of the gathering and will be following the sustainability track, speaking on a panel, and exploring the various challenges and solutions Hawaii faces with political leaders and sustainability experts. Why is Hawaii worth looking at? It is a fascinating microcosm to study and learn from given that as an island culture, they are aware of their dependency on fuel and other cultures and the potential affects of the energy crisis unlike other geographic locations. That may sound like jargon in the moment, but stay tuned for more details....
For now I leave you with a short video clip of Stella Burgess, the director of Hawaiian culture and community relations. Stella discusses the meaning of the Hawaiian motto and how it's meaning is integrated as a way of life in Hawaii:
I'll be chattering about all things sustainability on Twitter, but there are plenty of other people who are focused on tech and buisness so if you want to follow along on twitter check out the hashtags #rethink and #goap.
Related Links:
Video post cards from Hawaii (video)
Bio-Beetle in Maui
Carbon 2.0: Carbon calculators and footprintsWhat's green and blue and twittered all over? This week: Hawaii. Why?... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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Before heading off to Hawaii, I asked the good people of Current what they wanted to learn more about while I was there. The list was extensive. I won’t pretend, I got a bit stressed when trying to figure out how I was going to cover all of the topics and have enough time to have the experiences that would provide me the opportunity to speak to the topic I was most invested in: connecting to the land and people of that place.
As I write the title of this blog post, I hesitate. I think back to the high speed pace of my trip to Hawaii, and wonder how authentic I can be when speaking about my connection to that land. When I worked as a wilderness guide, I learned about connection, when I garden, I learn about connection, when I lived in the same valley in Nepal for three months, I learned about connection, and one of the prevailing themes I learned from each of these experiences is that it takes time, quiet time, to develop connection with a place.
So when Kelvin Ho sent me an email offering to facilitate a blessing at sunrise, I stopped worrying about if I was going to get enough interviews and see enough things, and relaxed into the idea that I was in good hands.
Kelvin met me at my hotel, and we headed out to the ocean. As we became acquainted, I felt instantly at ease. Kelvin was a kind and gentle soul who spoke with a slow cadence, and a reverence for the land and the traditions of Hawaii. We stopped for a moment to listen to the earth breathe. No really, look for yourself! :)
I couldn't help but immediately open the can of worms and inquire about the role of the green movement and the surge of eco tourism. Kelvin shared, “The Green movement and eco tourism holds environmental sustainability as a guiding light for its awareness, action and interaction. The host culture here sees this as an awakening to a basic truth that the Hawaiian and all native peoples hold as sacred. That we as humans are not separate from the environments we live in. Recognizing and educating oneself of the huge impact that tourism has on these fragile islands is the first step. Realizing your presence here does make a difference, ask yourself what kind of difference you would like to make.”
Once reaching the ocean, we stood in the water, and faced the mountain. Kelvin explained that the process was similar to the tradition that might have taken place in Hawaiin communities: when a visitor entered a village for the first time, they would were introduced to the community elder or leader. In this case: that elder was considered the mountain. And so we stopped and acknowledged the mountain. Then Kelvin dropped me off a spot that overlooked the ocean to experinece what he called a "wind out." I couldn't resist pulling out my camera so I would be able to share the experience with you.
I loved the paradigm shift. After flying 2,460 miles across the Pacific, the process of stopping, placing my feet in the water, my eyes and intention on the land, brought me into the present. And before I could think or plan: I was doing exactly what I wanted most: taking time to connect to the land. I immediately sensed the difference: it wasn't just the land, it wasn't just the ocean, it was the island, it was the people, and it was the history and the stories of this place. I could tell that two days on this island was not going to be enough, and found myself wondering how I was going to break it to my boss that I wanted to start working remotely…permenentlty...
We parted ways, and the next morning I woke before dawn to meet Kelvin for an awakening ceremony.
We met just as the sun was rising and began our morning by shredding Ti leaves as a way of making Lei that we would then wear during the ceremony. Kelvin explained that different Lei were used in different ceremonies, and that we were making a kind that was used as a vessel for intention.
On our way back to the hotel, we chatted about Kelvin's work with youth at risk and his efforts to reunite youth with traditional practices.
"The connection I offer here is to support the reconnection of youth at risk in the islands with the timeless wisdom and values of their native culture. To help them heal through the process of interaction with nature and learning the roles, skills awareness of conscious stewardship. Our program’s intention is to embrace the youth entrusted to our care, its cultural focus is to give a direct experience with and instill respect for unity.
In this time of economic recession it is tragic that everywhere our youths pay the price of having access to fewer services and opportunities. We (The Haleopip Organization) reach out for help and support from the green community and ecotourism to make a difference in the future of these sacred and fragile islands by supporting cultural sustainability."
I didn't have time to volunteer with The Haleopip organization because we headed to another island the next night.
But thanks to Kelvin, I did have the opportunity to connect with Kuai. So, do I get to eat crow? Is it possible to connect to a place when traveling at a high pace? Perhaps this is why people spend years of their lives meditating: so they can always be present (heh). The verdict is still out, but I can't pretend that the time spent in consious refelction deepened my connection to that place. I can't wait to go back.
"If the success or failure of this planet and of human beings depended on how I am and what I do,
How would I be? What would I do?"
R. Bucky Fuller
You can learn more about The Haleopip Organization at their website and can participate by volunteering while on vacation and of course they are accepting donations.Before heading off to Hawaii, I asked the good people of Current what they wanted to... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. When I was a child growing up in rural Vermont, my father visited and brought back my first pair of earings. They were a soft orange and pink stone, unlike anything I had ever seen. So my associations of Hawaii were of soft, gentle, exotic, Elvis, and…well surfers of course. But that was it.
I came with the desire to explore Hawaii’s place in the sustainability movement, find out why everyone started every email with Aloha and ended it with Mahalo, and make a study of what it meant to explore and travel with an eco conscious. To be introduced to the idea that the connections to the land was woven into the way of life for Hawaiians not only as a spiritual practice but also governing practice, was quite the intro into this enquiry.
Our first stop was Oahau. Needless to say, Honolulu was not the Hawaii I was expecting. It was a bustling busy bona fide city. But before my bubble could be burst, I was experiencing the spirit of Aloha as my seatmate offered to help me find my way to my hotel.
The hotel provided a tour of the grounds, and the guide introduced me to the sacred coconut grove where the royalty used to hold court, but also to the state seal which was carved onto every door of every room. It read, UA MAU KEEA OKA AINA, “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” As I stepped into my room, I realized I was stepping over a threshold, that I was being introduced to a new world that I hadn’t dared to fully imagine.
I pondered the term, and had to ask for clarity. Did it really mean what I thought?
The life
Of the land
Is perpetuated in righteousness.
To live righteously: words that come to mind include courage, stamina, strength, and bravery. So if I am to understand, in order for the life of the land to continue: we must perpetually live righteously. Now this is a new paradigm.
The next day I would speak to Kelvin Ho about the topic, as well as Stella Burgess, the director of Hawaiian culture and community relations as my hotel (how cool is that??) and would learn that looking at a life of enquiry: do you live in balance? What will serve? Do you hold yourself in balance understanding what you are connected with? Do you do your part as humans as stewards for the land. Check out Kelvin and Stella speaking for themselves.
I couldn’t have put words to it before I arrived, but yes, this is why I came, because Hawaii is a place where the people live so closely and intimately with the physical elements, that their relationship with the land is written into their state motto. I was beside myself to understand how that translated to the way they looked at how they cared for their physical environment and addressed sustainability issues.
As I opened the windows to feel the warm humid air, I also took in the lush and exotic scent of flowers, plants, and trees I had never seen in person before, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the land was prepared to grow over the buildings at any moment if the gardeners allowed it. That I didn’t know, but I did know one thing for sure, “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
I might just be in heaven. Suddenly the continent (how Hawaiians refer to the states) felt very, very far away.I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. When I was a child growing up in rural... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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