Apuakea |
Ulumano |
This is the rain associated with Ko'olau Poko. From a young age I grew fond of the rain, as it can be incredably memorizing. Each falling rain drop created a symphony of relaxing noise.
|
This is the wind also associated with Ko'olau Poko. In the winter months, leaves blew through the wind as it howled. It was the closest thing to autumn in Hawai'i.
|
Ko'olau Mountain Range |
He'eia Stream |
I associate with the Ko'olau Mountain Range, not only because I was introduced to it at such a young age, but because it is such a magnificent structure. It stands strong and proud as it basks in the sunlight, or when shaded by the clouds.
|
I associate with He'eia Stream because it runs directly behind my house. After it storms the streams often lulls my family to sleep. My sister loves to catch fish in the stream with her friends, while I often simply enjoy the shocking feel of the icy water.
|
My Home
Growing up in Kaneohe, I was introduced to the lush vegetation which surrounded my house. Barely a week old, I was acquainted with the plants and insects which roamed around. I opened my eyes to branches of trees meshing together to create a barrier from the harsh sunlight. Living next to the mountain resulted in an abundance of rain. Pictures capture the moments I would sit next to glass doors and stare at the rain fall. It is from these moments as a young child that I grew to be accustom to waking up to a view of the Ko’olau Mountain Range.
Mālama Honua
Mālama Honua translates to caring for the earth, but it is so much more. It is understanding how our existence impacts the world positively and negatively. Life is created every day, but yet the earth is still so vulnerable. Humans are at the top of the food chain, we cause the most damage, but on the contrary we can do so much good. Mālama Honua is made up of so many contradicting statements. I believe that the statements above stand as a representation of what this endeavor holds.
As a haumana of Mālama Honua I am striving to gain an understanding of the inner workings of the land. To learn the basics of how something works, it’s important to learn the nitty gritty details. There’s a difference between common knowledge and fully understanding something. One barely scratches the surface, while the other contains all aspects. I aspire to acquire a new perspective with different issues covered through the year.
As a haumana of Mālama Honua I am striving to gain an understanding of the inner workings of the land. To learn the basics of how something works, it’s important to learn the nitty gritty details. There’s a difference between common knowledge and fully understanding something. One barely scratches the surface, while the other contains all aspects. I aspire to acquire a new perspective with different issues covered through the year.
Aloha 'Āina
Aloha ‘āina translates to loving the land or love of the land, but it has a much larger connotation. Aloha ‘āina is the act of caring for the land and perpetuating healthy acts which work to create a healthy environment. It can be described as an understanding more or less than a statement. It is the harmony between land and man; mutual respect and care.
It is much easier to be an advocate for Aloha ‘āina then to actually carry out the motions. It is difficult to explain what Aloha ‘āina means when you are unable to strongly relate to it. Mālama Honua and Aloha ‘āina are two different concepts to which I am being introduced to. Both are much deeper than taking care of the land; that is only a small portion of it. It seems to be that the two overlap as there is a general trend. There still needs to be a large amount of research done on my part to fully understand the two. I have the basic understanding of both, but I need the in-depth details. Aloha ‘āina and Mālama Honua cannot be learned in a matter of a couple months, but instead I believe it is an experience which takes time.
It is much easier to be an advocate for Aloha ‘āina then to actually carry out the motions. It is difficult to explain what Aloha ‘āina means when you are unable to strongly relate to it. Mālama Honua and Aloha ‘āina are two different concepts to which I am being introduced to. Both are much deeper than taking care of the land; that is only a small portion of it. It seems to be that the two overlap as there is a general trend. There still needs to be a large amount of research done on my part to fully understand the two. I have the basic understanding of both, but I need the in-depth details. Aloha ‘āina and Mālama Honua cannot be learned in a matter of a couple months, but instead I believe it is an experience which takes time.
My Perspective
Exploring the island and driving in every direction has exposed me to the reality that green has been replaced by grey. Plants are sacrificed for the extensive highways disrupting there way of life. Often, nature is forced to obey what we lay before it. The modern way of thinking tends to clash with the Hawaiian mindset. Man is servant to the land, but modern society has twisted the statement in favor of our needs as mortals.