In class Mr. Blake gave us a challenge. This was not just any type of challenge, it was very different. Our teacher gave us a paper bag with 20 dried spaghetti noodles, one medium cut or string, a long amount of masking tape, and a big marshmallow! We had the time of 11 minutes to create the tallest standing alone structure with the marshmallow on top. When the timer began my group and I stared to come up with plans on how we could build the structure. We left the marshmallow on the side, hoping to put it on last. We focused on making the bottom part, the base, strong. After we completed the base strongly, we decided to add more noodles to create height, because we needed our base strong, we did not have enough dried noodles our "tall" part of the structure was very thin and easily breakable. When there was about 30 seconds left on the timer, we added the marshmallow to the top. When we tried to let the structure stand alone, it failed, we tried to tape everything all over again quickly before the timer went off. The count down from 5 began, we let go and the noodles quickly cracked! We realized that we should have created a strong structure through all parts, and we should have started off with the marshmallow. This was a great learning experience that was very fun!
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After growing the Healani Tomato plant in our Mālama Honua classroom for a month, today we are finally allowed to take them to our own hale and allow them to grow. While doing research and keeing data, I have realized my plant is the smallest in the class. I am hoping in the two weeks that I am allowed to help them grow, it will become stronger and it will start to grow quicker. I have two of the same Helani plants. I have split the two into different pots. I have decided that I am going to put one pot on my front porch, the “L” pot, and the other pot, the “R” pot, on my back porch . I am hoping that by the end of this two week experiment both plants will be strong and has grown a large amount. I will be keeping information and data to see which pot/plant will grow the quickest and stringest. I am very excited to keep research on the Healni tomatoes that I am taking home.
We have learned the importance of locally sourced food. But does that really matter to you? I never really thought about where my food came from, until this schoolyear. This past weekend I had the opportunity to take mydiscussion and research into action. I ate a full locally sourced meal. I went to a small local restaurant in Lā'ie, 'Seven Brothers.' This is a family runnedbusiness that serveslocally sourced, and non-locally sourced meals, it isall up to you to choose. I decided to eat the 'Garden Burger' although in the name it sounds like it has meat in it, it does not. There was acutally a fried avocado that was substituted for a burger. There was spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, and for the "burger bun" there were thicker parts of spinach to hold everything inone. In my opinion, I thought it was actually super tasty. Before I ate the meal, I thought it would be really gross, just from the looks of it. Now I would prefer a locally sourced meal over any other type of meal. The coolest thing I thought about this experience was the meal just had such a fresh taste to it. Knowing it was all local food together is a great feeling.
A couple weeks ago we headed as a class to Waimanalo. At first I was not aware that Waimanalo had a farm. I am so grateful I was able to experience a farm on that side becase I rarley go over on that side. When we first got to the farm we took a tour from the uncle that helps keep the farm running. The land in all adds up to 128 acres. This is a lot of land to seed a variety of different, reliable plants. We got to experience and observe many different plants through the tour. Some of the types were dry kalo, hibiscus, banana trees, and even lettuce. After learning about the variety of plants, flowers, and more about the land, it was time to work.
We started cleaning around the Ulu trees. We pulled out the weeds, picked up the leafs, and garbage near the trees. After doing this for a while it made me realize how important it is to keep our reliable plants healthy and stable. Ulu is a providing factor, it is very important for us as the Hawaiian people to make sure it is in great condition at all time. In all, I had a very enjoyable experience during the learning trip, I am so glad we had the chance to help and serve the Waimanalo farm. This quarter in Mālama Honua I have been blessed to learn so much. I have learned to manage my own Weebly page. Before I started the classI didn’t know how to manage or even produce my own website page. Now I am pretty familiar with the whole creating and managing a site and how it all goes. I know how to upload blog posts, and even picutres of what we learn and write about in class.
Not only have I learned so much about running an active weebly page, but I have also learned and have been more in tune with my Hawaiian culture. Learning about the ʻāina and how important it is for us to open and observe creates such a thick bond between you and the land. I have learned to open my eyes and see the flowers and trees around me. Observe the winds and the rains. To physically stop and look at what surroundesus. The ʻāina was such a huge factor to our people of Hawaiʻi. The land was a huge reliable souce that provided so much. For us as Hawaiian people we need to value and take responcibility of where our ʻāina is today. I have somewhat learned the real meaning of what mālama honua is. I say “somewhat” because I know there is way more to learn about it. So far, Mālama Honua is to take care of the land. This meaning it is the physical actions that we do to keep the earth healthy and clean. This majorly involves us because we are a huge factor. Taking care of our land is very important because it is our environment, we are always going to be a part of it no matter what. This is a big lesson for us, to rememebr that we NEED to take care of our land. I am so grateful for all that I have learned this quarter, and I look forward learnign more throughout the school year. While reading this “walaka” article about how now days “Hawaiians” are not Hawaiian, it opened up my eyes to have a personal reflection and decide if I agree with this debate or not.
I am going to have to disagree with this article. The article is basically saying that we Hawaiians cannot call ourselves “Hawaiian” because we are not doing the exact things that our Hawaiian ancestors did. In my opinion you don’t have to be in the loʻi and planting kalo to be Hawaiian. You don't have to walk around the ʻāina barefoot to be a Hawaiian. What I consider a Hawaiian is someone who is proud of their culture from the inside. You don't have to do the things that our people did back them. Of course the Hawaiian culture has a lot of practices and it is always great to practice them again. There are also a lot of other things that we can physically do to be counted as a Hawaiian. I think being Hawaiian comes from within, your true love for the culture and being Hawaiian. While growing up I always heard about the historic place of Mokauea. I have heard Hawaiian stories that have taken place there. I never really had a clear understanding of what Mokauea was, or even where it was. When Aunty Kehau came to visit out Mālama Honua class I felt a lot more educated about what and where Mokauea is.
I am very excited to be apart of the history that goes on at Mokauea. Learning more and more about the island creates a much more deeper understanding of the culture that Mokauea has to offer. Mokauea is very scared ground, to even have the opportunity to be a part of this sacred land is such a real feeling. I am very excited to get my hands and feet dirty, lost in the service of the ʻāina. Our ʻāina is so important to care for, that it what keeps our culture and people alive. All of the care and work that we put into keeping our land clean and flourishing, it provides for us. I cannot wait to explore and observe the Mokauea island for myself. To be in such a special place is so important for us as Hawaiians to have a better understanding of what our culture was and still should be. In my opinion a Hawaiian scientist is someone who studies the Hawaiian culture. It is someone who does research and collects data on what we as Hawaiians did back then. It is very important for our Hawaiian culture to have these Hawaiian Scientist. They provide us with the knowledge that we need. These Scientist travel to different islands to gain more knowledge. All of the ocean life, plant life, and the ʻāina is all studied through the Hawaiian Scientist. They make observations through nature to help others apart of our culture. It is important for us as young and present Hawaiians to use these Hawaiian scientist as positive examples. We should strive to do research and protect our culture and ʻāina.
Last weekend we were on a hurricane watch. This hurricane was named Lane and he was ranked as a category 5. Of course in the beginning of the week when the warning had just came out the first instinct I think everyone went to was panic! All stores on island had long lines and as time ran out, they were becoming short of supplies. As the week went on the panic and rush to being prepared had became more intense day by day. On Wednesday basically everything on the island were closed. Because we did not have school for the rest of the week, observations were taken to note during Hurricane Lane.
Although the hurricane did not majorly impact my part of the island as bad as some of the other areas I did find a lot of study from the nature around out of the three days. The first day was a Thursday. I noticed it was overcast and cold. The clouds were different shades of gray, and you could not spot the sun. It did rain very little and lightly. The wind did pick up when it got later in the day, I noticed a lot of plants in my yard quickly moving back and forth. The second day was a Friday. Friday had a very different impact on the other days. The weather was much colder. The wind was a lot stronger and forceful, I noticed a lot of leafs plants on the ground destroyed. The clouds were very thick and dark gray, the rain was very strong and went on very long. The waves at the beach were very big and choppy. The current was also very forceful. The last day was Saturday. Saturday was a very calm day. There was not too much rain, the rain was very light and it came in different sections of time throughout the day. The clouds were a lot lighter and you were able to see the sun peek out. The waves were a lot calmer as well. While I did the observations I saw different effects change throughout the days to our land. Friday was by far the most powerful weather day. Thursday it was very calm and overcast, to Friday that was very strong in everything. The moon for all three days were Hua and the winds were all easterly. I found the observations from this week very interesting. This personally opened my eyes to see our land in different perspectives. Mālama Honua in my opinion means to take care of the land. This meaning it is the physical actions that we do to keep the earth healthy and clean. This majorly involves us because we are a huge factor. Taking care of our land is very important because it is our environment, we are always going to be a part of it no matter what. With all of this being said, it is a big responsibility! We need to keep our land in the best shape and form it can possibly be in. Now personally for me to take care of our earth has a much more stronger meaning because of how much the ʻāina is changing. So many man-made objects have had negative impactful effects on our environment. An example of this would be the air pollution that are coming from companies and factories. As a Hawaiian it is always great to be a part of activities that we do to help keep our land healthy. Some activities that we can do to start would be, working in the loʻi, cleaning our beaches and streets, or even recycling! Keeping our earth clean has to be a main priority.
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AuthorI'm Braelyn Akana, currently a senior at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. I live from Hauʻula on the North Shore side of the island of ʻOahu. Archives
February 2019
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