Sustainable Hawaii illustration by Pegge Hopper – Honolulu Weekly 2011
Malama ‘Aina
“In ancient Hawaii the concept of sustainability meant to support (koo) or feed (‘ai kau). Taking care of (malama) the land (‘aina) and honoring a person’s ties to their ‘ohana (family) and ancestors of the land was a centuries-old custom, and these ancient Hawaiian cultural values were primarily focused on ways to nourish and sustain island families and communities. Their continued existence depended upon successful cycles of harvest from the land and seas and has been recreated for modern times by studying and replicating authentic past practices; and sustained by shared activities such as canoe-building, woodworking, herbal medicine practices and agriculture. Perhaps the Hawaiian word that best describes sustainability is hooulu, which means to enter in and inspire; to grow, sprout and propagate; to increase and to protect.” –Lucy Jokiel
Last month I attended a talk by Kamuela Enos, at the First Annual Hawaii Sustainability in Higher Education Summit at University of Hawaii West Oahu, called “Towards an Aina-Based Sustainability Model“. The intent of the talk was to “create a new sustainability paradigm, one based on traditional land use practices.” The first example of traditional Hawaiian land use models given was “kumulipo” – we are related to the landscape. The second model was built upon the concept of familial obligation. How do I interpret this? My take is: if we are related to the landscape we have a direct connection to it. We are a part of it like we are a part of our parents. Finally, we have a familial obligation to the land because we are related to it, we come from it and it is a part of us. Let’s take care of it (and each other!).
The Four Integrated Components of Aina-Based Sustainability (with Hawaiian translations) are:
1. To sustain natural living systems (Waiwai)
2. To sustain human populations (Kanaka)
3. To sustain knowledge systems (‘Ike)
4. To sustain political rights to land (Mana)
Compare the components of the Hawaiian concept of sustainability with the components of the Western concept (to sustain environment, society, and economy). Where do you think they are similar? Where are they different? Considering that Hawaiians effectively sustained this model for thousands of years on their own, in one of the most remote places in the world, one has to wonder why things had to change…
“Aina-based sustainability shows that what will be good for Hawaiians will be good for everyone” – Kamuela Enos
In Part 2 of Sustainability the Hawaiian Way, I will discuss the Native Hawaiian technology for complete sustainability – the “ahupua’a”.
Sustainability Studies 