Sustainability the Hawaiian Way (Part 2) – Ahupua’a

“Ahupua’a” by Beth Marcil

“As the native Hawaiians used the resources within their ‘ahupua’a, they practiced aloha (respect), laulima (cooperation), and malama (stewardship) which resulted in a desirable pono (balance). This is sound resource management where the interconnectedness of the clouds, the forests, the streams, the fishponds, the sea, and the people is clearly recognized.” – Carlos Andrade

In Sustainability the Hawaiian Way (Part 1) we talked about “malama ‘aina” – to take care of the land and each other, because we are all connected to the land and each other. In Part 2 we are discussing the Native Hawaiian “ahupua’a” sustainability concept – a pie shaped land division that stretched from mountain to sea that allowed access to all resources. Within the ahupua‘a, highly specialized technologies such as fishponds and lo‘i kalo (taro gardens) ensured an abundance of food. Working in concert with the other ahupua‘a within a moku (district), the Hawaiians created a community-based system of self-sustaining resource management. Principles of ahupua‘a management enabled Hawaiians to sustain large and healthy populations without compromising ecosystem integrity for thousands of years.

To see what an ahupua’a looks like watch this video interview with Earl Kawa’a, who also describes the ahupua’a concept from a Native Hawaiian perspective.

Sustainability the Hawaiian Way (Part 1) – Malama ‘Aina

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”.

Ingredients Hawaii

Sumptuous and soulful, INGREDIENTS HAWAII is a film that captures Hawaii’s farm-to-table movement and is the inspiring portrait of a vibrant food community dedicated to human, environmental and cultural health.

Watch the full film here or watch the shortened version below!

The GMO Battle in Hawaii

Did you know that Hawai‘i is the GMO seed testing capital of the world? Since I have arrived in Hawaii there have been multiple protests against the use of GMO (genetically modified organisms) seeds and crops due to their reputation for causing negative effects on human health, the environment, and economies.

What are GMOs? According to Hawaii SEED they are plant seeds created by scientists in a laboratory where they insert genes into an organism to create new traits. In the United States, GMOs are not labeled. They are in over 75% of processed supermarket foods in ingredients like soy lecithin, canola, corn syrup, and cotton seed oil.

Due to the invasive nature of GMOs, otherwise healthy and sustainable agriculture grown in Hawaii are at risk of being destroyed or contaminated, putting local farmers out of business, risking the health of those who consume the crops and compromising the value of traditional, sustainable Hawaiian land use.

To learn more about GMOs, their local effects and the efforts to stand against them in Hawaii, please visit hawaiiseed.org!

Related articles

• A Crash Course on GMOs (theepochtimes.com)
• Native Hawaiians Standing up Against Use of Land for GMO Experiments (intellihub.com)