Kokua Kalihi Valley

The ancient Hawaiians, like most native peoples of the pacific islands, lived off of their land. They planted such foods as kalo (taro) and ulu (breadfuit) and raised livestock like the pua’a (pig). Yet, just as much as these ancestors took from the land, they also gave back to her. They nourished the ground upon which their village relied on; for food, for shelter, and for protection. They valued the land, the aina, because they understood that to keep themselves alive, they needed to keep the land alive.

In modern times, our technology has advanced. We can feed thousands of more people on the island with products of machinery than we can with a field worker. Yet, the tradition of giving back to the land, who still feeds us, shelters us, and protects us, is still alive in Kalihi Valley Nature Park. I had the opportunity to participate in a project there, and what I saw was nothing short of inspiring.

Photo credit: Annie Rogers

The beauty and mystery of the nature park is that hardly anyone knows it’s there, and so when you find out about it, the feeling is as close to finding treasure as one can get. My high school history teacher had certified a tree to be planted in honor of each senior in my graduating class. A few of my classmates volunteered to help plant what we would later affectionately call our “keiki.” We were hesitant at first, not fully understanding what we were getting ourselves into. Yet, that first shovel of dirt into the ground kicked off what would become one of the greatest weeks of my life. It’s an unbelievable feeling to tend to the land. You don’t realize how important soil is to you until it’s running through your fingers, flying through your hair, or dusting on your clothes.

Being a part of the land, where our ancestors have walked, where concrete buildings have not been erected to cover their footprints, is amazing. You breathe in the air and know that it’s actually fresh. You look up to the sky and instead of seeing metal skyscrapers, you see nature’s original skyscrapers: massive, swaying, tall trees. The goddess of the forest is Laka, and appropriately she is also the goddess of hula, for the way the trees sway, almost as if they are dancing.

The ancient Hawaiians worshiped their land for all of her offerings. This tradition has dwindled greatly, but organizations such as Kokua Kalihi Valley make it a point to keep it alive. You can too. Yet, that doesn’t always mean getting out there with a pick and shovel, even though it helps the land physically. By simply taking the time to admire her beauty, you are doing her justice and rewarding yourself. We are so lucky to live in these islands; you hear the phrase often enough, but how many actually treasure it? And so, there is your challenge for the week: take a look out the window and gaze at the beautiful mountains, the lush greenery, and mother nature at her finest.

Related posts:

1. Maui: The Valley Isle On the East side of the island of Maui...
2. The Art of the Hula Hula The historic origins of the hula are as...
3. Local Snacks: A New Series on Hawaii Traditions Local Snacks One of my absolute favorite island snacks...
4. The Hawaiian People I always find it amusing that historians credit discoveries...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.