“Ma ka hana ka ‘ike” (by observing one learns), is what the Advanced Hawaiian language students learned. They traveled to Kaua’i from April 23 to April 25 for a class service trip. On Kaua’i, they went to multiple places including Maka’uwahi cave, Waipa, and Anahola. On the first day, the students went to Maka’uwahi cave, which is in Maha’ulepu, Koloa, Kaua’i. They helped restore ancient grounds by taking out invasive species and they also constructed a Hawaiian rock wall. All of this was done with the help of the native Ni’ihau people. It was interesting for the Hawaiian language students to hear the native Hawaiian dialect, which the Ni’ihau people spoke. The amazing aspect of this was that the students conversed with the people. This gave the students an opportunity to practice what they learned in the classroom with the native speakers.
Another Hawaiian proverb that stood out from this trip was “He ali’i ka ‘aina he kaua ke kanaka” (The land is a chief, the people are the workers). Students visited Waipa to work in the lo’i kalo, plant native plants, harvest kalo, see the source of Waipaʻs water, and pounded the kalo into pa’i’ai. This place was special because instead of reading from a book, the class experienced, first hand on how an ahupua’a system worked in ancient times. The question that stood out in their minds was: “How do use what we learned in our modern society?” The students can now answer this question. It began with kalo as its eldest brother; this kalo fed the entire Hawaiian society. Knowing this, the students realized the importance of the land. If you take care of the land, the land will take care of you. It starts off with aloha, if you give aloha, aloha will come back in return…
Students who participated in this trip are:
Kauilaha’aikekaioniuli’i Chock
Palani DePonte
Cody Maika’i-St. Louis
John Mayer
Christina Rezentes
Alyx Vasconcellos
Kahakuokapunawainoa Wellbrock
Scott Witter