Resource and time management are one of the most important issues that we face today. Who do these resources benefit? How will they be used and for what purpose? How much time will it take? Will i ever see the effects in my lifetime? Lot of questions come up in regards to these two issues. And why are these things issues to begin with, simple because both are limited and scarce. “What we do today doesn’t affect the here and now, it affects the future of our child and their children.” “Who is gonna stand up for them, while they have no voice?”

Take only what you need.

I used to hear it often back in the days, “all they do is take, take, take, when is enough?” In the words of some famous pirates ” take what you can, give nothing back.” I think as a society we have drifted away from this concept to live more comfortable lives. We have things such as refrigerators which can prolong the need to buy or acquire food. We have become out of touch with our surroundings and because we do not look and see, or because we do not recognize the changes happening around us we do not worry about our effect on the environment or in the situation. Through this disconnection we can end up causing more harm than good. I think some of the funny things I hear the old-timers say often is, I don’t want anything or I don’t need anything, if I need something it will appear or I can go get it. Wouldn’t the world be amazing if this concept was applied worldwide, imagine the peace and prosperity from living a simple life style.

There’s to much I and not enough we thinking. We never learned anything in just one way or in one day, so how can we expect to be taught in the same way? Everyone is unique and has different circumstances and upbringing. Can we not say “that we have been raised by a village.”

Ooh this is a tough one. Just like respect, relationships can form with people, places and things. It’s like the noun of the universe wether for good or bad. We build relations through frequent heartfelt interactions. A good friend once told me, ” when we interact with each other we exchange a little bit of ourselves and are changed forever, and when we leave we take a little bit of the other with us for the rest of our lives. ” The difficult thing is maintaining these relationships, maintaining these connections. I think one of the strongest words that exists today, could be the word remember as our past is filled with these interactions and fond memories.

Experience is the best teacher and wisdom is applied experience.

That which feeds.

Well most take this word literally I think there is more kauna behind it. What if it also refers to the area nourishing you spiritually? There is a great saying that goes as follows, ” land can be without the man, but man cannot without the land. ” I think that it is through this interaction with the things that sustain us, the things that energize us, that feed us, make us who we are and who we can become.

“like a particular taste of that place, would be known, appreciated, and craved only by someone connected to that Aina.”

We are who we are today because of those who have paved the way before us. What makes an elder so valuable? Is it because they’re old? Or does it have something more to it? I believe that through experience, which is the best teacher, lessons were taught and learned that helped improve what was known during that time. Stories are lessons from these individuals put into a format so that they are easy to understand. Our elders can see circumstances which will affect the younger generations and have advised on how to help avoid the pitfalls that either they themselves have fallen into or that their grandchildren can bump into. As we age and gain more experience we want to share the things that we have learned so that others don’t make the same mistakes or can avoid entirely situations that would cause long-term discomfort or even harm. Elders are like living treasures, they are full of knowledge and experiences that even today people don’t go through normally.

This is a hard thing to earn once it is lost. Respect for self, place and others helps to maintain fluidity. Respect can be earned through frequent interactions based on trust. Although a person’s character can be judged through their relationship with the surroundings. Everything has life and feeling, from the animals to the things that cannot speak for themselves such as the trees the rocks, all these things maintain a balance, a harmony with the others that surround them and it is through their interaction together that respect and understanding for one’s place is understood. I think it is a difficult concept for humans to grasp as they believe they are the center of the entire universe even though we are just a small portion of what exists in this great wide world.

How does one choose who leads? How does one determine the quality of a leader?

“You get what you put in” – Uncle Chad (Captain of Makalii)

I think a better question to try and answer would be this, how is a leader chosen? In the book they are talking about fisherman. It seems that the leaders are those that are observant of their surroundings (physical and spiritually), have a relationship with their surroundings and are willing to share. There are countless examples in the book of these three things. I agree that these three things are essential for a leader to guide and direct those that are with him. Without others it is hard to lead anyone. I believe everyone is capable of being a leader in some sort of capacity but how they lead is tailored to their individual strengths. For example an art major shouldn’t be leading a group of marine biologists in their exploration of the ocean. There’s a quote that I like and it goes like this ” to each one teach one.” I could share countless quotes similar to this but the main takeaway is this, every leader is a teacher of their form of craft. And those who end up being experts are usually not trying to show off they quietly do what they enjoy and teach out of the goodness of their hearts. May we strive to be like those who have inspired us to do better in our various fields of interest.

“Perpetuate kuleana in ways that emphasize not ownership but caretaking”

Ok, so before I start with my opinions know this, that some of these stories involve people I know or traditions that are also passed down in my family. My family is from Hanalei, Kalihiwai and Kalihikai thats where they grew up and they are a combo of fishermen and kalo farmers, we call them mahia’i.

Growing up I have noticed a lack of respect towards other communitys and their iceboxes (this includes the land, a loi is a refrigerator if water temp is maintained correctly). Exploitation of the land and the sea is the norm with no thought of tomorrow. This mind set comes into constant conflict with those who seek to take care of places and areas that have and could still provide food. Ones values come into the drama of what and who is right. But I appreciate the quote above. It speaks volumes to the two mind sets and everything in between. Some times culture can stop progress, but many times the teachings that have been passed on when it comes to food are always about subsistence. Storys are lessons learned that are meant to be shared and reflected on continually, hence kauna, the deeper meanings to the story. So whats the kauna behind the statements and stories? In the words of Uncle Jerry Konanui “Our ancestors were very specific when it came to naming (or using their words) in relation to what was being observed.”

Its hard to describe a moment in time without actually being physically there. Its impossible to describe the taste of salt without trying it first. Such is the effort to describe a living value to someone who knows not or has not experienced “our way of life.” But one thing is clear………

if our values were not reflective of our lifestyle, Aloha would not exist. This concept is not completely foreign to outsiders but feels right when they experience it, and theres alittle something extra with it that they can’t explain. Some adopt it but many choose not to, they only hurt themselves because their treasure lies in something else. There is no I on the island its we, cause were all stuck here together. I believe thats the message thats trying to be shared, don’t change us be apart of us, come share in all that we have. Learn, grow, love and laugh.