Humans have one life to live, so does the ‘Āina

We need to take care of the ‘āina, not just leave it in the hands of the next generations to care for. I mean honestly, the generations coming up now days does not even care about the land, taking care of it, and revitalizing it. We live on an island, which makes it even more crucial to treat it more cautiously. There are so many toxic messes, indecomposable crap and just plain dangerous rubbish being put into the ‘āina right now that will end up fatal for the islands. It is up to us right now, in this life, to do something about. Whether big or small like recycling aluminums and plastics, it is still DOING something about it. We need to spread the word about taking care of the land and doing what we can right now to everyone; our families, friends and acquaintances. I’m not sure how we can help to make this island healthier besides recycling and not littering, but I will now research to find out. And I hope I do find something out. Just as we only have a short-lived life here on Maui, these islands only have their one life to live and grow and thrive on this earth. It’s up to us, the islands’ population, to do all we can do to mālama the land. We must do our part and also teach the younger generations that are coming up to do theirs when we are no longer here. Continue the efforts to reuse, reduce, redeem, recycle, and e-cycle for the islands! E ola ka ‘āina!

References:

http://www.mauiweekly.com/page/content.detail/id/502123/Maui-s-Recycling-Programs-Update.html?nav=13

Paul Kaiwi Jr., (Father)

http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/agriculture/index.htm

Hawaiian Cordage

When I took the Hawaiian Ethnobotany class in the spring of 2011, we learned how to make cordage just like how the Hawaiians of old used to make them. We learned how important the cordage and ropes were for them for everything that they did. They used rope daily. For temporary binding, the Hawaiians used vines, unmodified strips of bark, leaves, or grasses. For durability they used cordage, kaula, which they twisted or braided out of plant fibers. Before the arrival of Captain Cook in 1778, the Hawaiians fastened things with cordage; they had no nails, bolts, or screws. They used cordage to bind the parts of their houses and canoes, their two-piece fishhooks and hafted adzes, to mend cracks in wood and gourd articles, and so on. The strongest fiber to make cordage with is Olona. We used Hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) when we made some in class. We spun and braided the hau to make cordage, usually made for lashing; I made a small bracelet to wear. Kaula was a foundational part of many of the tools and operations of daily life. It was a means of obtaining food, being woven into ‘upena (fishing nets), hīna‘i (fish traps), and individual aho (fishing lines). ‘Aha cords marked the sacred boundaries of ali‘i dwellings. It was essential to the creation of the ‘ahu ‘ula (feather capes) worn by the Ali‘i Nui, providing the material for both the thin, yet strong nets treasured by the bird catchers and the naepuni (cord netting) that held the feathers of these magnificent capes. Cordage protected the warrior in battle, binding the sharp teeth of the manō to a wooden handle and providing a base for the woven mahi‘ole that deflected blows to the head. I really appreciated learning how to make kaula like our ancestors did. I had the privilege to learn to do something the way the Hawaiians did them in the wā kahiko.

References:
http://mauinow.com/2011/07/19/maui-cordage-workshop-explores-hawaiian-use/

Lāʻau Hawaiʻi by Isabella Aiona Abbott

Hawaiian Cordage by Catherine C. Summers 

Introduce biocontrol insect or allow spread of strawberry guava in Hawaiʻi?

On November 8, 2011, a news article was posted on Maui Now stating that a final environmental assessment was released for the introduction of a small scale insect to control the spread of the invasive strawberry guava plant in Hawaiʻi’s native forests. I was surprised to read this because I was not even aware that there was a problem with the strawberry guava in Hawaiʻi, I wasn’t even aware that it was invasive plant. So, I read on to learn more about the issue, and it continued to say that strawberry guava is a non-native plant that is to blame for overtaking hundreds of thousands of acres in Hawaiʻi since its introduction in 1825. State wildlife biologist, Dr. Fern P. Duvall, said “I am certain it is one of the very worst of habitat altering, invasive weeds to ever get a foothold in Hawai‘i.”

The first question I could think of was, is the spread of these invasive strawberry guavas bad enough to have to introduce a foreign insect to Hawaiʻi? How do we know that this insect won’t cause even greater damage to our native forests? The article continued to give information on the insect by stating that the small scale insect or the Tectococcus ovatus (T. ovatus) would provide natural control of the strawberry guava, according to the US Forest Service. The agency has determined that it will not harm any other native or beneficial plants or insects if introduced in the state. The determination was made after more than 15 years of tests by the agency to find a natural control insect for the strawberry guava plant. If they were trying to push to solve this issue for 15 years, they must have done all the research needed to conclude that this insect is what’s best for the strawberry guava problem. The article also said that when the biocontrol insect is released, strawberry guava will still be able to grow, but will be naturally controlled, which will lead to it being less invasive to the forest.

After being fully educated about the problem and solution that was came about through the news article, I’m in full support of the introduction of this small scale insect to Hawaiʻi to help the invasive spread of strawberry guava trees. I saw pictures of how widely spread the trees are throughout the islands and the dense amount of them in the areas, and I was shocked. I never realized that there was so much growing, even throughout ʻIao Valley, here on Maui. I do think that this insect would help to stabilize the rapid spread and growth of the strawberry guava. I just hope that the researchers’ conclusion will come out accurate and that the introduction does not wipe out the guavas completely, because they’re so ʻono loa!

References:

http://mauinow.com/2011/11/08/biocontrol-to-begin-against-strawberry-guava/#more-45951

http://mauinow.com/files/2011/11/Current-and-future-infestation-map.jpg

http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/ipif/strawberryguava/strawberry_guava.shtml

Kūlanihākoʻi

On October 15, 2011, my friend and I went to watch a theatrical Hawaiian performance named Kūlanihākoʻi. It showed the story of the twins, Manawainui and Hauola, and what they had to learn and go through before and while returning to the place where they were born, Kūlanihākoʻi. Ultimately, the story was overall about the living waters and the significance of it. I never did hear this moʻolelo, so I was very happy to learn about it. It did reinforce what I was taught before, which was that water is the source of all life and it is very important, especially to Hawaiians. The performance gave me plenty of insight into the story of Manawainui and Hauola and even the older Hawaiian ways as told down through generations. For example, it was interesting learning that the siblings both had knowledge in the particular area of water, but had different specific specialties. Manawainui trained in the earthly water resources while Hauola trained in the elemental forms of water, like the rain, mist, and clouds. I also didn’t know that the water deities are born again and again in successive generations and that at Kūlanihākoʻi, siblings are born, one being male and one female. I was so happy to learn all these new things about the Hawaiian culture because I love learning more and more about my cultures history and traditions. I was also glad to find out that I had learned some of the terms that were used in the show. We discussed in class that an ʻūniki was a learning of a cultural practice which leads to a formal graduation, and in the story, the siblings had to undergo an ʻūniki ceremony which took place at Haleakalā to begin their journey back to Kūlanihākoʻi.

            Overall, I feel I was truly blessed to have been able to watch that amazing performance by many gifted hula dancers and chanters. I felt like I was doing just a small part in supporting and showing my appreciation for the Hawaiians’ art of hula. I’m so very thankful for the opportunity to learn more about the Hawaiian way and learn more about Hula. It makes me feel stronger as a Hawaiian, every time I gain more knowledge of it.

References:

http://www.mauiarts.org/imagez/KulanihakoiStudyGuide2011.pdf
http://www.pitchengine.com/mauiartsculturalcenter/worldpremierehuladramakolanihakoilivingwatersatmacc

The Polluted West Maui Waters

           Before jumping into the ocean, did you ever stop to think whether or not the ocean water was clean? If there were any kinds of bacterial waste water in there that you needed to worry about? Or if the water was even safe enough to swim in? It’s not common to stop and think like this on a sunny beach day, but after reading this article, you won’t be surprised why I feel I have to stop to ask myself these questions before jumping into the ocean.

I read an article which talked about groups that sent a notice to the County of Maui of their intent to sue the county for violations of the Clean Water Act into the waters of west Maui through the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility (LWRF). The groups included Hawaii Wildlife Fund, West Maui Preservation Association, Surfrider Foundation - Maui Chapter and Sierra Club - Maui Group.

According to the groups, the county facility in Honokowai injects millions of gallons of wastewater every day into the groundwater via injection wells. Although the water is treated at the facility, it still contains bacteria, chemicals and other pollutants when it is pumped into the ground. The Maui County replied by saying that the LWRF operates under permits from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state Department of Health (DOH), and the plant is functioning in compliance with all laws. But, The Clean Water Act completely forbids putting pollutants into the ocean without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit that limits the things that flows like these. The county never got this NPDES permit for the West Maui facility.

I was so surprised when I read about this, I wasn’t even aware that this was happening on the island. I feel like the Maui County is being completely careless about our Maui Ocean, reefs, and the environment. Earth-justice attorney Paul Achitoff said, “The wastewater flowing from the Lahaina facility is heavily contributing to the decline of coral reefs and the nearshore ecosystem in marine waters on the West Maui coast.” If this distribution of polluted waste waters into the ocean damages the reefs and hurts the marine life, why was this ever allowed to happen in the first place? but since it was, why is it taking so long for the problem to get fixed? I’m mad about this issue because it’s causing damage to our island, but I’m also angry with myself for being so oblivious to what was happening to the waters here. Maybe if more people were aware of the problems that Maui faces, more people would try to take action and that might just make a difference for the better. I know now to go out and find out for myself what is really happening to our islands’ agriculture, oceans, and life.


                 Bibliography:

http://www.lahainanews.com/page/content.detail/id/502274/Groups-to-sue-county-for-violating-Clean-Water-Act-at-Honokowai-plant.html?nav=19 

http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/cwa.html

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=honokowai