Submitted by Melissa Rolwood on the 2016 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition…
Aloha! My first week in Hawaii has flown by. It was a rough start to the journey. A delay in our first flight caused us to miss our second flight, resulting in a scramble for the airlines to fit the twelve of us onto three more flights before finally landing in Hilo, Hawaii. However, it is wonderful to finally be in Hawaii and discovering so much about the culture and customs.
The most prominent aspect of Hawaiian culture that I have learned so far is the strong connection between the Hawaiian people and nature. “Malama ‘aina” is a common Hawaiian phrase that means to take care of and preserve the land; showing the obligation that Hawaiians feel to love their earth.
On Sunday, we hiked in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park all day and spent a lot of time walking over hardened lava flows. It was amazing to see how a beautiful park arose out of something that can be so destructive. Hawaiians appreciate nature and love their islands, even when natural events are threatening.
Ancient Hawaiians learned to adapt to living on a chain of volcanoes, going against the odds to survive. Many plants served multiple uses, such as leaves for roofs and clothing, roots for food, and trunks for wood. Coconut hairs could even be rolled into ropes. Spending time in this beautiful state has reminded me of the importance of exploring the natural world and using resources in creative ways.