Nānā I Nā Kūpuna
Trust in the knowledge and wisdom of the ancestors, which is what made it possible for Papa Mau to guide Hōkūle`a to Tahiti through unknown waters. Spiritual wisdom is available to us if we are open to the signs. This was the case for Gail Loofbourrow, a labor and delivery nurse, who experienced the power of aumakua during a difficult birth:
Many years ago, in my role as a labor and delivery nurse, I cared for a Hawaiian woman who was preparing for the birth of her first child. Things were not going as anticipated; as time passed it became apparent serious interventions might be necessary. During this time the many local family members prayed and requested the powers of their aumakua, the owl. I must admit I lacked a full understanding of the aumakua. Prayers were answered; the precious baby came into this side of his world full of vigor and a healthy cry. I thought no more about the aumakua until my ride home. For there on my way through Pu`uanahulu sitting above the highway was an owl staring at me with intensity...There is no doubt in my mind the owl was acknowledging my role in the birth and providing me with proof there was much I needed to learn about the culture of Hawaii. Even if I do not understand a word or belief at the moment I need to respect what I hear and know that it is true.
We did not arrive to this moment alone, through our own efforts, but through the grace of those who traveled before us. When the Polynesian voyaging canoes embarked on their journey of circumnavigation, they were really traveling backwards at the same time as they are moving forward--back across the centuries when voyagers found their way here, but also forward to show the path of survival and human sustainability. They are an example of what can be accomplished by returning to and living the traditional values of Aloha:
A: Ahonui---Patience, perseverance
L: Lokahi---Harmony, agreement
O: ʽOhana---Working together for a common goal.
H: Haʽahaʽa---Humility
A: Akahai---Grace, gentleness
The Makaliʽi, this island’s voyaging canoe, was built because a core group of people, led by Clay Bertelmann and the Bertelmann ʽOhana, persevered with quiet patience. With ego on hold, a hana nui attitude and an atmosphere of harmony focused on a common goal the Makaliʽi was born. Even in the face of their amazing accomplishment, the extended canoe ʽohana maintains an attitude of humility and grace. Aloha continues to work miracles every Saturday as many hands work together to ready Makaliʽi for her next big voyage, with every volunteer, no matter how humble their contribution, being acknowledged with appreciation.
It has been suggested that the impetus for the original voyaging canoe was an insufficiency of resources and that the island worked together to create a vessel that would journey to find a place for the people to thrive and grow. No one knows how many attempted voyages there were, but Hawai'i was born.
The first Polynesians here made use of the abundant resources to flourish and maintain a life that was grounded in sustainability practices, while at the same time European culture was making its way from the East. Unlike the finite world of island living, the vast North American continent with seemingly vast resources did not require conservation practices. These two worlds met in Hawai'i and now we are seeing the results of a mindset of endless resources to be exploited.
The sustainable practices of the first Hawaiians are being slowly reclaimed as we prepare to face water and food shortages that threaten our survival. “He waʽa he moku, he moku he waʽa,” (The canoe is an island and the island is the canoe) are words at the core of master navigator, Clay Bertelmann. The voyaging canoes are a practical lesson in sustainability.
But what about our daily lives? What do sustainable island practices look like and what are the lessons of the old wisdom that sustained island populations? Like Gail Loofbourrow, are we seeing and acknowledging the signs of wisdom that are there?