2 min read•july 24, 2024
Hawaiian values like , , and shape daily life and relationships. These principles foster harmony, mutual respect, and accountability within communities, guiding interactions with people and the environment.
Cultural practices like , , and preserve history and transmit knowledge across generations. The system exemplifies Hawaiian resource management, integrating spiritual beliefs with sustainable land use from mountains to sea.
Aloha encompasses love, compassion, kindness used as greeting and farewell represents harmony and mutual respect (lei giving)
Mālama means to care for, protect, preserve applied to relationships with people, land, resources (beach cleanups)
Kuleana involves responsibility, privilege, right personal and collective accountability (caring for elders)
traditional conflict resolution and forgiveness practice restores harmony through confession, forgiveness, repentance, reconciliation (family disputes)
Mutual exchange of goods, services, support strengthened community bonds ensured collective well-being (sharing fish catches)
system regulated resource use and conservation imposed seasonal restrictions on fishing and harvesting
Long-term vision for resource use and preservation integrated spiritual beliefs with environmental stewardship ( system)
Hula expresses stories, genealogies, cultural values preserves history, mythology, connection to nature (, )
Oli chants used for prayers, genealogies, storytelling transmit oral traditions and cultural practices (birth chants)
Mo'olelo stories, legends, historical accounts convey moral lessons, cultural values, historical events (Pele legends)
Hula, oli, mo'olelo work together to preserve knowledge reinforce cultural identity and connection to ancestors
Traditional land division from mountain to sea bounded by ridgelines or natural features provided access to diverse ecosystems and resources
Hierarchical structure with konohiki overseeing resource use facilitated cooperation and shared responsibility
Integrated farming and aquaculture systems employed rotational harvesting and conservation methods ( fishponds)
' irrigation channels distributed water throughout ahupua'a ensured equitable access for agriculture (taro farming)
Reinforced connection between people and land reflected Hawaiian worldview of interconnectedness and balance