Reflection

In Hawaiʻi, we have a popular ʻōlelo noʻeau (wise saying); “He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka”, meaning “The land is a chief, the human is a servant”. This belief has influenced Hawaiian culture since ancient times, as our ancestors lived a sustainable lifestyle, peacefully coexisting with the islands. Everything within the land is treated with high respect and holds spiritual value as if it were a chief. However, in the 1800s, this relationship between the land and people was disrupted and forcefully taken away by foreign businessmen and politicians. As Hawaiʻi became a target for industrial and military exploitation by foreign invaders, the health and respect for our ʻĀina began to fade away. This is evident in modern day Hawai’i as seen with over tourism damaging our beaches, U.S. military bombing valleys and polluting our drinking waters, gentrification of our native Hawaiian population, desecration of sacred summits, etc. The perpetuation of our culture is heavily dependent on the health of the land which is why climate heroes such as Shelley Muneoka fight against the corrupted actions of our government everyday. Muneoka is a native hawaiian who actively works with small non profit organizations such as KAHEA which focuses on having the voices of Hawaiians and residents reach government ears along with spreading awareness of local environmental issues such as TMT on Mauna Kea, Red Hill water contamination, testing bombs on untouched lands such as Makua valley and kahoʻolawe, seabed mining in Hawaiʻi, protection of endangered species and forests, etc. Muneoka often testifies at the Hawaiʻi state legislature and participates in public speaking’s regarding these issues. She brings hope to our youngest generations of Hawaiians and inspires us to carry on the works of our kupuna.