Malama Aina

For many people, last Friday, April 21st, was another beautiful sunny day at the Kona coast; but for some others in the community, this day was deeply associated with connection, inspiration, hope, empowerment and humility.

104 hands, 52 beautiful faces, 4 hours, 130 native trees, 40 ‘uala slips, 1 herbal garden, and 1 acre dry land forest were transformed this day. It is both empowering and humbling to feel how much transforming power we have as human beings, and how easily we could use this power to create, or destroy.

This past Friday, in the name of Mother Earth, more than 50 community members gathered at Hawaii Community College Palamanui Campus, under the same mission — Maama ‘Aina. These members from all walks of life came together, open-heartedly longing for positivity and creation.

One group of members worked in the Culinary Herbal Garden on campus. They moved garden beds, rebuilt the compost structure, removed fountain grass, planted herbs. This garden will be the key for future cooks and chefs who come to the culinary program to learn the importance of growing local and sourcing local.

The other group of members worked in the dry land forest above the campus. They built rock mounds under ancient trees, planted ‘uala slips, removed fountain grass, planted wiliwili, kukui, pohinahina, ti, and ho‘awa, and added mulch and water to the baby trees. The whole event was filled with love, spontaneity, kindness and gentleness. People left the event smiling, hugging and heart-felt. “Opportunities like we experienced this past Friday get me excited for our future and I am looking forward to many more days to come.” said Drew, one of the long-term volunteers from Bridge House.

It is said that it took all the people living in the ahupua‘a to build a fishpond in the old days. It still holds true today in terms of the way we Malama ‘Aina. We truly feel grateful for the following organizations and individuals who came to Malama ‘aina with us at Palamanui this past Friday.