We seek to understand the history and cultural context of what it means to farm here in Hawai’i, and to share what we learn with those who also have the privilege and honor to be involved in the stewardship of ‘aina
Information that we share here related to Hawaiian culture is brought with an awareness of our own limited knowledge sources, and a reliance on the broader community to hold and transmit the values and practices that are embedded here. We seek to expand our educational pathways to incorporate cultural wisdom and sense of place, and methods and models that are culturally inclusive and integrative.
Hawai’i has many cultural influences, and here we are looking primarily through the Native Hawaiian lens to acknowledge the importance of historical cultural and agricultural practices and the relevance of these today, alongside other types of scientific and technical research.
We welcome inputs from the community to continue to improve accuracy and respect for ʻāina and the communities that serve it. If there are resources that you would like to share, please contact us at info@gofarmhawaii.org
Language/ʻŌlelo are drawn from current common usage, noting that variations in spelling exist. Plant names for cultural crops are shared in both English and ‘olelo versions throughout our curriculum. We identify place names for our training site locations based on the current and historical land and water systems of each place. References and translations were acquired from written academic sources as well as stories from residents and community leaders. Stories/Moʻolelo by the nature of oral traditions exist in many versions, and here we cite specific published sources as a reference, although each version may have multiple unique tellings.
*Treatment format by: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Site information:
- Mokupuni (Island): Kauaʻi
- Moku (District): Puna
- Ahupuaʻa (Land Division): Haʻikū
Site kilo (observations) and facts:
- Ua (rain):
- Makani (Wind): Kiukeʻe
- Wai (Water): Puhi Stream, Halehaka
- Kai (Sea): Nāwiliwili
- Mauna (Mountain): Kilohana/waiʻalaʻale
Resources:
- https://wehewehe.org/
- https://geoportal.hawaii.gov/datasets/HiStateGIS::ahupuaa/explore?location=20.564550%2C-157.491250%2C16.00