Sensing the Hawaiian Forest On February 1, 2013 By Melora Purell In Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Education 0 Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA) 7th graders just completed their second field trip into the forests of Kohala. Hosted by Kahua Ranch, a KWP partner, the students had an opportunity to delve into a self-directed field research project. This is the fourth year that science teacher Laura Jim has brought her students into the forest as part of the Hawaii Island Meaningful Outdoor Education for Students (HI-MOES) project. The purpose of the students’ first trip into the forest was to immerse them in an ecosystem that is, for most of them, like an alien world. We sat in silence for about 10 minutes, soaking up the sights, sounds, smells and energy of the forest of Pu’u Pili. We will share more later about their science experiments, but in this post, I want to share some of the poems that they wrote as a results of their silent time in the forest. It is quite clear that a single visit to an intact native Hawaiian forest can be a transformative experience. Here are a few of my personal favorites. I am so thankful to these sweet souls for sharing their words with me! Sensory Poem by Violet Fink The chirping of the birds blends into the gentle trickling of the barely audible stream. The sounds are quiet, creating a monotone background of music to the soft green light if the forest. I sit protected in a hollow, the natural moss chair behind my back forming a damp support. I can feel the moisture held within the moss, keeping the beautiful land beneath the trees cool and comfortable. I am enclosed, but safe here in my shelter of trees and ferns. The wind hits the olapa, whose leaves flutter dangerously in the wind, bringing the scent of the musty earth of the surrounding forest. Cold, fresh water lands on my open palm, the taste rejuvenating and refreshing. Suddenly, the light breaks through the clouds and dapples the trees with tortoiseshell-like patterns. A shaft of sunlight descends onto the baby hapu’u fern a few feet in front of me, the tiny fronds clutching onto the light, seeming to stretch up from the ground and embrace the heavens. And I feel at peace. Sensory Poem by Kailer Garcia Swwooosshhh Layers of generations connected by silk webs Warm sun shaded by green leaves Blue water softly dancing and stirring down slopes Soft damp moss sponging water Living harmoniously together, helping one another Insects busy at work Blue sky with golden light on green plants Kapu’u ferns giving Kahili ginger stink eye Everything alive and dead tangle together with a purpose Swwooosshhh
Posted on: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 19:51:57 +0000
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