THE 8 REALMS FOR WHICH OUR KŪPUNA MADE DECISIONS WITHIN THE ʻAHA KIOLE O MOLOKAI DURING ANCIENT TIMES: Last week, I had the privilege of going to Kauaʻi to guest teach some students of my colleague Mehana Vaughan who is piloting a course titled: Hoʻokahua - Ahupuaʻa Based Leadership Education (ABLE). They were so ʻoluʻolu and I really loved the gentleness of this kupuna island and her gracious people. So many of the haumana had made lei for me. It felt like a mini-graduation. Here are some pictures of the students and my little adventures over the 2 days there (the shave ice to die for which Kauʻi was so gracious in taking me there and showing me the best places that the locals go to, a true picture of a Hanalei Moon that Mehana and I witnessed as we drove to her house, beautiful ʻAnini Beach where I couldnt help jumping in the water with my panty and t-shirt because I was lolo and never bring my bathing suit on this trip, and lunch with my Kauaʻi Titas Mehana and Malia Nobrega Olivera). I shared with Mehanas haumana about how Molokai is reviving the ʻaha councils and some of the issues weʻve been dealing with including the Manaʻe Watershed project. One of the people in attendance was Dr. Kawika Winter who manages Limahuli Gardens. He also was a haumana of kumu John Kaʻimikaua and learned more details about the ʻaha councils and how the Molokai kūpuna made decisions for the ʻāina and people. Kawika also came to Oʻahu and did an excellent talk about ahupuaʻa and biocultural zones that the kūpuna managed. The manaʻo he shared is so maikaʻi and invaluable to me as I work on the Manaʻe Watershed report. Kawika explained that there are 8 realms that the kūpuna considered when making decisions for the ʻāina and people. All realms had to be protected in order for a decision to become final; any proposed solutions that compromised or harmed any of these realms would be rejected. To me, it makes so much sense in terms of why we on Molokai are so fiercely protective of our island. Itʻs in our DNA; the blood of our kūpuna course strongly in our veins. The eight (8) realms of decision-making are as follows: (1) Moana-Nui-Ākea – the farthest point one can see out to sea (e.g., out to the horizon) as seen from the highest point in one’s area; (2) Kahakai Pepeiao – where the high tide is to where the lepo (soil) starts (where turtles and seabirds nest, the coastal strand of vegetation, etc.); (3) Ma Uka – wherever the lepo (soil) starts to the top of the mountain; (3) Nā Muliwai – the sources of fresh water, ground/artesian water, rivers, streams, springs, including springs along the coastline that mix with seawater; (4) Ka Lewalani – everything above the land, the clouds, the birds, the rainbows; (5) Kanaka Hōnua – natural resources important to sustain people; however, management is based on providing for the benefit of the resources themselves rather than from the standpoint of how they serve people; (7) Papahelōlona – recognizes that knowledge and intellect is a valuable resource that also needs to be managed; this is the knowledge of the kahuna, the astronomers, the healers, and other knowledge holders; and (8) Ke ʻIhiʻihi – elements that maintain the sanctity (sacredness) of a place.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 08:03:10 +0000
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