Seeds of change have taken root on the mountainside grounds of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. Tending the land are Kumu Paul Parish and Kumu Mark Pacarro, who use their collective manaʻo to nurture a new crop of ʻōiwi leaders through a two-year pathway called “Kaʻāmauloa.”
“Kaʻāmauloa means the thread that continues forever. It links our past, present and future together,” explained Parish, who instructs the pathway’s eighth-grade portion.
Launched in fall 2022, Kaʻāmauloa strives to lead haumāna on a journey from the loʻi kalo to the United Nations. Guiding their route: Hawaiʻi’s traditional sustainable practices and protocol that enabled kanaka ʻōiwi to flourish for centuries without aid from outside resources.
Learning takes place both in and out of the classroom walls. Hands-on, ʻāina-based study impresses the importance of pono resource management; coursework explores how the diplomatic prowess of the aliʻi Hawaiʻi connects to current-day international civics.
“It’s instilling that confidence of our ʻike kūpuna – this innate knowledge we have as Hawaiians,” said Pacarro, who leads the seventh-grade course. “It lets you know that as kānaka, you can handle anything.”
Approximately 130 pathway students witnessed this ʻike kūpuna applied to modern-world dilemma during the Hawaiʻi Green Growth United Nations Local 2030 Hub’s annual partnership event. Held at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa’s East-West Center in October 2022, the gathering brought together local, national and international policymakers to discuss climate, economic and sustainability issues.
“We get a head start in seeing how our leaders tackle problems, which helps us develop a global mindset,” said Mason Fong, an eighth-grader who attended the event.
“I really want to learn more about ways I can help the ʻāina,” echoed seventh-grader Mele Fujihara. “I see how much damage we’ve done, and I want to make a change for the better.”
“If people hear our voice, we can make an impact not only for Hawaiians, but our island Earth as a whole,” Fong added.
As haumāna connect with ancestral practices, their kumu earnestly look toward the future.
“There is a thirst from the international community to hear from Hawaiʻi,” Parish said. “Our students will become the experts and carry their wisdom out to the world.”
“Middle school is about planting seeds,” Pacarro added. “What we’re teaching, they may not realize until 10, 20 years from now. That’s what the journey is.”
TAGS
ʻōiwi leaders,imua kamehameha,native hawaiian identity,hoʻola lāhui,ks kapalama
CATEGORIES
Kaipuolono Article, Kapalama Newsroom, Kapalama Home, Kapalama campus
Print with photos
Print text only
