Hawaii’s ahupuaa models a sustainable future
Wassup with the ahupua`a? Suddenly, the phrase “21st Century Ahupua`a” in on many lips out here.
Wot is this? Turns out, for the Hawaiian islands, ahupua`a (pronounced ah-who-pooh-ah-ah) is everything. Literally.
The ahupua`a echoes modern concepts of ecosystem or watershed, only more so. For traditional communities, the ahupua`a (running from the mountain to the sea) contained all the resources necessary to sustain the folks living there.
Harkening back makes sense, now, since these islands face the prospect of relying increasingly on resources at hand.
Yet, how many islanders even know which ahupua`a they’re in? Hopefully, my new research will help here.
Start there, said I, in my book. From within your own ahupua`a, begin to imagine where the food, energy, and materials can come from…and build up from there.
Sure, the politicians are talking about ahupua`a, and Honolulu has officially committed to the principles of the 21st Century Ahupua‘a to be incorporated into its 10-year sustainability plan , including:
- Honoring the host Hawaiian culture
- Developing alternative energy and biofuels
- Building efficient transportation systems
- Recycling solid waste
- Restoring productive agriculture
- Promoting “green†building
- Protecting the forests and reefs
Still, ahupua`a is about far more than a set of development principles. It’s about a sense of place…your place, your ahupua`a.
It’s also about a native way of seeing and being on these islands…a metaphor of ultimate sustainability.
In which case, you may need a map.
Okay, this is shameless promotion of SusHI’s new cafepress online shop. Yet, methinks island folks (at least) need to know about their own ahupua`a, and we’re diligently making this vital info more readily available.
Note: All proceeds go to support the SusHI blog.
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