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Glossary
Ahupua`a: The Ahupua'a is an ancient Hawaiian land division system which contained strips of land that extended from the mountain to the sea. The Ahupua'a supported a self-contained community working with a spirit of cooperation of caring and reverence for the land to meet the needs of all. (source:http://www.k12.hi.us/~ahupuaa)
The Great Mahele: The Great Mahele was the Hawaiian land redistribution act enacted in 1848. Although not directly redistributing land, it allowed chiefs and commoners to claim private title to land and called for the establishment of an arbitration committee to iron out disputes. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_mahele)
Kuleana: Kuleana is oneas personal sense of responsibility. A person high in this value will be quick to say, aI accept my responsibilities, and I will be held accountable.a (source: http://www.managingwithaloha.com/ 2005/03/kuleana.html
Malama i ka `aina: Caring for the land and all its resources for future generations. Malama i ka `aina is a paramount kuleana or responsibility of native Hawaiian cultural practitioners.
HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY
Waiakeakua: Water of the Gods
Kane and Kanaloa came from the land of Kuaihelani on a pointed cloud and arrived at Hanauma, O'ahu. Kane was a kindly god, courteous ('olu'olu) in all his ways. As they traveled about the island, Kanaloa complained of hunger and, turning to his older brother, said "O Kane! We keep on going and we are dying of hunger! Let us eat."
Here
The Ahupua`a
"Ancient Hawaiian life was based around the ahupua`a system of land management, which evolved to protect the upland water resources that sustained human life. A typical ahupua`a, or land division, was wedge-shaped and extended from the mountains to the sea. As water flowed from the upland forest, down through the ahupua`a, it passed from the wao akua, the realm of the gods, to the wao kanaka, the realm of humans, where it sustained agriculture, aquaculture, and other human uses. Water was a gift from the gods, and all Hawaiians took an active part in its use and conservation."Here
Taro
In ancient Hawai`i, taro played a much larger role beyond dietary staple. At the economic, political and spiritual center of Hawaiian agricultural society, the taro plant and its history grew to mythological proportions. Here