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Aloha ??ina during pandemic: Heal, regenerate pilina

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Hand reaching toward plant
The Aloha ʻ?ina series is also dedicated to caring for plants and also referred to as Huli ka lima i lalo (turning one¡¯s hands down to the earth)

A thirst for connection and community have perhaps never been in higher demand as the world closes in on nearly two years of navigating through a historic pandemic that has left so many separated from loved ones. This fall, a University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ series, founded on the Hawaiian concept of ʻ¨¡ina (Grandmother Earth) is reviving its mission to help regenerate pilina (connection) among students, faculty and staff. UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ continues to strive to become a Native Hawaiian place of learning.

Lipe headshot
Kaiwipunikauikaw¨¥kiu Lipe

Since 2019, , a free series hosted by the , and has gathered on- and off-campus communities to get to know and learn ways they can care for plants at UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹.

“ʻ?ina is the ultimate healer,” said Punihei Lipe, a UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Native Hawaiian affairs program officer who leads the Aloha ʻ?ina program. “Western science knows this. Indigenous science knows this. And I think it is also so beautiful when folks remember that even when we are separate from loved ones, we can still be connected to ʻ¨¡ina. It is an important re-frame.”

On September 17, Lipe and fellow organizers hosted the semester¡¯s first event, Moʻolelo Aku, Moʻolelo Mai dialogue circle. Attendees logged onto the hour-long session through Zoom and were given opportunities to speak from the heart, deeply listen and reflect.

“Aloha ʻ?ina Fridays were started to help our campus to explore the concept of aloha ʻ¨¡ina together,” Lipe said. “At the same time, it is a chance to build pilina with ourselves, each other, and ʻ¨¡ina. Our dialogue circles are designed to be safe spaces where we can not only connect with others but also be in conversation about what we are learning and wondering when it comes to aloha ʻ¨¡ina.”

Participants will also have the opportunity to attend the series¡¯ M¨¡lama ʻ?ina (care for the land) events to help tend to on-campus plants but attendance will be limited to adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Each event begins with an introduction of the location¡¯s ʻ¨¡ina, ʻili (subdivision) and ahupuaʻa (land division).

  • October 1—M¨¡lama ʻ?ina, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
  • October 8—Speaker Presentation: Kauila Kanakaʻole & Kuʻulei Perreira-Keawekane, 12–1:30 p.m.
  • October 29—M¨¡lama ʻ?ina, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
  • November 19—Dialogue Circle, 12–1 p.m.
  • December 3—M¨¡lama ʻ?ina, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

For more information go to the .

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