{"id":149014,"date":"2021-10-01T12:36:47","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T22:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=149014"},"modified":"2021-10-01T12:36:47","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T22:36:47","slug":"aloha-aina-during-pandemic-heal-regenerate-pilina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/10\/01\/aloha-aina-during-pandemic-heal-regenerate-pilina\/","title":{"rendered":"Aloha \u02bb\u0100ina during pandemic: Heal, regenerate pilina"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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The Aloha ʻ\u0100ina series is also dedicated to caring for plants and also referred to as Huli ka lima i lalo (turning one\u2019s hands down to the earth)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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<\/span> at M\u0101noa series, founded on the Hawaiian concept of ʻ\u0101ina (Grandmother Earth) is reviving its mission to help regenerate pilina (connection) among students, faculty and staff. UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa continues to strive to become a Native Hawaiian place of learning.<\/p>\n

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Kaiwipunikauikaw\u0113kiu Lipe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since 2019, Aloha ʻ\u0100ina Fridays<\/a>, a free series hosted by the Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office<\/a>, Campus Arboretum<\/a> and Buildings and Grounds Management<\/a> has gathered on- and off-campus communities to get to know and learn ways they can care for plants at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa.<\/p>\n

“ʻ\u0100ina is the ultimate healer,” said Punihei Lipe<\/strong>, a UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Native Hawaiian affairs program officer who leads the Aloha ʻ\u0100ina 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\u0101ina. It is an important re-frame.”<\/p>\n

On September 17, Lipe and fellow organizers hosted the semester\u2019s first event, Moʻolelo<\/span> Aku, Moʻolelo<\/span> 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.<\/p>\n

“Aloha ʻ\u0100ina Fridays were started to help our campus to explore the concept of aloha ʻ\u0101ina together,” Lipe said. “At the same time, it is a chance to build pilina with ourselves, each other, and ʻ\u0101ina. 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\u0101ina.”<\/p>\n

Participants will also have the opportunity to attend the series\u2019 M\u0101lama ʻ\u0100ina (care for the land) events to help tend to on-campus plants but attendance will be limited to adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines.<\/p>\n

Each event begins with an introduction of the location\u2019s ʻ\u0101ina, ʻili (subdivision) and ahupuaʻa<\/span> (land division).<\/p>\n