“Hawaiians love and respect their elders siblings. And it is to the elders siblings who must feed and care for their younger siblings. This creates a reciprocal relationship.”
Throwback Thurday: Here Kumu Lilikalā explains the concept of Mālama ʻĀina and the origins of some of our family values, specifically the kuleana belonging to elder and younger siblings. This value can still be found in various forms throughout Hawaiʻi. Unfortunately due to colonization and assimilation into “American” ways of life, this traditional concept (like many if not most) has been lost/misinterpreted to a degree. Now if you happen to be lucky enough to enter into a space/hālau/kula where values like these are still practiced, please do your best to examine YOUR role there. The last thing you’d want to do is be disrespectful right? Riiight?
😬🤔😶
#Hāloa #MālamaʻAina #Kuleana #ElderSiblings #YoungerSiblings #ReciprocalRelations #HanaKūpuno
#ʻIkeMatters #KeepTheConversationGoing
Source Material:
The legacy of the Great Mahele by Lilikalā Kameʻeleihiwa. UH Mānoa 1988.
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