To Love A Place, You Have To Know It First

A couple of weeks ago, I took a class field trip to Makua Valley, a sacred and beautiful place that today, few are permitted enjoy. The tension between the military occupying the valley and those whose hearts belonged to its preservation was tangible. As a passerby, it may appear to be a striking set of mountains looking down upon a protected stretch of land, a sanctuary for wildlife. However, the scars in the valley run deep, and things are not always as they appear. After learning of the turmoil it and the people who once called it home have endured, I saw it more clearly. I was in awe that such an incredible place can't be appreciated, is so off limits, especially to those who understand it best: the native people. I left feeling confused, sad, and somewhat disappointed at how little of it we were "allowed" access to. I understand the danger, but am frustrated by why it is even a factor. The earth was never intended to be something to be afraid of, I think there's a reason nothing natural can give anyone the power that man-made weapons can.

That same day, we were guided by a Hawaiian cultural historian on the Likeke trail at the base of the Ko'olau mountains, on the opposite side of the island as Makua Valley. This place also showed signs of struggle, of change. In the remnants of the first Pali road built in the 1800's, there was history. It's one thing to hike and see the diverse plant life, the amazing waterfalls, hear the birds singing in the trees. It is another thing to see it as it was seen in the past, to understand the significance behind every rock, the importance behind a quiet meadow surrounded by a grove of hundred year old mango trees. It was amazing to experience the view of all of Kane'ohe. I could only imagine what it was like to have looked down upon the bounty of the "bread basket" of Oahu and it's many fishponds and kalo fields...

Today, riding my bike from Coconut Island to the HPU windward campus, my legs were burning and I was sweating like crazy, but I found myself looking at the mountains and thinking, "Wow, I am so unbelievably blessed to live in such a beautiful place!" Since the first day I moved to Oahu a few years ago, I have been continually blown away by the beauty of this island. However, I have realized that the more I have gotten to know this place, it's history, and it's people, the more I want to help protect what it is and to restore some of what it once was. It begins with being educated and continues with the development of respect for its culture, which comes with seeing it through the eyes of those who know it best.

I say, shoot for the moon.

I have owned the film 180 degrees south for a few months now and fell in love with it the first time that I saw it. I love every aspect of it: the culture, the music, the people, the passion. So, I was really excited that we were going to watch it in class. I thought for sure that everyone would be inspired by the premise of the film and would really admire the stories of each character. What surprised me last week was that, not everyone took it that way... Yes, it was beautiful, but was it realistic? A lot of people didn't seem to think so. We can't just all drop everything and go to Patagonia and have this cosmic experience that gives our lives meaning. Or can we?

All that has become of my life and the future that lies ahead of me is based on my wholehearted belief that we can do anything we put our minds to. So dream big. You know the saying, "shoot for the moon. even if you miss, you'll land among the stars"... Well, I believe that's the message 180 degrees south was trying to tell us. Jeff Johnson said, "If I don't get on the boat, I know exactly what I'm going home to. If I do, my future is unwritten." We can choose to remain as we are, going through the motions, or we can choose to face "the fear of the unknown" and chase our dreams, accomplish our goals, change the world. The crew "shot" for the moon, getting to Patagonia to climb Corcovado. In the end, they did not quite reach "the moon", falling 200 meters short of the summit. However, the key was that not only did they get really close, but they recognized how far they had come, that they had "landed among the stars". All that they had experienced had blessed them with a deeper understanding of the connection between people and the natural world around them. It had shown them that in order to survive, and to begin to right the many wrongs we have done and continue to do to the earth, we must find that connection. And it was a message they wanted to share.

So, to those that say it's unrealistic, that you can't preach a mindset of simplicity and sustainability harnessed to aluminum scaffolds with nylon rope, that it isn't enough to walk outside and open your eyes to see the beauty around you, that you can't save the planet by showing the world images of the wild places threatened by economic demands thousands of miles overseas (images shot by a petroleum-fueled helicopter), to those people... I say: Rome wasn't built in a day. Would you say to a recovering drug addict who has recently taken to smoking cigarettes, "Wow, you really shouldn't smoke." True, yes. But we must look at things in the context of their circumstances. Although some might say that smoking is not a healthy alternative, I would say, it is a healthier alternative and transitions take time. Small steps are the most important part of making a change for the better. But it begins with believing that the change is possible and being surrounded by others that believe it too. While aluminum and nylon are not sustainable, they have an immensely smaller impact than the construction to build stairs to climb up the mountain or a road to drive up. While simply seeing the beauty around you may not be a tangible initiative toward environmental government policy, before anyone will make steps toward protecting the earth, they must know it and love it first. And no, helicopter-based imaging is not a zero-emissions undertaking. However, the amount of resources conserved by people who see such images (images they may never have the opportunity to understand otherwise) and are inspired to make changes in their own lives far exceeds the impact of the carbon cost of such a production. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the impossibilities of setting things back into balance, if we choose to take it on. What is difficult is to believe that it is possible, knowing that mistakes will be made, and it won't always be perfect, but every step gets us closer. And every effort leaves us further from where we were before.

You have two options in life, to walk away with your glass half empty or your glass half full. Will you try to change the world, knowing that even if you don't stir the globe, that making a difference in one person's life will still contribute to something bigger that may someday reach the world? or will you settle for things the way that they are because you believe that you are too small to make an impact of any significance, that the world is too far gone? are you too afraid to dream big because you are not sure what will happen "if you miss"? Since "smelling the flowers" isn't actually changing anything... what then? just do nothing? it isn't the crimes to the earth that are the most unjust. It is those of us who see it happening, and do nothing about it because we believe we won't make a difference. So, get on the boat, face the unknown, and try. Who knows, you may "have questions answered you never even thought to ask" (Yvon Chouinard).