MĀLAMA I NĀ AHUPUAʻA (MINA)
Service-Learning Program and Sustainability Initiative – Fall 2017
The Mālama I Nā Ahupua‘a service-learning program runs four semesters a year – organized by faculty, student leaders and
community partners. We welcome ‘ohana and students from all disciplines enrolled at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
(UHM), Kapiʻolani Community College (KCC), Windward Community College (WCC), Chaminade University of Hawaiʻi
(CUH), and other institutions of higher education locally and globally.
Individuals and groups (any age) are welcome to join us for special short-term programs or one-time activities.
For detailed information about activities and logistics email, call, or come by our office, but first and foremost check out our
MINA CALENDAR: servicelearning.socialsciences.hawaii.edu/ahupuaacal.html
--------------------------------------- PROGRAM STRUCTURE ---------------------------------------
--
CORE ACTIVITIES
The program is built around a series of common core
activities, which also serve as training and typically take up
50-60% of the hours required. The common core activities
include opening and closing sessions, as well as an upland
(heiau), a midland (lo‘i) and a lowland (fishpond) activity.
If you are a first time participant and can’t join us on on the
days scheduled for core activities, substitute activities are
available (marked as such in the MINA calendar).
Additionally, Some of the core activities can be waived to
create time for specialization.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES / SPECIALIZATION
Contact us for more information. You can either:
(a) focus on a specific topic (fishponds, sustainable food
production, ….) or specialize in one site - for example
work with specific community groups or private entities to
preserve and restore the environment of Hawaiʻi – for
instance Hanauma Bay, Kāhea, and Ho’oulu ʻĀina. Or
(b) create a broad experience for yourself through par-
ticipating in the optional activities listed on the MINA cal-
endar. Activities are usually added during the semester
based on community needs and availability.
------------------------------------------- CORE ACTIVITIES --------------------------------------------
ORIENTATIONS attend one of three options: UHM/Dean Hall room 5-6 Thursday 9/7 3-5pm;
KCC/‘Ōlapa 214 and 215 Friday 9/8 1-3pm; UHM/Dean room 5-6 Friday 9/22 2-4pm
LOWLAND Heʻeia Loko Iʻa, Saturday 9/23 8:30am-12:30pm
MIDLAND Ulupō loʻI and heiau, Sunday 10/15 9am-1pm
UPLAND Hālawa Valley, Saturday 11/4, 9am-1pm
REFLECTION & Pāʻina:Wāwāmalu, Saturday 12/2 10-12pm
Core activities can be substituted
with other activities. The MINA-
calendar marks approved sub-
stitutes – and lots of additional,
optional activities. For weekday
action: email csssl@hawaii.edu
------------------------------- PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS -------------------------------
Transportation: Except for a few activities, the program does not provide transportation to the sites. However, the MINA calendar has
information about how to get to each activity by car and by public transportation. We strongly encourage carpooling.
Preregistration: All activities REQUIRE preregistration. Fill out this simple form:
https://goo.gl/forms/yoRGQuM2Cs8N2qI92
Guests are welcome to join us (unless site limits/restrictions apply). For most activities, you can include them in your own preregistration, but
they do need to be registered individually with MINA as well:
https://goo.gl/forms/WOwgBInRQW5Lt70k1
Sustainable activities: Except for the required waivers, we are aiming at being as sustainable as possible. Please bring your own work gloves
and a re-useable water bottle to all activities. For activities with food, bring also a mesh kit.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED
•
If you are participating in MINA as part of class work, obtain your instructor’s approval and comply with course requirements.
•
Complete (1) the mandatory online registration:
https://goo.gl/forms/WOwgBInRQW5Lt70k1
(including its MINA section),
(2) the program waiver/release form (
http://servicelearning.socialsciences.hawaii.edu/pdf/PCE_waiver_rev_0116.pdf
); and
(3) any additional service-learning paperwork/registration requirements that your institution(s) may have. UHM
requirements are included in and covered by the above forms.
•
Attend an orientation session to learn about the ahupuaʻa concept, how to navigate the MINA program, and set up a written
work plan with the program leaders (Ulla Hasager or Mike Ross). It has to meet the requirements of both your instructor and
our program. Any later changes in the plan must be approved by one of the program leaders.
•
If you are unable to attend an orientation session, you need to contact us at csssl@hawaii.edu (subject line: MINA
registration for
) to receive further instructions in how to prepare yourself for MINA activities.
READY TO ENJOY THE SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE
•
Check the MINA calendar and select your activities. Preregistration for activities is REQUIRED before the deadline and
explained above. If there are major changes in your preregistration, after you submit the form, please email us:
csssl@hawaii.edu
and explain what the differences are, for instance that you are bringing ten additional family members (:
•
Always check the MINA calendar on the morning of an activity. The schedule can change due to weather conditions and
unexpected events - and we do not send out texts or emails. Also check regularly for new activities that may be added.
•
On-site in the community: Comply with instructions given at sites and activities by both site and MINA leaders. Be safe and
considerate of others at the site.
•
On-site in the community: Sign in with the MINA representative at all common activities. In case of record discrepancy,
those sign-in sheets override your time sheet. If you forget your time sheet, let the MINA representative know and make
arrangements to get the time sheet signed by him or her
within a week after the activity. Be sure to also comply with any
additional service-learning paperwork/registration requirements that our community partners may have.
•
Participate at least once in each of the five CORE activities (or approved substitutes), including the opening and closing
sessions – unless we have set up a different work plan for you.
•
In addition to the core activities specialize in one site/activity and work there the rest of your hours OR participate in a
number of the optional common activities as agreed in your MINA work plan.
•
Complete and document (with original time sheets signed by MINA representatives or community site supervisors) a total of
minimum 25 hours of service for the semester (unless your class instructor has a separate agreement with us).
•
It is highly recommended to keep a daily journal of your experiences – whether your instructor asks for it or not.
•
If you need help with background information or research, feel free to email us at
csssl@hawaii.edu
. We are happy to help.
DOCUMENTING YOUR WORK
•
After completion of the service, submit your timesheet (required) electronically (scan/take a picture) to
csssl@hawaii.edu
-
we include the result in our report to your instructor.
•
We also ask that you submit an electronic copy of your final reflective journal or other product related to your service-
learning experience with MINA (what your instructor requires for class is sufficient).
•
Complete electronic surveys as requested by our program (required) and by community partners (requested).
------------------------------------------------ KULEANA ---------------------------------------------------
Prof. Marion Kelly of the UHM Department of Ethnic Studies
originally developed the service-learning program, Adopt an Ahu-
puaʻa in collaboration with Professor Nelda Quensell and Dr. Carl
Hefner of KCC. The program was implemented by Prof. Quensell
(KCC) and Dr. Ulla Hasager (UHM) in 1997. Activities are developed
and conducted in collaboration with our on-site community partners,
who – along with the ʻāina – are the actual teachers.
Living on islands gives a clear message about the need for
responsible human interaction with the environment for anyone who
dares to listen. Nevertheless, Hawaiʻi’s environment and resources
are in grave danger, not only because of large-scale mismanagement
and development projects directed by motives of economic gain and
political self-advancement, but also because of everyday use and lack
of concern and knowledge.
The rate at which the environment is being destroyed makes it
urgent to educate the residents of Hawaiʻi to take responsibility and
action to preserve and improve what is left. We must create options
for a sustainable use of the remaining resources and practices that
promote food sovereignty.
The Mālama I Nā Ahupuaʻa service-learning program addresses
these issues. We aim to develop a sense and responsibility of place by
creating a fund of knowledge and practical experience, including
Native practices of sustainable living.
An ahupuaʻa is a traditional division of land, typically extending
from the top of the mountains out into the ocean to the reef. Within the
ahupuaʻa, the inhabitants had access to all the ecological zones of the
islands and could get almost all they needed for survival. Ahupuaʻa
were self-sufficient and probably constituted self-governing political
entities in early times.
The organization of the Mālama i nā Ahupuaʻa service-learning
pathway varies from most other options for service learning, because
of our emphasis on establishing a shared base of knowledge through
common meetings and activities, usually taking up more than half of
the required service-learning hours. On this ground of common
knowledge, the students build their own experience from the activities
in which they participate, sometimes working in small groups.
Participating students come from a variety of institutions, levels
and disciplines, such as botany, biology, sociology, anthropology,
history, family resources, economics, political science, ethnic studies,
and geography. Furthermore, our common projects often involve a
variety of social, cultural, economic, and age groups. Participants
regularly bring parents, children or other family members and
friends.
The ʻohana perspective is part of our efforts to reach out to the P-
12 levels and to create culturally appropriate lifelong learning
experiences, recognizing the importance of both families and hands-
on learning in a Oceanic context. The mix of age and social groups
gives younger participants good role models and creates confidence
in a future transition into high–er education.
We cover a wide spectrum of activities from hard manual labor to
collection of oral histories. All activities, however, focus on the
involvement of human beings with various aspects of the environment.
The experiences and efforts of the students continue to help preserve
environment and culture. Many of our former students have gone on
to become community leaders.
Mālama: To take care of, tend, attend, care for, preserve, protect,
beware, save, maintain; to keep or observe, as a taboo; to conduct, as
a service; to serve, honor, as God; care, preservation, support,
fidelity, loyalty; custodian, caretaker, keeper
Ahupuaʻa: Land division, usually extending from the uplands to
the sea, so called because the boundary was marked by a heap (ahu)
of stones surmounted by an image of a pig (puaʻa), or because a pig
or other tribute was laid on the altar as hoʻokupu (tax, gift) to a chief
Mina: To prize greatly, value greatly, especially of something in
danger of being lost (Definitions from
http://www.wehewehe.com)
----------------------------------------------- MINA LEADERS ----------------------------------------------
Dr. Ulla Hasager, Director of Civic Engagement UHM College of
Social Sciences/ACCESS, anthropologist. Offices: Dean rooms
5-7. 956 0655, 330 1276 ulla@hawaii.edu
Prof. Mike Ross, KCC botany. Office: Kokiʻo 102, 808 734 9428
mikeross@hawaii.edu
,
Dr. Lynette Hiilani Cruz, anthropology, Kupuna in Residence
HPU, 808 284 3460
palolo@hawaii.rr.com
Prof. Nelda Quensell, founding Kupuna, ethnobotany
Kupuna Richard Uweloa Ribuca, 398 9714
STUDENT LEADERS
csssl@hawaii.edu
- 808 956 0655
• Daven Chang, MINA program leader, UHM Hawaiian
studies/anthropology
• Kyle Kajihiro, doctoral candidate, geography, UHM
• Misty Davis, UHM
• KCC Environmental Pathway leader (
kccserve@hawaii.edu
)
SUPPORTERS:
Students: Kat Lobendahn,UHM; Junior Coleman
UHM; Kanaloa Schrader UHM; Alex Lum KCC
Faculty: Colette Higgins WCC history, Teena Michael WCC biology;
Wendy Kuntz KCC ecology/biology;
Kathy Ogata KCC chemistry
Electronic copy of this factsheet:
http://servicelearning.socialsciences.hawaii.edu/resources.html
MINA office: ACCESS-Engagement, UHM Dean Hall rooms 5-7, 2450 Campus Rd. Honolulu, HI 96822
Email:
csssl@hawaii.edu
; phone 808 956 0655
(FA17b)