7th Graders Get Hands-On with Mālama ʻĀina in Pacific Island Studies
“If we don’t connect with the land then we can’t fully take care of it or even understand it. To clean the land is one thing but to fully understand what it needs and help it thrive is another.”
— Aria T., 7th grade
Some days learning takes place in a classroom—and other days it means grabbing a shovel and getting dirty.
Our 7th graders in Pacific Island Studies got their hands a little dirty last Friday September 5 as they began an exciting journey of learning about Mālama ʻĀina, or taking care of the land.
Ashley Iaea, our 7th-grade Social Studies teacher, shared, “This year, our curriculum starts from within: understanding our own culture, our place in society, and our connection to the community around us.”
Middle school student Aria T. described the importance of taking care of our “home”: “If we don’t connect with the land, then we can’t fully take care of it or even understand it. To clean the land is one thing, but to fully understand what it needs and help it thrive is another.”
Kahiau S., a 7th-grade student, also shared, “It is important to be connected with the land and take care of it because if you take care of the land, then the land will take care of you.”
To bring these lessons to life, students planted ti-leaves on campus near the locker rooms, between the gym and cafeteria. The ti-leaf is more than just a plant—it holds deep cultural significance throughout the Pacific. It is used spiritually for blessings and protection, medicinally for healing, and practically in food preparation for wrapping and cooking.
Throughout the school year, students will continue to mālama these plants by watering, weeding, and tending to them. Kahiau also mentioned that he hopes to teach others how to care for the ti-leaves.
This hands-on experience allowed them to practice stewardship, deepen their connection to cultural practices, and understand the importance of caring for the ʻāina. The thriving ti-leaves will serve as living reminders of the traditions and values that connect our local ʻāina to the wider Pacific community.
“I really enjoyed that we got to expand our learning space to the outdoors. Another thing that I liked about this experience was that it was a very hands-on activity and we didn’t just stay inside and take notes all period on all the uses of ti-leaves,” Aria added.
A special mahalo to Dr. Higa for donating the plants and to Mr. Mau for supporting our students with additional resources.
