“ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.”
No task is too big when done together by all.
Aloha e nā poʻe ʻo Hawaiʻi! My inoa is Benji Ah Sing and I hope this message finds you well. For the past two years, I have had the privilege of being an intern here at Hoʻokuaʻāina. To my recent delight, Iʻve also been honored with the promotion to co-farm manager entailing new kuleana and a greater sense of management skills. My time here with our organization has aided in molding the kāne that I am on my way to becoming.
As a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Class of 2014 I pursued a collegiate degree in clinical psychology at Point Loma Nazarene University. Upon the completion of my degree I returned home to the moku of Oʻahu in hopes of becoming a contributing community member with a passion for our island culture and a strong back! My strengths at this time of completing school made me an excellent candidate to hana within the Department of Education. Admittedly I felt my calling outside the walls of what would be considered normal education.
The idea of community-based education with an emphasis on ʻike Hawaiʻi was/is something that strikes me as very intriguing. Modern times are ever-changing but Hawaiʻiʻs kānaka stands firm with the steadfast goals of truly living a sustainable lifestyle and passing on those positive habits to the generations that come after our time. Hoʻokuaʻāina has allowed me the opportunity to experience a full effort of community members that hui together in an attempt to eat from the ʻāina beneath our feet and more importantly share that ʻike with people of all sorts.
Due to our likeminded goals it is inevitable that we as hui members have created lifelong pilina with each other. There always seems to be a natural succession of when it is time for people to come and go. And as these times unfurl we humbly celebrate memories of the past together and kakoʻo the next phase of life someone is entering into. Together we help each other grow. Together we help one another through difficulties. Together we holomua. United by the the notion that no matter where life takes us kokua will always be at the forefront of our mission here at Hoʻokuaʻāina.
