UA OLA LOKO I KE ALOHA. #2836*
Love gives life within.
Love is imperative to one’s mental and physical welfare.
Think back to a time when you felt truly cared for, valued, respected, and included.
Who was involved? What did they do? What did they say?
How did their words and actions affect your thoughts, emotions, and behavior?
How has this shaped or affected your life?
Our words and actions have incredible power. Something as simple as a word of encouragement or a friendly act of service, given at the right moment, can change the course of a person’s life.
The ʻōlelo noʻeau, ua ola loko i ke aloha, love gives life within, reminds us of the healing and life-giving power of aloha, in its many expressions. The word ola can mean life, health, well-being; healed, and even recovered. To think that our actions have the ability to bring physical and emotional healing to others is an amazing thing.
If we establish that everyone is deserving of love and respect, what can we do to demonstrate a deeper aloha for ourselves and for one another? Furthermore, how might these expressions not only be life giving to us personally, but also bring ola (life, health, well-being) to our families and our communities?
Inquiry
- How do others show their aloha you? How does this make you feel?
- How do we feel when others are not showing us aloha? How does that affect our health and well-being?
- What are ways we can be more intentional to show our aloha to others? What impacts could that have on our families, classes, schools, and communities?
Vocabulary
- Ola: Life, health, well-being; living; recovered; healed
- Loko: Inside, within
- Aloha: Love, affection, compassion, mercy, grace
- Kilo: To observe, watch closely
Moʻolelo
- In the moʻolelo of Mākālei, what happened to Kahinihiniʻula? How was he treated? What was the result of this?
- What was Olomana’s reaction once he realized what had happened to Kahinihiniʻula? Did he agree or disagree with his kahuna? What did Olomana do instead?
- What does this moʻolelo teach us about the importance of respect and valuing all members of the ʻohana/community?
- In what ways did the characters in this moʻolelo express aloha for one another? In what ways did they fail to do so?
- What life lessons might we learn from this moʻolelo? How might it connect with our ʻōlelo noʻeau?
- In what ways did the characters in this moʻolelo express aloha for one another? In what ways did they fail to do so?
- What life lessons might we learn from this moʻolelo? How might it connect with our ʻōlelo noʻeau?
Possible Extension Activities
- Speak life by offering words of encouragement
- Give selflessly
- Serve and help where it is needed
- Choose to respond with grace, even when it is challenging
- Forgive
- What plants and animals are growing? What do they sound, smell, and feel like (as appropriate)? Do they change at different times of the day or year?
- When does it rain? What does the rain look, sound, smell, feel, and taste like? Are there different types of rains that I notice? What are their characteristics? Where and when do the clouds gather? Are there different types of clouds that come around at different times of the day or at different times of the year?
- What do our streams, rivers, and springs look like? Do they change over time? What does the rain look, sound, smell, and feel like
- What is happening in the ocean? What do you see, smell, hear, feel (and taste if appropriate)? Does the activity (waves, animals, limu, etc.) change at different times of the day or year? Are there different types of fish, limu, or other animals present at different types of the year?
- Math: Measure the area needed to plant the kalo. Create a sketch of the area with a key that includes your measurement scale. Be sure to map out where you will plant your kalo. Each kalo should be around one haʻilima (from elbow to fingertip) apart.
- Science: Prepare the soil mixing it with natural organic fertilizers and/or compost before planting. Do daily observations of your kalo and other things in the ʻāina. You can record this data along with measurements on a data table or use our Kilo Journal
- English: Write poems, reflections, or short stories about your kalo and māla.
- Social Studies: Research the significance of kalo to the Hawaiian people, others in the Pacific, and those around the world.
- As you take time to kilo and to care for your kalo and other food, what does it teach you about the importance of listening and observing? How are these actions an expression of respect and aloha? How do they help us to know how to care for others better?
- How are tasks like watering and pulling weeds essential to the healthy growth of your māla? What happens when you do or don’t do these things?
- How is this similar to how we care for ourselves and others? What are the things that we need to clear out? What are things that “water” us and keep us healthy and happy?
*Pukui, M. K., & Varez, D. (1983). ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: Hawaiian Proverbs & poetical sayings. Honolulu, Hawai’i: Bishop Museum Press.
Content on this page was written and compiled by Danielle Espiritu, Education Specialist
