What Can We Learn From the Hawaiian Concept of Kuleana?
Kuleana can mean asking for permission to enter a space not your ownsuch Lydgate State Park on the eastern shore of Kauai. On a trip to Kauai, a traveler learns what it means to give back. share this article  The suns first light illuminates the horizon. On the eastern shore of Kauai near the Hikinaakal Heiau, the sounds of slow handclaps and waves upon the sand are almost primeval, like heartbeat and breathing. Standing before us, Kumu Leinala Pavao Jardin greets the morning sun with a chant, following a centuries-old tradition. Its my first sunrise a flight away from home since the world shut down more than a year ago. And while this particular sun salutation has a poignant meaning after months of pandemic stress, Im here at the beach to ask for permission, something travelers rarely do when visiting a place. Jardins voice rings out once more, in the Knihi ka Mauna, a chant derived from the oli khea chants, a request for entry into any space that is not ones own. When visitors come to our island, theyre showing up at a strangers door, in a sense, and asking to be welcomed, she says to the group afterwards. People are looking to learn and connect to the ina and the culture, and that comes with responsibility. And we, as kamaina [Hawaiian residents], need to educate them. Im here at the beach to ask for permission, something travelers rarely do when visiting a place. As we consider what post-COVID life looks like, theres an opportunity to tap into Hawaiian cultures idea of kuleana. The word itself means responsibility, but in a deeper sense that covers a reciprocal relationship between the person who is responsible and the thing that they are responsible for. Visitors to Kauai enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and rich culture found in its small towns but dont always observe how everyday kuleana is present. But on this trip, thats exactly what Im here to explore. Photo by Makana Weiss Common Ground, which occupies an 83-acre campus on the islandis looking to revitalize traditional farming practices. Among other things, the pandemic revealed how reliant Kauai is on tourism, which supports about one-third of the islands economy and employs approximately 38 percent of the islands workforce. When tourism dropped during the pandemic, unemployment rates rocketed up to as much as 32 percent in April 2020. One local bank, the Kauai Government Employees Federal Credit Union (KGEFCU), is aiming for change. We have to diversify and rebuild the economy in a more sustainable way, says Monica Belz, president and CEO of KGEFCU. If we link up together, we can transform the cycle of poverty due to the economic dependency on tourism.  Article continues below advertisement  The credit union delivers a big impact on a small island, with a model of financing that values people over profit and supporting local businesses. Instead of being beholden to outside stockholders, the credit union passes along earnings to members in the form of higher dividends and lower loan rates, among other thingshelping keep money on the island. Common Ground is one such business KGEFCU has helped. Set on an 83-acre agricultural campus, the organization is part of the growing movement to increase local food production, breaking the reliance on imported food. Our mission is to improve the systems that feed us, says Jennifer Luck, the organizations COO. We have to diversify and rebuild the economy in a more sustainable way, says Monica Belz, president and CEO of KGEFCU. That includes cultivating biodiversity on the island. The organization began by building a tropical agroforesta system in which larger breadfruit and banana trees serve as a canopy for smaller crops, like vegetablescomplete with animals and insects such as bees, chickens, and cows, which provide additional nutrition for the agroforest. The campus also includes a Food Innovation Center, home to both an incubator, run by Common Grounds nonprofit arm, the CG Foundation, and an accelerator. The incubator is aimed at farmers and food entrepreneurs in the early stages of their businesseach participant gets $10,000 in investment capital. The accelerator focuses more specifically on food and beverage entrepreneurs with established models, helping them scale their businesses. In recent months, the first generation of Kauai businesses have graduated from the Common Ground programs. Two of those participants are Ekahi Market and Ranchers Daughters Reserve. Sustainable fishing, using smaller boats and line-and-hook techniques, is a home-grown tradition in the Hawaiian Islands. Ekahis artisan canned ahi honors Kauai heritage by using only fresh, local ingredients: ahi thats line-caught off the islands shore, sea salt, Hawaiian chile peppers, Tahitian lime, and ginger root. Justine Bennett, founder of Ekahi, feels a strong responsibility to both the ocean and fishermen. Tuna species are found throughout the worlds oceans and are an integral part of our planet. How we manage our fisheries will have effects for generations, she says. I also pay the same price year-round to my fishermen, which allows them to do well throughout the year, rather than feel as if theyre over a barrel to lower their prices for powerful restaurants or hotels. Photo by Linny Morris Over the years, the Cliffs at Princeville have taken significant steps to lowering its carbon footprint. Article continues below advertisement  Sharleen Andrade is a fifth-generation Kauai rancher. But the changing cattle industry on the islandswhere more than 90 percent of beef cattle is now shipped to the mainland for feedlotting on grain before beef is shipped back to island marketsnever made sense to her. She knew she could raise and finish grass-fed beef locally, which is exactly what shes done: Ranchers Daughters Reserve now harvests and processes its own beef for distribution in Kauai. I didnt like the disconnection of not having the entire process here, Andrade says. I want to eat whats in my backyard. I feel like Ive found a sense of peace, pride, and legacy by continuing my familys heritage. Even hotels are embodying kuleana, beyond inviting travelers to eschew daily laundry service. The Cliffs at Princeville, a mixed-use condo resort, has taken advantage of the islands natural climate and its location on a bluff to eliminate air-conditioning and heating units. Instead, the resort uses windows that naturally let the heat out as it rises and sliding glass doors that are strategically positioned to promote airflow. The Cliffs has also added a large-scale solar energy system that now generates more than half of the resorts electricity. The property has worked to reduce water consumption more than 30 percent over the last two years, and it relies on FloWater stations for filling reusable containers rather than providing single-use plastic water bottles. Sustainability is a constant focusas the hotels many awards can attestand the board of directors has a standing committee dedicated to finding ways to improve. I feel like Ive found a sense of peace, pride, and legacy by continuing my familys heritage. Kuleana also extends to the conservation of native animals, as well as acknowledging their true place in the world. Sharkscrucial creatures in our ocean environmentare often depicted as evil, fierce, and bloodthirsty. In Hawaiian culture, theyre also considered aumakua, or guardian ancestors that manifest as animals, plants, or elements. Shark-attack survivor Mike Coots uses his photography to depict the personalities of sharks to stoke curiosity, rather than hatred, and spark interest in protecting them. When I go through my images, I try to find a humanistic trait like a smirk or a smile, something that you can see in yourself, he says. It may just be the education we need. >>Next: Best Hawaiian Islands for Different Kinds of Travelers  Products we write about are independently vetted and recommended by our editors. AFAR may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which helps support our independent publication.