My name is Kamalei Vaughan Hassett. I am a 17 year old student at Kamehameha school from Kailua, O'ahu. I have lived in Kailua all my life. I am currently still living in Kailua with a family of 7. Kailua means "two seas". It is named because of the two currents that run through Kailua connecting to the ocean. Kailua is located in the district of Ko'olaupoko. The wind and this district is and the rain is 'Apuakea. The specific wind of Kailua is the Malanai wind. My mauna is Kalaheo. This is a hillside in Kailua; I have lived on the side of this mountain my whole life.
Mālama Honua means to love and preserve the land. To love the land, means to give back. Try and do things that bring good energy towards the earth. Also, to preserve the land and life resources is an important part of Mālama Honua. It is important to think about the future in order to develop new and better understandings of living things. Preservation of the land is what allows our journey through Mālama Honua to thrive and continue. I look forwards to learning about new ways to preserve and cultivate our land and Hawaiian culture.
This year in Mālama Honua I would like to learn in an up close environment. I would like to be involved in group work that involves cooperation. Working outside as a group will allow us to apply our learning from the classroom to the world. I think that working together will help us to connect more to our culture. We all have on thing in common and that is we are Hawaiian. Completing tasks and taking part in demonstration will help us all to identify our purpose in learning.
I have taken part in many events that help to Mālama our world and community. I was part of the surf team and junior guards for 3 years. In Junior Guards we participated in beach clean ups and water activities. We were taught safety and rules that will help take care of yourself as well as others. As part of the surf team, it was mandatory to participate in the events like clean ups. One event that I specifically remember was access surf. The whole team went to white plains beach and took part in a charity surf event. We looked after many kids that day and showed them how we have fun and look after each other.
Aloha 'aina means to love the land. This is a value that I was taught as a young child. We had Hawaiian class in elementary where we learned values. To love the land means to deeply connect for it. When you go to a place, you remember the significance of it and the mana that it has. All land has a story and a purpose. This value connects to Mālama. When we love the land, the land loves us back. If we take care and put our good energy and love into what we are doing, we will receive the same back. On the same note, love is something that is given without expectation. When you do something willingly with good intentions that can be unconditional love. I feel unconditional love for the land when in the ocean because I respect and care for it.