I have come with the senior class to Kaniakapūpū for a hike and reflection exercise, a writing assignment given by Ms. Verena Mellein in partial fulfillment of the requirements for her Literature and the Life of the Land seminar, a class in natural history and writing meant to reinforce for seniors different ways to experience the natural world. 

“At Moanalua earlier this week we saw the Damien estates and went by the petroglyphs. The students journaled – one entry on the history and cultural significance of the sites we visited, and the other on their personal connection to the place.”

Evan crambles to the height of a rock at the edge of the pool and manages to cannonball and only soak his classmates. “He’s a menace!” Ms. Verena laughs.  

“Later, the students will return to Moanalua to give back to the place by creating natural art works, give back to the place that has given itself to them.” 

“At Moanalua earlier this week we saw the Damien estates and went by the petroglyphs. The students journaled – one entry on the history and cultural significance of the sites we visited, and the other on their personal connection to the place.” 

 

Evan crambles to the height of a rock at the edge of the pool and manages to cannonball and only soak his classmates. “He’s a menace!” Ms. Verena laughs.  

 

“Later, the students will return to Moanalua to give back to the place by creating natural art works, give back to the place that has given itself to them.” 

 

It is an interesting idea, giving back to the places we move through. There was a poem I used to teach for World Literature I am reminded of, by a fifth century Chinese poet our anthology book called T’ao Ch’ien. I can’t find any reliable information about the poet online, though the textbook I used to teach said the poem comes from after when T’ao Ch’ien left his life at the court to return to the countryside.  

 

The poem’s translation is by William Acker, so I am at a further remove from the original. But I love the language of the version I know.  

 

Long I have loved to stroll among the hills and marshes, 
And take my pleasure roaming the woods and fields. 
Now I hold hands with a train of nieces and nephews, 
Parting the hazel growth we tread the untilled wastes — 
Wandering to and fro amid the hills and mounds 
Everywhere around us are dwellings of ancient men 
Here are vestiges of their wells and hearth stones, 
There the rotted stumps of bamboo and mulberry groves. 

 

Ch’ien’s verse echoes the grove we walk through as we return to the Buddha bus parked on the side of the Pali. Of course, in the poem, the speaker comes upon a man gathering wood, and asks of the ruins, “These men – what has become of them?” And the woodsman responds, “Once they were dead that was the end of them.” 

 

I’ve always found the speaker’s surmise stirring: 

 

In the same world men lead different lives; 
Some at the court, some in the marketplace 
Indeed I know these are no empty words: 
The life of man is like a shadow-play 
Which must in the end return to nothingness. 

 

For myself, however, for these fleeting moments I spend with Ms. Verena and the senior class, today, the shadow-play feels like enough. As I scrabble down the flank of the Nu‘uanu Reservoir to the final pathway next to the bus, I come upon a group of women we had seen up at the falls. One of them approaches me, a trash bag in hand. “Maybe next time when you bring your group to the trail you can clean the site a little on your way out,” she suggests.  

 

“I think that’s a great idea,” I reply. “Next time we will remember to do that.” 

PBA students in Mr. Ryan Curry’s physics class experienced an unforgettable journey aboard the renowned Hōkūle‘a voyaging canoe, an icon of Polynesian exploration and cultural preservation. Guided by Pwo Navigator and CEO of the Polynesian Voyaging Society Nainoa Thompson, this unique opportunity allowed students to connect with the rich legacy of navigation.  

 

The field trip was made possible when PBA freshman Puana Thompson extended an invitation to her teachers to join her and her father for a sail. "The Hōkūle‘a is like another school – just different from the rest.” said Puana. Recognizing the significance of this opportunity, especially as the legendary voyaging canoe celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we immediately knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that couldn’t be missed!   

The heavy rain at the end of January initially raised some concerns about the sail, but it also provided the first very important lesson: the significance of prioritizing safety and respecting nature’s powerful forces. 

Thanks to the expertise of the Hōkūle‘a crew, and the cleared weather the morning of the scheduled trip, students successfully departed from the dock at Sand Island, sailing through the waters of Waikīkī.  

Once out of the channel, Nainoa divided the students into three groups. The first and second groups worked to raise the sails, while the third group took on the task of steering, managing the sweep to guide the canoe. 

“We learned how wind direction and current play a factor in steering,” said group three member Ambree Kakuni.  

 

“We had to push on the sweep really hard! We were leaning with our whole weight,” added Amy Yoshida.  

 

“I’m incredibly grateful to the members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society for allowing our students the chance to see physics in action and get a hands-on sailing experience on the Hōkūle‘a,” said Mr. Curry. “It was a special experience I know our students will cherish.” 

Aloha folks,

Senior Alex Michibata and freshman Paul Wüst represented PBA in soccer on the Pac-Five boys varsity squad and both played critical roles during their time spent on the pitch. The team ended up tied for second in the ILH Division 2 and missed the state tournament by one game.