The Coolest Field Trip

The chant- all the kids wore their special kihei that they have made as part of their Hawaiian Studies unit.  This is a year long unit, focusing on history and traditions.  This field trip took the entire fourth grade about 10 miles down the road to an archeological site called Kahu Wai which is estimated to be over 2,000 years old, one of the early Hawaiian villages.

The kids are walking through the forest to the site of the men's and womens' Hale.  They had a common courtyard garden where sweet potatoes were grown, which the early Hawaiians got by trading with the native Peruvians.  It would have taken nine weeks of canoe travel- three to Tahiti, another six over towards Eastern Island and from their to the South American mainland.  Amazing, huh?  It's a long trip, especially as it was done in a double hulled canoe using ancient navigation techniques!

The kids worked filling a couple of raised beds and then planted some sweet potatoes.  Part of the trip stressed the fact that part of the culture is based upon taking care of the land.  Malama ka Aina.  It was fun to see a bunch of kids with shovels and dirt.

The classes all had three stations, and at this one they worked on learning a hula that went with a chant.  They learned to try some of the food that the early Hawaiians would have eaten, not only sweet potato but also some steamed breadfruit.  The Kumu, or teacher, talked about the Polynesian triangle, which stretches from Hawaii at the top, to Tahiti on the one side and Easter Island on the other.  Then he talked about how the cultural value of harmony was also a triangle, with the sun/sky/heavens at the top, family one one side, and the land on the other.   The hula the kids learned was a story of this.

The best part of the day!  This site has a caretaker and part of what they do is offer some cultural trips like this, and part of what they do is make the traditional Hawaiian sled.  They are made of hard-wood, narrow rungs held together with lashings made of the traditional hala weaving.  The kids all got a turn to try and make it down the hill.  It was neat to hear them cheer each other on, and laugh uproariously when someone tipped over.