The Native Hawaiians understood the importance of protecting their natural resources and using them in an intelligent manner. They used the system of “ahupua’a” that established land divisions as “mauka to makai” so that each owner could be responsible for his own livelihood. Students should see how this system is relevant to today and will compare/contrast current policies to those of the Native Hawaiians.
Goals
- Teach students about how the Native Hawaiians respected and preserved the environment through various cultural practices, land divisions, and other systems
- Show students that the historical importance of protecting the environment should not be ignored and that is still very relevant in modern society
- Help students realize that a personal connection to the environment has been a critical factor in protecting it for countless generations
Objectives
- Students will learn about the system of ahupua’a and the benefits of this type of land division
- Students will read Native Hawaiian stories in which they describe the environment, its inhabitants, and its relation to them
- Students will listen to guest speaker(s) who will share their own stories of their relationship with the environment