Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 5, 1 May 1998 — Appropriate technology, appropriate process [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Appropriate technology, appropriate process

ON APRIL 3, 1 was a luneheon speaker at the Advanced Technologies Research Conference hosted by the State of Hawai'i Department of Education. The audience was primed for

more examples of how contemporary technologies are providing "new goals for students having a sense of purpose, habits and skills of inquiry, ability to work with others and to deal with change." We visited instead our homeland of Kekahawai'ole. We discussed these goals, not as new and unique, but as universal. Technology may change over time, but fundamental survival skills for both individuals and communities

have a!ways revolved around the ability to make observations, draw conclusions and act accordingly. Kekaha-wai-'ole. Kekaha-without-water. Gardens flourished upon the lava lands because of the ingenuity of the gardeners. During times when rain falls, we collect and store the water, literally, as we live on a roof-fed catchment system even now. In times as recent as my mother's childhood, we would plaee catchments in lava tubes to collect the water whieh would percolate

from the surface during times of rain and be available for use during times of drought. Both geological and organic material is employed as muleh to better maintain the moisture content of our gardens. This plaee is still "without water" and our water either comes directly from the sky or is purchased and transported to our

catchment system. We still practice water conservation. In the same way that a damp sponge better absorbs liquid, we have observed that muleh made damp in the aftemoon, better receives and transfers the nighttime dew to the plants whieh it surrounds. We concluded that watering in the early evening is acceptable given our water conservation regimen. And so, we water in the evenings according to our water budget. Even when piped-in water becomes available, I trust that we will sensibly

maintain water conservation practices, because, new technology aside, their appropriateness will not have diminished. These practices are examples of "the opportunity to apply human ingenuity at every juncture." After weeks of deliberation and effort and disappointment, the vacancy on the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been

uneu. m mai juncnire, me challenge to the Board of Tmstees was to apply our ingenuity to filling a vacancy among us or to rely upon the ingenuity of the govemor to do so. We observed the difficulties with the on-going process. The eonclusion may be that another process is more appropriate. A process whieh has been frequently suggested is to tap the next highest vote-getter to fill the vacancy. This suggestion is appealing in its objectivity and it is a nod to the electorate. However, the discussion of the merits and detriments of this process has yet to be conducted The determination that this

process should be adopted by the Board of Tmstees has not been made. While we may be poised to, in the words of H. Ka'umealani K. Walk, "seek for what is pono, it is not important to know who is right but, rather, what is right," but we have not yet had the pleasure. Kudos to Govemor Cayetano on both the ingenuity and integrity he exercised in filling the vacancy on the Board of Tmstees and the Oflfice of Hawaiian Affairs. Aloha nō. ■

Fundamental survival skills ... have always revolved around the ability to make observations, draw eonelusions and act accordingly." Hannah Springer

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