Molokai - Return to Pono

Goodness, Righteous, Moral Quality, Virtuous, Beneficial, Necessary, In Perfect Order... To return To Pono: Return to a State of Being Physically and Spiritually in accord with the Sacred; Correct living; Righteousness; Balance; Abundance; Wealth. "A'ohe hana nui ke alu 'ia" "No task is too big when done together" ======================================== Molokai Ho'ii ka Pono 00:16 Today's World is a need of hope... Humanity must find sustainable and healthy ways to interact with each other and the planet. This is the goal of the small Hawaiian island of Molokai. A community working towards healing, balance, self-governance, and sustainability By returning to the values of its ancient past. ======================================== 00:41 Ancient Times. In Ancient Times Molokai was an island of flourishing rain forests, flowing streams, and life-giving springs. It is estimated that Molokai may have sustained well over one hundred thousand (100.000) residents. 00:57 Along the southern shores the hawaiian people built over 100 fish ponds to practise large scale aquaculture. Miles of agricultural territories lie in the steep lush valleys of the northern coast line. Molokai nick name was (ainamo mona) the abundant land. The peaceful people of molokai were held in high regard. The central plains were the home for revered ......... schools. 01:23 Where the most knowledgeable and skillled cultural hawaiians came to learn, during those ancient times it could be said that people of Molokai were pono, physically and spiritually in accord with the secret and so the land was Pono abundant and large ======================================== 01:42 The Degradation of an Island 01:47 It was prophesied in these ancient times that Hawaii would one day see dramatic changes that would lead to a long path of suffering. Western contact over 230 years ago quickly led to the decimation of the hawaiian people through disease, the imposing of western thoughts, politics and land ownership quickly displaced (Macaii Nana) the commoner, the loyal steward of the land and Molokai cattle rearing , large scale mono-cropping and introduction of invasive species led to the demise of many neeed ecosystems, the loss of rainforest coupled by the misuse of limited water resources caused great damage to the ecological balance of the island, by the late 1900s Molokai became plagued by drought, large scale soil erosion, loss of food productivity and increasing foreign and corporate ownership of land, large companies came in when leaving behind them legacies of damaged environment and faltering economies. ======================================== 02:52 The Spirit of the People 02:56 Through all of this the spirit of Molokai was not destroyed, hidden beneath the many layers of loss remain the secret power of ancient times, for other communities in hawaii been cleared over by western progress, Molokai held out. The 1970s saw the birth of a generation of strong willed activists, they fought hard to restore needed hawaiian rights and to stop unwelcome development. Strong leaders of (Kahuna) fought side by side perpetually powerful hawaiian concepts like..... 03:27 love of the land, through the years they have strengthened access and subsistence rights, protested the bombing of..... 03:36 ................ intention developers 03:38 and kept crusades from exploiting Molokai as a tourist spot, these battles were not easy but they instilled in people the belief that Molokai could retain a unique identity, today the effort to protect Molokai continues. With the recent real estate boom there has been a resurgence of land speculation, large scale development plans. Overuse of limited water supply, displacement of local families and loss of rural life style are ongoing issues. ======================================== 04:07 The Most Hawaiian Island 04:12 Despite the environmental and socio-economic changes of the past 230 years they still consider Molokai pristine when compared to other hawaiian islands, Molokai has been recently given the nick name, "The Most Hawaiian Island", As over 50% of today's nearly 8000 residents are native Hawaiians. Many of whom perpetuate middle Hawaiian cultural practice and values in their day to day lives. ========================================show less...