The Canoe is an Island, the Island is a Canoe.
"He waʻa he moku, he moku he waʻa."
Clay Bertelmann, voyager and founder of Nā Kālai Waʻa (the canoe builders)
These words explain how life on a canoe is similar to life on islands.
Simply put, it means what we do to get along with each other and sustain resources on a voyaging canoe is just like what we need to do to live successfully on islands.
Seen from above, Earth is also like one big beautiful island, surrounded by space. And all of us live together on this island.
To help "island Earth" stay healthy, we have to get along with each other and be mindful of our resources — just like on a canoe.
Take a few moments to look at these photos.
When you look at the canoe, the Hawaiian Islands and Earth from the sky, it gives you a different point of view — or a new perspective — on a canoe and on islands — and on planet Earth.
PERSPECTIVE
A point of view, including attitudes or beliefs, toward an idea or issue.
How do perspectives form & how do they change?
Each of us has a unique perspective shaped by our individual life experiences. Our family and our culture also shape community, national and global perspectives.
The most amazing thing about perspective is that it can shift and change. Each of us is able to stretch and expand our understanding and experience of life.
Sometimes it’s as simple as “putting oneself in another person’s shoes” or traveling to a different country (kind of like you did watching the film about Kamai).
Other times perspective changes through profound experiences like falling in love or losing something that had great meaning.
When a perspective changes, we might recognize the power it had all along—to shape, define, and even to limit, our experience.