Story and video by Kimberlee Bassford, Gen XIII, Windward CC
Photos by Jamie Sickel, Gen XIII, Kapi‘olani CC
Generation XIII officially kicked off today on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. A huge mahalo to Neva and Toni for hosting us and for organizing a thought-provoking and productive day at Hawai‘i Community College.
He also shared the deeper meaning of the pahu and pū. The pahu, which was the first sound we heard, is a reminder of our connection to one another. Just as the first sound we hear in our mothers’ wombs is her heartbeat and our fetal hearts find rhythm with hers, he said we need to find rhythm with the universe. The pū and its oceanic origins reminds us that Hawaiians and all native peoples migrated, adapted and innovated. So should we. The Kīpaepae ended with each of us and our hosts touching noses, breathing in the same shared space.
We also met agriculture instructor Lew Nakamura and learned of the unique partnerships between his program and with Hilo High School (offering dual credit courses) and with the college’s culinary program. We later visited the Agricultural Farm Laboratory and marveled at the rows of pristine lettuce and herbs in the greenhouse, many of which we got to enjoy at lunch.
Lunch, which was so generously hosted by Lew and the culinary and Farm to Table programs, was an event. Everyone wanted to bring home the kai choi soup. It’s just the thing that would hit the spot on a rainy Hilo day–or any day really. The greenhouse salad, smoked meat and assortment of desserts (chocolate mochi, butter mochi, cookies and blueberry cheesecake) rounded out a memorable and thoroughly satisfying meal.
Then it was time for business. Perhaps it was Dr. Tangarō’s call for us to be in rhythm with the universe that our generation settled on our shirt in 20 minutes flat. Louise had us drill each other’s names into our brains: Toni, Shaunte, Jackie, Kim, Christian, Jamie, Michelle, Mitch, Kahale, Whitney, Jeff, Neva, Kelsie, Michael, Louise … got it! We talked about the Hawai'i Student Success Institute, started brainstorming our group project and shared what was on our minds.
As I sit on the plane back to O‘ahu, my mind is brimming with ideas for our meeting #2 next month at WinCC. And I know I’m in for a meaningful and transformative 18 months together.
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