Story and photos by Jamie Sickel, Gen XIII, Kapi‘olani CC
Video by Kimberlee Bassford, Gen XIII, Windward CC
Happy new year! Our first gathering of the new decade was at Windward CC. We were all abuzz and excited to be reuniting after the holiday break. Our morning began with a breakfast of fresh fruit and baked goods and a seriously refreshing and inspiring talk story sesh with Windward CC chancellor, Ardis Eschenberg, who shared her journey into administration and to Windward CC.
Ardis, much like our Wo coordinator and Kapi‘olani CC chancellor Louise Pagotto, echoed what we also previously heard from Leeward CC chancellor, Carlos Peñaloza - she never intended to become an administrator. I've found this a common admission among our leaders who most selflessly and passionately serve. Ardis spoke openly about the challenges she faces as an administrator as well as the affirmations she has experienced that tell her that her service - as part of a dedicated and supportive community at her campus - is positively impacting lives. She encouraged us to consider how we can lead - from any position - and effect positive change in support of our students, our colleagues and our communities.
After an energizing breakfast and conversation, we headed out for some rewarding physical labor! Hawaiian Studies associate professor Kalawai‘a Moore introduced us to the Hawaiian Studies Mala (garden), where we would be getting a hands-on orientation to uhau humu pōhaku, or Hawaiian dry-stack masonry. Kalawai‘a divided us up into three teams: 1 team was in charge of stringing a line to which we would align our pa pōhaku (rock wall); another team would dig the trench in which our foundation stones, or niho, would be placed, and a third team was in charge of selecting these stones for transport to the site. It was hard work (well...for the trench-digging team!), but it was also gratifying.
Kalawai‘a explained to us that the large foundation stones are called niho (teeth) because they sit in the trench like teeth in gums, anchoring the wall into the earth. After the trench was prepped and a sufficient number of niho were ready for placement, we worked to identify the best position and move them into the trench. This was no mean feat, and it took a concerted team effort (with a lot of encouragement and correction from Kalawai‘a) to get the pōhaku into place. As I looked around us at the thoughtfully constructed pa pōhaku made by students, staff and faculty, I had an entirely new appreciation for the knowledge, strength and teamwork that went into these structures.
After a quick clean-up, we headed over to Hale ‘Iolani to drop in on Jordan Souza and his students in the woodcarving studio. We began in the classroom, which was full of impressive carvings and projects from Windward CC students and faculty. Jordan talked about the focus on Hawaiian cultural woodworking and wood carving in the classes he teaches. He showed us not only a variety of carving types, but mediums as well, including shell, rock, coconut and many types of wood traditionally used in Hawaiian woodworking (which Jordan emphasized extend well beyond koa!). In fact, he discussed a number of native trees traditionally used in Hawaiian tools and resources that are threatened or in danger of dying out. He stressed the importance of efforts to preserve these trees, a point he emphasizes in his teaching as well.
From the classroom, we moved to the studio to see where the magic happens. Here, Jordan explained more about the program and how he aims to strike a balance between honoring and teaching Hawaiian culture and being inclusive of all learners. The nature of the woodworking courses are so multi-faceted - they foster the development of not only woodworking and carving skills, but critical thinking, design, research, and an understanding of relevant language and vocabulary as well as cultural, environmental, community and global issues. We also visited the storage area where a variety of woods, including rare and extinct specimens, are stored, along with the tools, both modern commercial and handmade by the students and faculty. From there, we made our way outside, where the students and faculty in the program have really made their own special space. They really have a special community in which they cultivate their own plants, store and prep wood donations, and serve as caretakers of the space. Jordan emphatically encouraged all of us to return any time, noting that this is a community space and we would always be welcome. It was obvious that this group is more than just a college class or program - it's an ‘ohana.
After our inspiring morning with Windward admin, faculty and students, we moved back to our home base for a beautiful lunch, courtesy of Chef Dan Swift and the Windward CC Uala Leaf Cafe. During and after lunch, we discussed some proposals, made decisions on applications for Wo funding and dug further into planning for our project #whyUHCC, which now has a dedicated page here on the site and will be rolled out to our campuses soon and via social media (follow us on Instagram!) at the Hawai‘i Student Success Institute (HISSI).
It was an uplifting, energizing and productive meeting, and I left refreshed, a little muddy and full of gratitude!
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