In the Field | Kiana Dulan: Mālama Loko Ea Foundation

Posted 12/27/21 at 11:26h by Cassie Clark

Hi. My name is Kiana Dulan, and I have no idea what I want to do with my life. At least I didn’t until after Kupu. I was always vaguely interested in helping the environment, but my personal efforts never made the difference I desired. During high school, I was one of the students who had continuous existential crises. This was followed by a lack of motivation to be an overachiever and to do just enough to skate by. It worked! I existed and nothing more than that. However, there was still an urge to do more in my community, to “be the change I wanted to see in the world.” This urge led me to take a gap year, and now I intern for the Mālama Loko Ea Foundation! I’ve grown so much in these past three months, and I want to pursue Environmental Sociology with a minor in Political Science after my term.

I always look forward to going to work everyday. Especially Mondays. My coworker Makua shares his manaʻo (thoughts) on a selection of ʻōlelo noʻeau (wise proverbs) every Monday, and he also sometimes leads the staff in learning oli (chants). This past week, we familiarized ourselves with an oli that a past program director composed, and in that oli was the word “ahuwale,” which means exposed, conspicuous, prominent, or obvious. The word “ahu” by itself can mean “a traplike stone enclosure made by fishermen for fish to enter,” which I found relevant since we work at a fishpond. Makua expanded on the word, saying that it could also mean “to capture life. The “ea” in Loko Ea can mean breath, air, life, to smell, to rise, and sovereignty. When Emily, another one of my coworkers, explains this definition, she sometimes says that the rising of the water means the pond itself is breathing.

 There was this one time when kids from Nānākuli High School came. They mostly seemed well-behaved, but there was this boy who needed everyone’s eyes on him. He was particularly rowdy when we were in the hana (work) station and especially kolohe (rascal) when his friends joined him. I stayed quiet and pulled weeds in hopes of them joining in, but their riot was relentless. I thought they were being disrespectful. What was their purpose of being here if all they were doing was being noisy? You came here for a reason, and that reason was to learn and give to Loko Ea. Give back in peace. We eventually finished hana and came to closing circle where Emily shared how their laughs were bringing life into the pond. It was only about six months ago when I was last in school, but I already forgot the joy that I had when I went on a field trip. I just wanted to have fun. They just wanted to have fun, and their laughter breathed new life into Loko Ea. Their presence exposed a new perspective for myself, and although they aren’t fish, they entered through Loko Ea’s gates and left some of their life, their mana.

I used to get nervous when people my age came to Loko Ea because of the different dynamics of me being a teacher instead of a student. After the group from Nānākuli, I realized that when people come into Loko Ea, they may do whatever they want to, but it can still benefit, no matter how small. To those in high school who come to the pond, I want to instill in them a sense of hope for the future or at least the understanding that everything will be okay. I know everyone didn’t have the same experience as me in high school, but to those who are currently experiencing what I felt then, things will work out eventually. Everything happens for a reason, and it might not be what you want, but it will be what you need. You’ve probably heard those mantras at least a thousand times, but they really are true if you go about life with an open-mind and good intentions.

It’s difficult to establish a sense of peace through an online space, so maybe come to Loko Ea. Then will you truly experience what I feel.

My name is Kiana Dulan. During high school, I was one of the students who had continuous existential crises.  However, there was still an urge to do more in my community, to “be the change I wanted to see in the world.” This urge led me to take a gap year, and now I intern for the Mālama Loko Ea Foundation! I want to pursue Environmental Sociology with a minor in Political Science after my term. Follow Kiana’s blog/vlog at https://www.kupuhawaii.org/tag/kiana-dulan.