"Yesterday the word was not sustainability. Yesterday the word was life. And today we have to learn how to be life." - Uncle Kimokeo
In this episode, we welcome a very special guest from Hawai‘i: Kimokeo Kapahulehua — respected kūpuna, cultural practitioner, paddler, and founder of the Kimokeo Foundation.
Uncle Kimokeo has dedicated his life to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions through community work, education, land stewardship, and outrigger canoeing. He also co-founded Paddle for Life, supporting cancer care through traditional voyaging.
In this inspiring conversation, Uncle Kimokeo shares ancestral wisdom on sustainability and our kuleana (responsibility) to care for the ocean, land, and one another. We explore the profound role of storytelling, spiritual connection to nature, cultural healing, and how traditional Hawaiian practices offer guidance for the challenges of today. His message is clear: to care for Mother Earth is to become good ancestors for future generations.
Key Takeaways
Sustainability is rooted in learning from and maintaining balance with nature
Ancient practices provide solutions for modern environmental challenges
Kuleana is shared responsibility and action
Language and education protect cultural heritage
Healing requires expression and continuity of traditions
Storytelling sustains indigenous knowledge
Spiritual connection to nature supports well-being
The Hawaiian moon calendar guides sustainable living
We are one family connected through the earth
Caring for Mother Earth benefits future generations
Chapters
00:00 — Returning to Ancient Wisdom
06:11 — Cultural Connection to the Ocean
09:04 — Understanding Kuleana
12:26 — Preserving Hawaiian Culture Through Education
13:52 — Healing & Reconciliation in Hawai‘i
16:37 — The Power of Indigenous Storytelling
20:50 — Spiritual Connection to Nature
22:15 — Becoming Good Ancestors
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