Island Wisdom: Hawaiian Traditions and Practices for a Meaningful Life

Island Wisdom: Hawaiian Traditions and Practices for a Meaningful Life

  • Downloads：2749
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-10-27 10:19:38
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Kainoa Daines
  • ISBN：1797216937
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Avory Faucette ，

To be perfectly honest I probably wouldn’t have picked up this book in a store， with its bright， friendly cover and the title Island Wisdom。 And I think that’s a good thing！ I suspect that the cover will appeal to folks who are looking for a more sanitized， tourism-focused， or even whitewashed view of Hawai’i， and thus those who are going to have the most to learn from what is actually inside—an account of Native Hawaiian worldviews， centering indigenous people and sharing their traditions， phil To be perfectly honest I probably wouldn’t have picked up this book in a store， with its bright， friendly cover and the title Island Wisdom。 And I think that’s a good thing！ I suspect that the cover will appeal to folks who are looking for a more sanitized， tourism-focused， or even whitewashed view of Hawai’i， and thus those who are going to have the most to learn from what is actually inside—an account of Native Hawaiian worldviews， centering indigenous people and sharing their traditions， philosophies， and practices。Folks who are already familiar with indigenous worldviews will learn how those of Hawaiians connect and differ from other cultures， and all readers will have a chance to think about how they can apply Hawaiian teachings to their own context， particularly in a time where re-connection to land and lineage are so crucial for our collective survival。This is not a book that exoticizes Hawai’i or encourages the non-Hawaiian spiritual traveler to “find themselves” on the islands。 Instead， the reader is encouraged to consider how to apply this wisdom without travel， in their own local context。 Indigenous Hawaiian Kainoa Danes actually struggled with whether to embark on this project， given the Hawaiian tradition of passing on stories orally and experientially， and the risk of misunderstanding or misuse by a larger audience。 But he ultimately decided to participate given the potential for this wisdom to inspire folks globally to live according to Hawaiian principles， which would significantly reduce harm to and ultimately heal our planet。Danes and journalist Annie Daly kept the project as Hawaiian as possible given its written format by engaging a broad swathe of local community and including multiple perspectives on every concept in the book。 Elders and other locals share stories， practices， and ideas and are also featured in photographs throughout the pages。 This book thus serves as a piece of collective storytelling， as well as a teaching tool。 Some of those interviewed are experts in a particular craft， while others simply share their perspectives， stories， and understandings from day-to-day life on the islands。Four key concepts form the skeleton of the book: aloha， ‘āina， mo’olelo， and ‘ohana。 Within each section， the authors explain other related terms and concepts in context， blending Danes’ direct understanding with perspectives from other locals。 Though these foundational Hawaiian concepts aren’t possible to simply translate， in the aloha section the authors talk about practicing deep， compassionate love and balance between the logical mind and inner knowing， in the ‘āina section about the importance of land stewardship and relationship and what it means to belong to the land， in the mo’olelo section about storytelling practices and language as well as the importance of mystery or hidden wisdom， and in the ‘ohana section about expansive understandings of family and ancestry as well as how Hawaiians view personal responsibility and life purpose。The authors blend together modern stories， Hawaiian history， and the tales of Hawaiian deities alongside more direct explications of local concepts。 They also include plenty of sections on key traditional practices such as lei-making and hula—often with instruction for readers who want to try a practice out themselves， but adapted to a form that’s appropriate for practice in non-Hawaiian context。 This can be as simple as making poke with local ingredients， or as long-term and evolving as finding your kuleana （roughly， your contribution to society）。Other guidance is more philosophical or spiritual， less “to do” and more “principles to meditate on and live by。” I found the specifics of language and the way different Hawaiians contextualized key terms particularly interesting， and I enjoyed learning about the specificity of how these Hawaiian concepts ground fairly universal indigenous values into the metaphors of the local environment。 Readers familiar with other indigenous cultures and ancient wisdom traditions will find plenty of familiar ideas here， but you’ll also learn how the specifics of Hawaiian geographic isolation， unique land stewardship practices， and of course encounters with and resistance to colonialism inform the Hawaiian perspective。 It’s an easy read， but full of depth and important teachings。[ARC provided through Edelweiss] 。。。more

Jeni ，

Island Wisdom was so much more than I expected and hoped for。 Visually beautiful， the topics covered were even more so。 Organized with a focus on the Hawaiian language and some of the key values in Hawaiian culture， this book focuses on sharing the traditions and values of Hawaii。 One of my favorite things about this book is that one of the two authors is a Native Hawaiian and this is clear as this book really focuses on how those of us who are not Hawaiian can embrace some of these same values Island Wisdom was so much more than I expected and hoped for。 Visually beautiful， the topics covered were even more so。 Organized with a focus on the Hawaiian language and some of the key values in Hawaiian culture， this book focuses on sharing the traditions and values of Hawaii。 One of my favorite things about this book is that one of the two authors is a Native Hawaiian and this is clear as this book really focuses on how those of us who are not Hawaiian can embrace some of these same values and learn more about Hawaiian culture while making certain to share ways in which Hawaiian culture and Native Hawaiians has been appropriated and mischaracterized。 Another detail I loved was that Kainoa Danes shared so much information from elders throughout the book。 We were able to learn from the expertise and experience of many。 。。。more

Cozybec ，

Island Wisdom is a wonderfully curated book about all the tidbits and cultural practices from Hawaiian culture！I adored this book。 It's full of rich descriptions， wonderful art and infographics， and information about the cultural nuances of the islands and peoples。 The interviews scattered through this book are fantastic， placed at just the right moment to help add context to words and concepts。One of my favorite aspects is how this book is split up！ It presents the four concepts at the beginnin Island Wisdom is a wonderfully curated book about all the tidbits and cultural practices from Hawaiian culture！I adored this book。 It's full of rich descriptions， wonderful art and infographics， and information about the cultural nuances of the islands and peoples。 The interviews scattered through this book are fantastic， placed at just the right moment to help add context to words and concepts。One of my favorite aspects is how this book is split up！ It presents the four concepts at the beginning （Aloha， 'Āina， Mo'olelo， and 'Ohana） and then proceeds to take the reader on a journey through them。 I particularly loved the inclusion of the myths and legends in these sections and photos of the people who live on the island。This would make an absolutely wonderful coffee table book for fans of the Book of Hygge and other collections that take an in-depth look at the cornerstones that make up people groups。 I can already think of a few people in my personal life that would be thrilled to receive a copy！Thank you so much to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing me with a copy for an honest review！ 。。。more

Maria ，

Hawaii is my happy place。 As an Asian-American， it is sometimes difficult to feel like you fit in anywhere; you’re too American for your native country， yet just different enough to be pure American。 Hawaii is the first place that had people that looked like me and accepted me as a local so this book， this culture speaks to me。 I loved the stories sprinkled in with beautiful pictures of different areas on the islands。 The meaning of aloha is beautifully expanded on and there are instructions on Hawaii is my happy place。 As an Asian-American， it is sometimes difficult to feel like you fit in anywhere; you’re too American for your native country， yet just different enough to be pure American。 Hawaii is the first place that had people that looked like me and accepted me as a local so this book， this culture speaks to me。 I loved the stories sprinkled in with beautiful pictures of different areas on the islands。 The meaning of aloha is beautifully expanded on and there are instructions on how to make a lei。 What I get most from the book， though， is that the authors are every bit as enamored with Hawaii as I am and they share their love through respecting the land。 Highly recommended for anyone traveling to Hawaii， has traveled to Hawaii in the past， or just wants to learn more。I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review。 。。。more

Anna ，

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book。 I thought this was a great read about understanding Hawaiian culture better and how it’s good to just stop and resented yourself。 The pictures were a great touch as was the meanings of words。

Alissa ，

I got this book at the perfect time， one of our family members just got stationed out in Hawaii and I will be getting this book for him to read。 I really enjoyed the way the beauty of the culture was explained and how there are so many misconceptions with island culture do to media and others watering down this amazing culture。 If you have any interest in Hawaiian culture， read this book！

Michelle Ogden ，

I have been fascinated with Hawaii since I was a child and I first saw a hula。 The elegant way of storytelling captured my heart， so beautiful and graceful。 I am deeply grateful that Kainoa agreed to do this book。 The wisdom of Hawaiian culture is essential in life， many of these ideas are things we have forgotten。 This book will help you find your balance and purpose， help you learn Hawaiian patience and spirit of Aloha。 Everyone needs to read Island Wisdom。 Mahalo， Kainoa and Annie。

Anne ，

This is a beautiful book full of Hawaiian wisdom， legends， symbolism， history and photographs。 There are also recipes and native crafts such a lei-making。 It will make a fantastic gift for anyone who has ever been to—or who wants to visit—Hawaii。 Thanks to NetGalley， the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review。

Amanda ，

A beautiful glimpse into Hawaiian traditions and culture。 I enjoyed this immensely！ Very educational and informative。

（a）lyss（a） ，

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review。This is a beautiful book about Native Hawaiian traditions and practices。 The book is broken down by different words and sentiments and what they mean to peoples lives。 This is a great book sharing the stories， experiences， and knowledge of Hawaiian Native peoples and highlighting the diversity in this knowledge。 There's lots of helpful information about life perspectives and traditions that have maintained the isla I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review。This is a beautiful book about Native Hawaiian traditions and practices。 The book is broken down by different words and sentiments and what they mean to peoples lives。 This is a great book sharing the stories， experiences， and knowledge of Hawaiian Native peoples and highlighting the diversity in this knowledge。 There's lots of helpful information about life perspectives and traditions that have maintained the islands and their culture。 A great read！ 。。。more

Amy ，

What a lovely book that takes us through traditional Hawaiian teachings and also aims to correct harmful myths about the culture。 Packed with information， and stories from other Native Hawaiians。 Beautiful pictures， and a thorough dive into what the meaning of "Aloha" means。Thank you Netgalley for the ARC， very enjoyable！ What a lovely book that takes us through traditional Hawaiian teachings and also aims to correct harmful myths about the culture。 Packed with information， and stories from other Native Hawaiians。 Beautiful pictures， and a thorough dive into what the meaning of "Aloha" means。Thank you Netgalley for the ARC， very enjoyable！ 。。。more