July 10, 2018
My Aunt is a teacher of Hawaiian language at the community college. She is also the family historian. I have been wanting to spend time with her since we arrived in Hawai’i but she is teaching an intense Hawaiian language class daily and doesn’t have a lot of free time. My Dad called last night to let me know my Aunty wanted me to meet her at the college at 10 a.m. today.
I arrived with my notebook, a pen, a camera and numerous questions to find I was attending a 2 1/2 hour beginnning Hawaiian course with 15 other students. I hadn’t been planning to go back to school! The guest lecturer for the class spent a great deal of time explaining the connections to nature, to the history of Hawai’i, to the dualism that exists everywhere in the culture and is reflected in the Hawaiian language.
After class, I had the opportunity to spend time with my Aunty and the Department Chair brainstorming how to incorporate the Hawaiian language and culture into my consulting business model. We came up with two powerful terms that I can wait to launch into my business practice. So, going back to school, while unplanned, was definitely worth it!