Perpetual Reuse in Hilo Newsletters
On the Re-Indigenization of Zero Waste Culture
ʻAnoʻai me ke aloha iā kākou a pau a puni ka honua!
Greetings of aloha between us all around the world!
We at Zero Waste Hawaiʻi Island (ZWHI) have been reflecting heavily on “zero waste culture” and how little the topic honors the indigenous knowledge systems that precede it. As a result of the feedback we’ve gotten from the community outreach we did alongside Perpetual earlier this year, we decided to reform the identity of our organization to honor and further engage the indigenous communities we are part of. We’ve been working to ensure that our Mission, Vision, Guiding Values, and even our logo (e ola ka ʻohana Keolanui!) match our truest intentions for this work - so that by this time next year, we can be more accountable to the hopena (yield) of our intentions. We invite you to adopt this mission, vision, and value set, and join us in learning more about the re-indigenization of zero waste culture.
We know that in ancient times, “trash” didn’t exist. Everything we touched, used, ate, came from and returned to the land and sea, and the akua (microbes) of the earth. “Trash” is a result of our collective separation from indigenous wisdom, knowledge, and value systems. While some people commonly use the term “throw away”, we know that our trash never goes “away”, but is consumed, rather, by our oceans and our beloved land. Re-indigenizing zero waste culture involves the restoration of ancestral (circular) systems of health, wellness, and lifestyle. It calls us to the restoration of health in our own bodies and communities, to increase the capacity we have to reduce material waste.
If you're interested in learning more about this perspective, you can reach us on Instagram at @zerowastehi, and me, K. Kuulei Kanahele at (808) 940-6989 or kuulei.zwhi@gmail.com. We invite you to continue reading our full report on our Mission, Vision, Values, and Logo, including ʻono (satiating) references to ʻŌlelo Noʻeau (Hawaiian Proverbs) - available on our website and social media platforms.