Download Hōʻā i ka lama Poster
Download Hōʻā i ka lama Press Release
“Hōʻā i ka Lama”, An Event To Support The Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage,
Raise Awareness About Climate Change and to Mālama ʻĀina
A call to our global community to “Hōʻā i ka lama” (ignite the torch)on the next full moon (June 13, 2014), turning our attention to the night sky to show our collective support for the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage,to raise awareness around the global issue of climate change, and encourage simple, conscious efforts to mālama ʻāina (care for the land).
Inspired by Earth Hour, a worldwide “lights out” movement uniting millions of people around the simple act of turning off their use of electricity as a symbolic act to show their awareness and care for the planet, Loli Aniau, Maka‘ala Aniau (Climate Change, Climate Alert) or “LAMA” project housed within Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, encourages you to join us in ‘TURNING IT ON BY TURNING IT OFF’, from sundown on June 13th until sun rise on June 14th.
Why a “lights out” event? According to the recently released report, The Third National Climate Assessment, “The majority of the warming at the global scale over the past 50 years can only be explained by the effects of human influences, especially the emissions from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and from deforestation”. [i] “The combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity is the single source of CO2 emissions in the nation [United States]”.[ii] Completely eliminating (or significantly decreasing) the use of electricity during the Hōʻā i ka lama event is another step forward in curbing our over-dependence on fossil fuels and channeling our human propensity to live, love, and thrive in a world powered by local, renewable energy sources.
What does it mean to “Turn it ON by turning it off”? Turn it on refers to that knowledge torch that we all carry within us that have been passed on to us by our kupuna (elders) and to channel our collective energy towards a sustainable future.
“LAMA believes that individual changes in behavior have the power to affect global change that will protect Mother Earth for generations to come. It is our hope that this small action will inspire our communities to support clean energy initiatives and return to a way of life supported by the guiding principle of mālama ʻāina and living in balance with nature,” says Malia Nobrega-Olivera, LAMA Director and Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement Specialist.
What will my family do when the lights are out? We have lots of ideas, such as going outside and teaching one another about the stars and moon phases, gathering your ʻohana and sending good energy to our navigators on the Mālama Honua voyage, having a moonlit dinner, planning a picnic with your loved ones, planting a garden with the moon cycle, making music, etc. Visit our website to learn what others are planning for the Hōʻā i ka lama event and how this initiative contributes to other LAMA projects, such as the “Lamakū Naʻauao” project funded by the Kresge Foundation to help build the capacity of the Native Hawaiian community to participate in decision-making and plans to adapt Hawaiʻi’s food and energy systems to the impacts of climate change.
How can my ʻohana (family), business, organization, and community participate? We are asking everyone to make a pledge on our website, plan an event, and to help us share this message with friends and family worldwide through your social media networks. Take a picture or video of your action and share it with us on Instagram (#hoaikalama), FaceBook, and Twitter. We will also be having an Instagram Challenge and offering prizes too.
For more information-
Website- http://hoaikalama.com
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/kilohonua
Twitter- @kilohonua
Instagram- @kilohonua #hoaikalama #islandclimate
