With my STEP funds, I traveled to Hawai’i with a group called Give. In Hawai’i, we were led by locals who took us throughout the community to various service projects. Our projects emphasized food security, cultural preservation, and maintaining the beautiful ecosystems throughout the island.
This trip was an eye-opener to some of the issues that are happening in Hawai’i. I learned that they receive 90% of their imports from elsewhere, so if there are blockades or pandemics, food becomes extremely scarce (as it did with COVID-19), and the costs of food are unbearable for the local community. The island has so much land that is suitable for agriculture, so I learned just how important it is to be sustainable and utilize what one’s environment gives them. While we do not necessarily have this problem on the mainland, I learned we still can all do a better of becoming more sustainable whether it is planting in a community garden, saving all leftovers, and supporting local businesses.
Along with sustainability, I learned how to become a more responsible tourist. On the trip, we had a very long discussion with the local guides on how tourism impacts the economy in Hawai’i. They talked about how tourism is the main driver of the economy, but many problems come with that. When tourists invest their money in large corporations, they drive locals out by tearing down local neighborhoods or by driving the cost of living up. They also talked about how many people have to work in the tourist industry, and how the working conditions should not be acceptable. However, the locals emphasized how they do want to share their culture, and so to be responsible tourists, we can stay at an Air BnB, we can explore many towns, eat at local restaurants, and even volunteer. I never realized how much tourism can both drive and hurt a local economy, and I know that because of this project, I will make sure to be much more aware of where my money is going when I travel.
The very first project we did was at a place called Hamakua Harvest, and this project taught me more about how important the land in Hawaii is to the locals. At the harvest, we helped clean up some of the planting areas, setting up the foundation for future planting. We also got to witness an annual ceremony that signified the transition of the seasons. At this ceremony, we got to see how each person embraced the environment they lived in, and they taught us how we must use the environment given to us to provide. I am grateful that we got to see this ceremony as it taught me more about the culture, but it also taught me about how much people cared about sustainability.
Another interesting part of Hawaiian culture is that there is something called a welcoming protocol. Before each of our projects, one of our guides sang a chant, which asked if we could “come in” to the sacred areas. The volunteer partners would respond with another chant, that allowed us to enter. During this protocol, everyone must take their hats and glasses off, and it served as a moment to reflect on the land we were about to see and work on. Each of these interactions taught me how much land is valued in their culture, and how much they do not take anything fro granted. These protocols are one of the reasons why I learned that we on the mainland need to do a better job of using what we have and helping provide for our communities.
Finally, each night, we had reflection talks with the local guides, and the conversation we had about responsible tourism stuck with me the most. Both of our local guides had been pushed out of their original homes because of a massive resort being built, and hearing how it not only caused them to lose their first home, but hearing how it caused groceries, gas, and other costs to soar stuck with me. One of the guides talked about how she does not think she will have the ability to raise a child on the island because of these costs, and this stuck with me even more. It made me reflect on other times I have traveled and how I could have done a better job supporting the locals rather than the corporations. These stories will forever change how I travel, and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to learn how responsible tourism can leave a positive mark.
I value diversity, and I believe that to have a more harmonious world, we all need to develop a better sense of cultural competency. From this experience, I learned that travel is a great way to learn more about new cultures, and this is something I hope to continue. Additionally, I hope that in my future career, I get to work with many people from all backgrounds and use my knowledge to create the most inclusive environment I can. Travel can be very expensive, and I understand that this is not an opportunity that everyone gets, so I am grateful that STEP has allowed me to learn more about a new culture. This trip has inspired me to continue traveling the world.
