Moreau Center Hawai’i Immersion Group group overlooking Kalaupapa Peninsula on top of the worlds highest sea cliffs. They are the winners of the “Where’s Your Beacon Been?” competition. (Photo Courtesy of Cris Hernandez Osorio)
By Cris Hernández Osorio, Guest Commentary
Aloha kakou. The Hawaii Immersion participants and I want to share a little about our life-changing trip to Moloka'i and Oahu for the first-ever Hawaii Immersion.
We lived frugally and learned from the locals about their land, spirituality and culture. Our company of 13 experienced the aloha spirit on Moloka'i, which completely changed our lives. Our goal was to be exposed to the wide array of socio-economic and environmental concerns of the Hawaiian peoples through service and learning opportunities. We were all challenged by the people of Moloka'i to grow spiritually and physically every day through reflection and discussion, and by the end of the trip we could better appreciate the traditions, values and the diversity of beautiful Moloka'i.
Our first night, we met Auntie Teri Waros, the first to welcome us with open arms and an exuberance of aloha spirit. The next day we met with Ka Honua Momona, a nonprofit organization that perpetuates traditional knowledge and land stewardship. Our group learned about fishpond restoration and eagerly removed invasive mangrove. We also experienced how to properly greet each other via honi and the importance of kuleana (responsibility) to the land and its people.
Later we met Fr. Bill Petrie, a Scared Heart priest who belongs to the same priestly order as Saint Damien, who served and cared for Hansen's disease patients on Moloka'i. Fr. Petrie's life story and devotion to Moloka'i and Mother Theresa of Calcutta touched the lives of everyone on our trip.
On our third day, our group experienced HÄlawa Valley and Anakala (uncle) Pilipo Solatorio, an elder born and raised in the valley who educated us on the importance of keeping the Hawaiian spirituality and history alive. Kalaupapa Peninsula, home to people suffering from leprosy (Hansen's disease), was our final immersion before leaving Moloka'i. The group was challenged spiritually and physically as we made our way down and back up the arduous switchbacks on the world's highest sea cliffs. Our departure from Moloka'i to Oahu was emotionally difficult, and everyone experienced culture shock, but Oahu was also very precious and insightful.
We toured Kamehameha schools and Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, which was unexpectedly emotional. Finally, we met with Toni Bissen, executive director of the Pu'a Foundation, an organization which fosters a holistic understanding of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Constitutional Monarchy.
Overall, our immersion group feels extremely grateful and blessed for the time spent on Moloka'i and Oahu and the great experiences and connections we made. This immersion was a life-changing experience full of revitalizing spiritual and mental growth. I can safely say that we all hope to be back someday. Until then, mahalo a hui hoe!
Cris Hernández Osorio is a senior Spanish and biology major. He can be reached at hernande13@up.edu.
