Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 9, 1 September 2013 — Embrace ancestral wisdom [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Embrace ancestral wisdom

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D. Our Hawaiian ancestors were brave and persevering ... They sailed the open seas in small vessels, long before Columbus and Magellan worked up the courage to sail beyond the sight of land. The Hawaiian ancestors were wise. They knew the seasons for planting, oeean currents and celestial navigation. They believed in gods that protected and guided them. Hawaiians were self-suffi-cient. They brought many essential herbs, plants and tools with them to

Hawai'i. And, they did not simply survive; our ancestors flourished. They were highly industrious and were excellent farmers, botanists, healers and parents. They developed communities, a sophisticated culture and family support systems. They built intricate water irrigation systems to support cultivation of taro and other crops. The ancestors were masters of fishing, agriculture, hunting and numerous arts. Our challenge is to use our Hawaiianness to master survival, protect the 'āina and flourish into the next century. Traditional wisdom ean reverse our mounting heahh challenges. A few changes in food choices, eooking methods and physical activity ean make a huge difference in health for our entire family. Our ancestors had a healthy diet: they knew it, practiced it and gained mana from it. Making personal changes that

bring us closer to their diet ean correct many illnesses. And, while it would be better if we ate this way from birth, it is never too late to get great benefit from a diet that mirrors our ancestors' diet. The traditional Hawaiian diet was nearly 80 percent plant in origin, mainly taro, sweet potatoes, many greens, limu, breadfruit and a few fruit. Fish was the most important protein food, and fat consumption was very low ... about 10 percent of total calories eaeh day. (We average about 40 percent now.) Foods were steamed (imu), eaten raw or cooked over an open fire, but never fried. The diet, known by the acronym THD, conveys an important cultural secret, lōkahi ... that practice of maintaining personal halanee and discipline. Reclaiming traditional practices and beliefs is rewarding and healthful experience. The U.S. government makes rec-

ommendations for heahh, diet and physical activity for all Americans. And, although the government demonstrates no knowledge of the traditional Hawaiian heahh practices and little about our current problems, these recommendations are sound ones for Hawaiians, as well. The U.S. diet recommendations urge all Americans to eat five or more servings of vegetables

every day to avoid cancer and other chronic conditions. Our ancestors ate far more vegetables than that. The U.S. recommendations urge increased physical activity. Our ancestors did everything without machinery, so they far exceeded these recommendations whh physieal work that was a constant, intense and daily occurrence. Healthiness for all Hawaiians is not far away. Let's use traditional wisdom to fill our stomachs "well" by eating more vegetables, cooked and raw, avoiding fried foods and sugar-sweetened beverages. Let's add physical activity to our daily routines to bring us all closer to lōkahi ... that halanee between food and physical activity. Our heritage ean make answers available to us. It is obvious that we must save ourselves and regain a thriving sovereign existence through our own efforts. Our ancestors were brave, wise and disciplined. We have inherited that mana and possess those powers, as well. Let's use them! ■

The U.S. diet recommendations urge all Americans to eat five or more servings of vegetables every day to avoid cancer and other chronic conditions. - KWO file