The field trip Friday was the best experience I've had in Hawaii and on a field trip in general. At our first stop we got to see and learn about many ancient Hawaiian tools. I found it cool that our host knew how to make some of them and let us hold and play with some of them because Kumu says on our next field trip we might see some of the tools but they will be in a museum so we won't be able to touch them.
After learning the purpose of the tools we took a trip down to the stream, and on the way we saw and pointed out all the plants we could identify. We crossed the stream and uncle brought us to a spring. I was amazed that the water was just coming out of the ground, and even more amazed when uncle climbed down and just started drinking the water. I learned that earth water is the cleanest water because it comes straight from the ground unlike stream water that could have all sorts of pollution in it. The water from the spring surprisingly was delicious; you couldn't taste the dirt at all.
Finally we went to see Uncle Danny and experienced being in a lo'i patch and learning about all the varieties of taro. It was nice to be able to see and experience everything uncle was talking about instead of reading about it in a book or newspaper. Danny also made me aware or many problems farmers face today. I was shocked that some farmers are being sued because their plants accidentally cross-pollinated with a gene modified plant, and I'm curious what effects the gene modified plants have on the aina they are planted in and on the consumers. This is definitely something to be concerned about.
This field trip is something i will never forget. I feel that experiencing someone else's lifestyle is the best way to learn about it, and that we definitely did.