SKY, LAND & OCEAN
Hawai'i Naturalist Notes
Maui Nui
Why Maui Nui?
Local eco-systems are best understood locally. Vacations, public hearings, and political junkets to distant locations are not sufficient to listen, study, reflect, and understand.
Maui Nui includes the four islands of Maui County and Penguin Banks.
Maui Nui includes the four islands of Maui County and Penguin Banks.
Nature & Culture
In a traditional Hawaiian context, nature and culture are one and the same, there is no division between the two. The wealth and limitations of the land and ocean resources gave birth to, and shaped the Hawaiian world view. The ‘āina (land), wai (water), kai (ocean), and lewa (sky) were the foundation of life and the source of the spiritual relationship between people and their environs. Every aspect of life, whether in the sky, on land, or of the waters was believed to have been the physical body-forms assumed by the creative forces of nature, and the greater and lesser gods and goddesses of the Hawaiian people. Respect and care for nature, in turn meant that nature would care for the people. Thus, Hawaiian culture, for the most part, evolved in a healthy relationship with the nature around it, and until the arrival of foreigners on Hawaiian shores, the health and well-being of the people was reflected in the health of nature around them.
Source: Ka Hana Lawai'a A Me Nā Ko'a O Na Kai 'Ewalu
Source: Ka Hana Lawai'a A Me Nā Ko'a O Na Kai 'Ewalu
Definition of a Naturalist
A person who studies and teaches natural history is called a naturalist. However, there are a number of variations on that definition. For example, a naturalist is also defined as: “an advocate of the doctrine that the world can be understood in scientific terms,” “a biologist knowledgeable about natural history (especially botany and zoology); an expert in natural history;” “a person, often a scientist or writer, who studies and promotes nature;” or “someone who studies natural history, probably in the field rather than the lab.” Green defines a “Scientific Naturalist” as someone with an understanding of a group of organisms or ecological communities that includes knowledge of all the organism’s or system’s special traits. The scientific naturalist uses this knowledge to create and conduct research.
In its early academic usage “naturalist” was used to refer to a person committed to studying nature: mineral, vegetable and animal. Later, "naturalist" was split into geologist, botanist and zoologist. Even then, “naturalist” was used interchangeably with Greek titles to define a scientist. A person could be called a zoologist as his or her title but would be called a naturalist to define how they conducted their work (primarily field-based). Naturalist also referred to the many non-academics that studied nature. They may be explorers, writers, teachers, or dedicated amateurs, but are all drawn together by a passionate interest in nature and natural systems. A naturalist possesses a great knowledge of organismal ecology, behavior, systematics, distribution, and life history. He or she uses knowledge to create ideas and hypotheses and develops intelligently designed research. Naturalists have passion and fascination for biodiversity and for the organisms that create that diversity.
Source: Idaho Master Naturalist. Author, Amber Parker, Executive Director, The Marine Science Consortium, Wallops Island, Virginia. Edited by Clella Steinke, Upper Snake Master Naturalist.
In its early academic usage “naturalist” was used to refer to a person committed to studying nature: mineral, vegetable and animal. Later, "naturalist" was split into geologist, botanist and zoologist. Even then, “naturalist” was used interchangeably with Greek titles to define a scientist. A person could be called a zoologist as his or her title but would be called a naturalist to define how they conducted their work (primarily field-based). Naturalist also referred to the many non-academics that studied nature. They may be explorers, writers, teachers, or dedicated amateurs, but are all drawn together by a passionate interest in nature and natural systems. A naturalist possesses a great knowledge of organismal ecology, behavior, systematics, distribution, and life history. He or she uses knowledge to create ideas and hypotheses and develops intelligently designed research. Naturalists have passion and fascination for biodiversity and for the organisms that create that diversity.
Source: Idaho Master Naturalist. Author, Amber Parker, Executive Director, The Marine Science Consortium, Wallops Island, Virginia. Edited by Clella Steinke, Upper Snake Master Naturalist.
Eco-zones & Ahupua’a
This training series is eco-systems based and generalist in organization. Some educators prefer to organize their training on species (animals and/or plants), or according to the specialized sciences and disciplines. Species and discipline approaches are appropriate for traditional academic training. The Hawaiian archipelago offers the opportunity to learn and experience biodiversity across several eco-systems in just a few hours. The Hawaiian culture developed a scientific approach to understanding and adapting to these eco-systems in the division of land and labor commonly referred to as the Ahupua’a. Thus, Western science (eco-systems) and Hawaiian science (ahupua’a) complement each other.
High Island Ecoregions
Throughout this series, we will use these eco-zones: High Islands Ecoregions from The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. From the top of the mountain to shore:
Dry cliffs and wet cliffs are also described as eco-regions in the High Islands Ecoregions.
Caves and lava tubes will be included as information becomes available.
Source: http://www.hawaiiecoregionplan.info/
Ahupua‘a
According to Mueller-Dombis, there are five major biological resource zones in an ahupua‘a. These are the wao nahele, the waokanaka, the kahawai the kahakai, and the near-shore kai, i.e., the ocean in front, including the coral reefs where present. Each of these five zones can be divided into subecosytems depending on their specific bioenvironmental settings.
High Island Ecoregions
Throughout this series, we will use these eco-zones: High Islands Ecoregions from The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. From the top of the mountain to shore:
- Alpine (above 3000 meters)
- Subalpine (above 2000 meters)
- Montane (above 1000 meters)
- Lowland (at and above sea level), and
- Coastal (at sea level)
Dry cliffs and wet cliffs are also described as eco-regions in the High Islands Ecoregions.
Caves and lava tubes will be included as information becomes available.
Source: http://www.hawaiiecoregionplan.info/
Ahupua‘a
According to Mueller-Dombis, there are five major biological resource zones in an ahupua‘a. These are the wao nahele, the waokanaka, the kahawai the kahakai, and the near-shore kai, i.e., the ocean in front, including the coral reefs where present. Each of these five zones can be divided into subecosytems depending on their specific bioenvironmental settings.
- wao nahele
- waokanaka
- kahawai
- kahakai
- near-shore kai
He lani ko luna, he honua ko lalo
The sky above, the earth (and the sea) below
and all that is encompassed therein
Sky - Land - Ocean
To the High Island Ecoregions, we include two additional realms: Sky and Ocean.
Hawaiian science studies the passage of the sun across the sky, the alignment and movement of the stars in the night sky, and the phases of the moon as part of nature.
Some naturalist training programs include near-shore reef systems when teaching coastal systems. We are so fortunate that Hawai’i has some of the world’s foremost marine scientists who regularly teach and publish on the ocean environment. The realm of the ocean combines the near-shore reef system with the off shore channels for the convenience of organizing information.
Information from the deep ocean and the abyssal plain will be included, when available.
Hawaiian science studies the passage of the sun across the sky, the alignment and movement of the stars in the night sky, and the phases of the moon as part of nature.
Some naturalist training programs include near-shore reef systems when teaching coastal systems. We are so fortunate that Hawai’i has some of the world’s foremost marine scientists who regularly teach and publish on the ocean environment. The realm of the ocean combines the near-shore reef system with the off shore channels for the convenience of organizing information.
Information from the deep ocean and the abyssal plain will be included, when available.
Core Training for Naturalists
- Species
- Habitats
- Ecological Processes
- Skill Sets
- Hawaiian Culture
Grid for Hawai’i Naturalist Training
To compare the Ahupua’a system and the High Island Ecoregions and the Realms of Sky – Land – Ocean, the following grid is conceptualized.
