Ho‘okāhi no lā o ka malihini
The Hawaiian saying, “Ho‘okāhi no lā o ka malihini” means that someone can only be a stranger for one day. It reminds us that we can participate in bringing abundance to the places where we live—even if we stay for little more than a day. Despite most people living in the Hawaiian Islands not having native Hawaiian ancestry, it’s important for everyone to seek out how to participate in the growth and maintenance of the places where we live.
Hanafuda Pilina cards are an introduction to the history and complex relationships between life and the Hawaiian land. Each of the 48 cards has a different combination of plants and animals. 26 of the cards depict indigenous and endemic plants and animals. 22 cards picture plants and animals introduced in modern times—many of them invasive. The cards tell a story of how indigenous organisms work to sustain the ecology, and how invasive organisms disrupt the balance.
Hanafuda Pilina can show how indigenous Hawaiian values connect people to the Hawaiian Islands. Hanafuda Pilina cards speak directly to the diverse modern community of Hawai‘i in the 21st century.
Hanafuda Pilina can be a tool to help us connect to our surroundings. One goal of the cards is to create a community that is connected with the natural world. The cards are meant to show that it is less important where we come from and more important how we participate and engage with where we are.
Hanafuda Pilina is available at the following stores:
Maui
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