Volunteer to be 'Ohana
Written by Amber Manini
They say it takes a village to raise a child. This statement, both proven in scientific studies and by generations of families who have raised children, suggests that every child needs an atmosphere of support from the time they are born till the time they die.
As college students our village transitions from being our family members to some of our professors and friends. College life is not only the transition of changing villages but its about learning who you are and where your place is in society, life, and where you want to be in the future. In our college careers some of us will join clubs, find jobs, take on internships, become professional athletes, and much more.
All of these things help to contribute to our transition of a changing village and finding ourselves. Having a volunteer experience is one of those things that some of us overlook and really don't bother taking the time nor initiative to look in to. However in the long run, having a volunteer experience may just be the deciding factor on helping you discover who you are.
Here at UH Hilo there are many volunteer experiences that are available. Some students take part in volunteering in on campus clubs or organizations while others find themselves in the Hilo community volunteering for non-profit organizations. It is through these hands on experiences that students discover their strengths, weaknesses and ultimately the village that they will continue to work in as professionals.
UH Hilo Junior, Malu Dudoit, a student of Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikolani, serves as a volunteer student teacher to Interdisciplinary Studies 194, the class in which the Kahoeakamohoaliʻi, Hawaiian Studies cohort is a part of. Dudoit a student seeking a Hawaiian Studies and Environmental Science degree hopes to give back to the Native Hawaiian community as a professional working with land and water rights primarily in his two home Islands of Maui and Molokaʻi. Having previously been a part of the first Kahoeakamohoaliʻi cohort group, Malu recounts his volunteer experiences as something that he does out of his own desire to give back.
“I liked the experience I had with my cohort group and with that I wanted to share it with the next cohorts after us in hopes that they too will increase their knowledge of our culture, and develop a sense of ʻohana amongst each other,” said Dudoit. When asked how he felt of his experiences he stated the following, “Through this experience I get to view myself as not only the teacher, but also as the student. Yeah, I go to Kaleoʻs class and teach different oli to the cohort group, but during that time Iʻm teaching, Iʻm also learning to be "the teacher". So in a way, Iʻm learning as Iʻm teaching.”
Micah Carter, a scholarship Freshman and student athlete here at UH Hilo, is a part of the Kahoeakamohoaliʻi cohort this year. He chose this program wanting to develop both his leadership practices, Hawaiian attitudes and Hawaiian cultural practices. “This course has helped me transition into college at UH Hilo because it has a family atmosphere in the class. It is nice coming to a class where everyone feels like family and is very friendly. I have learned a lot about native perspectives in different issues and it has helped me view things in a different way. Student teachers are a good way to learn. I have benefited from having them teach because it is easier to connect with them. They are currently going through college and they know how tough it can be,” said Carter.
Another student of Malu’s, Kapua Arsiga recounts her experiences having a student volunteer teacher stating the following, “Malu is an inspirational figure to me. When I first met Malu, I was in Na Pua Noeau Program and he was one of the leaders. I saw the way he lead students and taught students because I was one of them and he has so much good stuff to share. I look up to him as a leader in the Kahoe Program who went above and beyond his call of duty,” said Arsiga.
Discovering who you are and your purpose can be a tough experience for anyone with out a village. As Malu states, “In these modern times, it is easy for us to get distracted and forget our purpose. If we remember why we are here and put our focus on what is needed to reach our destination, our journey will be a smooth one.” Volunteer to share your purpose with others. Volunteer to create an ʻohana for a younger generation.Be the village to some else that you once had.
For more information about volunteer opportunities in the local community go to hilo.hawaii.edu/makeyourmark
