Despite the seemingly boring title, this section is really important to the site. It explains the land divisions and philosophies of the early Hawaiians as well as those of modern economists. Surprisingly, many of these ideas are quite similar. If you're playing the game you may want to keep some of these in mind throughout your quest to create a balanced and sustainable (vocab word...remember it!) economy.
The Hawaiian word for land is 'aina which means "that which feeds"
--so you probably have a good idea of how important the land was to the Hawaiians. Whatever they needed, the land provided--not only food but also housing material, bowls, canoes, fishnets, and more. Their philosophy, similar to that of many other ancient cultures, required that they produce only what they needed and could consume. Probably the most important fact is that the Hawaiians didn't import, export, or sell anything. They had a true subsistence economy. They were pretty smart.
Each island in the Hawaiian chain was divided into districts called moku. The moku were further divided into pie shaped pieces stretching from the mountains to the ocean. These pieces of land were called (brace yourself) ahupua'a. Ohana(families) living near the sea would share supplies and food with those living near the mountains. When visiting family or friends in a different ahupua'a, people were careful not to take anything without permission. This could only be done with the permission of a chief. Boundary disputes were settled by experts who were trained in memorizing different boundaries.
With the current decline in the environmental state of our planet, modern day economists are stressing the idea of an economy which gives back to the environment. This idea is called sustainability. In Paul Hawken's book, The Ecology Of Commerce, sustainability is defined as "...an economic state where the demands placed upon the environment by people and commerce can be met without reducing the capacity of the environment to provide for future generations (p. 139)."
Many communities are beginning to plan for a sustainable economy. Using a technique called bench marking (predicting the rate of change and length of time anticipated for a certain outcome to be achieved), the Ke Ala Hoku (star course) project has charted a course toward a sustainable economy for the state of Hawaii. This is the vision of the 6,000 children as published in the Ke Ala Hoku Critical Indicators Report:
Safety is assured in our communities due to the absence of violence, gangs, and weapons.
Our economy included lowered taxes and cost of living, and affordable housing. It it multi-based, with many job opportunities for teenagers and adults.
The development of hotels, golf courses, and infrastructure has occurred only with necessity and with the preservation of the land.
Education in Hawaii is provided through an ample amount of schools, with competent and qualified faculty. Hawaiian culture courses are widely available.
The preservation of the Aloha spirit has kept the unique culture of Hawaii alive.
The society of Hawaii thrives on quality and respect for all. This attitude has let to better government, the end of homelessness and racism, and the control of overpopulation.
Drugs in Hawaii are taken in a legal and non-excessive manner.
Native Hawaiians have a strong voice in government and have been compensated for losses.
Public transportation is provided for everyone, reducing traffic problems.
recreation for youth has been provided through abundant facilities and activities.
The health of the people of Hawaii has improved through prevention of diseases.
More modern technology, new inventions, and alternative energy are readily available and frequently used by everyone.
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