Some Hawaiian Advice: Piʻi mai nei i ka pali me he ʻaʻama lā
In ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) the phrase above is referred to as a ʻōlelo noʻeau (hawaiian proverb). ʻŌlelo noʻeau are Hawaiian sayings that convey a moral lessons based off traditional observations and life experiences. Hawaiians utilized ʻōlelo noʻeau and mo’olelo (tales or myths) to teach generations of cultural morality. The utilization of these methods has formed the basis of understanding the near dissipating Native Hawaiian culture.
I was born and raised in Hawai’i, and I believe the Native Hawaiian culture has much to offer the world. The Hawaiian culture is deeply rooted in respect for one another and our surroundings. Oftentimes the ʻōlelo noʻeau and mo’olelo display the general theme of nature and all its creatures. Specifically, the term ‘aina (land) is used in reverence, as it provided Native Hawaiians sustenance for generations. When considering Hawai’i as the most isolated land mass in the world, the cultural emphasis on respect or mālama ka ‘aina (to take care of the land) is well-founded. Yet, understanding a near dissipating culture can be very difficult. Immersing or living in Hawaii can give a person a superficial feel of the culture that once originated from this ‘aina. This is subject to debate as the island’s demographic is drastically changing due to the high cost of living and mass immigration to the islands. It is relevant to note that there are fewer than 5,000 kanaka maoli (full blooded native Hawaiians) left in the world.
Since language is simply the formation of a collective understanding through sounds, I think this is the most effective way to peak into the understandings of another culture. Thus, I offer the ʻōlelo noʻeau, “Piʻi mai nei i ka pali me he ʻaʻama lā” which roughly translates to “climbs a cliff like a black crab”. This phrase is used to refer to someone who “goes beyond their limits”.
Law school has showed me the value of this ʻōlelo noʻeau. They say that 1L year is the most difficult, but 2L and 3L years are just a different kind of beast. After 1L year the workload becomes familiar and entering the following semesters is somewhat comfortable. However, 2L and 3L years open the door to a vast array of opportunities and responsibilities on top of law school. Whether these new responsibilities arise from internships, externships, jobs, volunteer/pro bono work, clubs, or any extracurricular for that matter and majority of rising 2L’s are eager and enticed by the opportunities that come their way. Most will accept various positions that inevitably come with their respective responsibilities. While some students (like me) will accidentally find that they have stretched themselves too thin or “went beyond their limit”. So, some advice to future 2L and 3L’s is to not be like the black crab. Black sea crabs are typically good at climbing rocks and up a few feet of sea wall. But rarely do you see black crabs climbing sea cliffs, for they know and understand their limits. Therefore, to sustain your best law school experience, set some boundaries and prioritize understanding your limits to avoid burnout.
