In my work in college admissions, I’ve been fortunate to spend significant time in Hawaii. Often, when people hear about my work there, they say something like, “Oh, that must be rough!” Usually, the implication is that I’m spending lots of time on the beach soaking up the sun. And while I do find time to sneak that in once in a while, that’s obviously not where my time is focused when I’m trying to recruit students. My time is spent with people—and it’s working with and building relationships with those people that is the most rewarding.

Hawaii has a unique culture shaped by many different forces, but as I’ve discovered over time, it’s still heavily influenced by Native Hawaiian culture—a culture I’ve come to deeply appreciate.

Something that struck me, but didn’t really surprise me, during Lenore’s session was how similar the cultural ethics are between mainland Native American communities and Native Hawaiians. For me, it was helpful to hear some familiar concepts and values expressed with slightly different language.

The everyday invitation that resonated with me most from our time with Lenore was to “be a good relative” to all of creation. That’s what I would call a “sticky” idea—one that I can easily get my head around, remember, and try to put into action. It reminds me that we are all interconnected and dependent—not just humans—and that inspires me to think and act differently.