During the first week of September, I was able to experience going to Hilo with my volleyball team for a tournament we were entered in. Playing volleyball and improving on the court was not the only goal our coaches had in mind for us. We were able to go as a team to Waipi'o and volunteer in the lo'i and po'owai and create bonds and relationships that we never had before. I was able to learn the reciprocal relationship between the land and the workers and how taking care of our resources leads to it providing for us
We were able to work in the po'owai and rebuild the wall that would guide the water from the stream back to the lo'is. Earlier that day we cleaned out the lo'i's so that when the water would flow through it, it would be free of weeds and other impurities. Bringing life back to the lo'i and watching the water flow back from the po'owai was very satisfying and it showed how important our actions are.