Amanda Rieux

Food and land is a non-violent, tangible and practical way to promote peace – feeding people is a positive experience. For 15-years, Māla‘ai Gardens has shared best practices in School Peace Garden on Hawai‘i island. The garden is a space to practice values such as kindness, respect, open mindedness, and to be our best selves. Students create aloha ‘āina flags (similar to prayer flags) to dedicate their love for peace and to send their wishes for the garden. Māla‘ai focus on the student’s resilience. Students learn that caring for the garden is a metaphor for taking care of themselves. Students must abide by the garden’s code of conduct and routines - students face the garden, talk about the garden, observe the manifestations of love around them, and then walk through the garden in silence while observing their surroundings (kilo). The garden not only nourishes their bodies – students can viscerally experience their environment and see the tangible manifestations of their hard work. Teachers may see their students in a new light – they can see aspects of the students they may not otherwise in the classroom. Gardens offer opportunities for cultural learning, by talking about a theme or lesson using ‘ōlelo no‘eau or thinking about the shape of the clouds.