How might we create spaces for disruption in environmental education?
A short film begins with a live orchestra. Water colour illustration. Lush mountains. Cascading waterfall. The smallest of the Hawaiian honeyeaters, Kauaʻi ʻōʻō, gets out from its roost. With rich golden yellow, black and grey feathers, he hops, jumps and forages in the woods. The ō’ō meets a female bird. An elaborate mating ritual unfolds. She accepts. They both fly in the forests of Kaua’i, one of the gorgeous Hawaiian Islands. The female is suddenly swarmed by mosquitos inside a bush. The male bird flies to high elevations and hides in a ōhiʻa tree, a species of flowering evergreen tree that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawai’i. Mosquitos follow suit there too. Weather changes drastically showing the passage of time. The male Kauaʻi ʻōʻō comes out from the canopy. He calls for a mate. “twoo-twee-twioo”, “twoo-twee-twioo”… She would never come. The male died in 1987. The last of the species.
The reason for its extinction was avian malaria, invasive predators, warming temperatures that pushed mosquitos to higher elevations, and habitat destruction. Seven such stories were illustrated as films by the Hawaiian community for which the Hawaiian Symphony Orchestra performed live. The final film was created with children’s art work. This symphony of the Hawaiian Birds was performed for 3000 children!
“With a rapidly changing planet in addition to the myriad of challenges that affect children’s learning and experience, it is important to explore ways that are disruptive like combining science, music and art to connect children with nature and conservation. Innovative approaches might emerge out of them.”
A huge shout to Melissa Price, Assistant Professor at Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa for conceiving this idea, Takuma Itoh, the Hawaiian Symphony Orchestra and to the everyone in the team for such a deeply inspiring event! Mahalo!
