Page 20 - Living Aloha Magazine January February 2017 Issue

One boy on the ground explained that the feelings “scraps” like a muffin they took a bite of and didn’t like
he had of being unfortunate was more powerful than or a piece of sausage they were too full to eat.
the hunger. “I wanted to break Back in the classroom, after
the people that had all the food. “i Wanted to break the low blood sugar grumpy
Break them to pieces because I feeling had subsided, student
didn’t have what they had.” the people that had reflections became more robust.

As the only Zero Waste specialist all the food” I interviewed teachers the next
at the meal, I had to point out that day. Teachers were thoughtful
statistically in the US, just under regarding student take-aways.
half of the food enjoyed by the food secure group will “Students learned that some people waste while
end up in a landfill. I also asked, “Why do you think others go hungry.” They also learned that students
some of you are seated on the ground and some of were willing to throw their oatmeal away because
you are at tables?” “It’s like feeling homeless. We are high snack time was coming up. “Obviously, the students
up status because we have so much food,” observed in our classes do not live with severe hunger,” so they
one boy. The most upset girl on the ground answered, had a tendency to connect lessons from the feast
“People without food probably don’t have tables and with experiences at home. “They learned that being
chairs either.” a picky eater and not liking certain foods is a choice
At last, all children were invited to enjoy the full buffet and privilege. No one would have chosen hunger.”
and sit at the tables. I coordinated the post-meal In addition, “They made the connection that what
composting effort and observed that after being happened when the well-fed students avoided and
invited to enjoy the full buffet, only one girl (the most ignored the hungry students is also how homeless
upset girl), ate all of her oatmeal. “I ate it to respect people in our community are treated.”
people that don’t have food. But it was gross.” The rest I spoke with parents during clean up. They observed
of the students seated on the ground were fine with that about half of the buffet ended up as left-overs. In
composting their left-over oatmeal, among other food the following days, staff did our best to feed leftovers
to other student groups and to take food home,
but at least 2 trays of food ended up directly in the
compost. (Thank goodness for compost.)

In a food secure situation, we have the supreme
privilege of choice. We, as a society, can choose to
throw away abundance, avoid eye contact with
those less fortunate, and laugh and chit-chat with
our friends to the next meal. We could also choose to
balance how much we take, shuffle food under the
watchful eye of authorities to hungry people, and
make soil out of our uneaten leftovers.
What choice will you make?

Krista Joan donaldson is a sustainability
specialist residing in Auhaukea’e Ahupua’a in
Kailua-Kona, Big island. Krista Joan is founder
of the garden and sustainability programs at
an award-winning charter school in pua’a Ahupua’a. she has been
organizing uplifting keiki surf contests for over a decade. she now
AT THE HAIKU MARKETPLACE – 810 HAIKU ROAD • HAIKU, MAUI, HI 96708 provides zero Waste consultation and services, along with education
AT THE WHARF – 658 FRONT ST #186 • LAHAINA, MAUI, HI 96761
808.224.5764 about simple changes we can all make to exist as an earth-based
www.hangloosehammockshawaii.com culture. go to www.kristajoan.com for more information or check
out her lasted adventures on instagram @kristajoan.
FIND US AT: Westin Hotel - Mondays • Westin Kor - Fridays • Swap Meet #609 - saturdays

20 INSPIRATION Living Aloha | JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2017