The Pono Pledge

The Pledge

He pilina wehena ʻole ke aloha honua.
One's love for the planet is an inseverable relationship.

I pledge to be pono (righteous) on the island of Hawai‘i.

I will mindfully seek wonder,

but not wander where I do not belong.

I will not defy death for breathtaking photos,

or venture beyond safety.

I will mālama (care for) land and sea,

and admire wildlife only from afar.

Molten lava will mesmerize me,

but I will not disrupt its flow.

I will not take what is not mine,

leaving lava rocks and sand as originally found.

I will heed ocean conditions,

never turning my back to the Pacific.

When rain falls ma uka (inland),

I will remain high above ground, out of rivers and streams.

I will embrace the island’s aloha spirit,

as it embraces me.

Lawe i ka maʻalea i kūʻonoʻono.

“Take Wisdom and Make it Deep.