Kilo
In nature journaling, we talk a lot about closely observing the world around us. In Hawaiian, the term for this is kilo, which means to watch, observe, examine, or forecast. The word refers both the traditional practice as well as the practitioner. Kilo is both a verb, describing the activity, and noun, describing the person doing it.
Some things I’ve learned that are often part of the practice of kilo:
- Returning again and again to the same place to notice how it changes over time, observing yearly cycles
- Looking for subtle changes
- Identifying patterns
- Paying attention to relationships between the weather, moon, stars, plants, animals, insect activity, fish, tides, waves, and other natural forces
- Sharing and discussing what you notice with others
- Asking questions
- Making predictions about what you expect to happen
- Using collected knowledge to help make decisions in managing natural resources
Kilo traditionally was also a spiritual practice. It involved relationships to deities, cultural practices, as well as religious observations determined by the moon cycles, star constellations, and seasons.
It is important to note, there was no written Hawaiian language until the 1820s. Before that, knowledge was shared orally, through experience, conversation, and memorization. This meant teaching people face to face (he alo a alo). Learning about the environment was embedded as part of sharing mo’olelo (stories or history), as well as hula, oli, and mele (chants and songs). It was all connected.
In the modern world, we have more distractions and less practice with memorization. This is part of why we nature journal — writing, drawing, and recording numbers and dates can help us remember what we’ve observed and what others have taught us. We can connect with different types of knowledge and culture, or we can follow a specific focus. Ultimately, it is helpful to remember that a nature journal is simply one method for building observation and connection.
*I am always looking to learn and grow. If you have a different definition or experience of kilo, please share it with me by emailing info@katerighter.com and I will make changes! Mahalo!
Activity Instructions for Kilo Observation (credit to Erin Samson of Kamehameha Schools)
● Find a quiet place to sit or stand.
● Make sure you are at least one anana* away from other people.
● Once you find your place, stay there for the whole time.
● Breathe deeply and clear your mind.
● Focus on your senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and intuition (and taste, if safe and appropriate)
● Practice your kilo observation for at least 10 minutes.
● Be prepared to share and record your observations.
*Anana is the distance between tips of longest fingers of a person, measured with arms extended on each side. Check out this post to learn more about using your body for measurement.
Worksheets
I created a kilo worksheet specifically for field trips or visiting a place for the first time: https://hawaiinaturejournal.org/kilo-worksheet/
Downloadable kilo resources for younger keiki, with cute drawings: https://www.poowainui.org/resources
Free downloadable worksheets and curriculum from Kilo Books:
https://kilobookshawaii.com/downloads/
Lesson Plans
From Malama Learning Center: https://www.malamalearningcenter.org/uploads/9/3/5/0/93506112/kilo_revised.pdf
Kilo to Wonder by Jaime Lewis, STEMS^2 program at UH Manoa: https://coe.hawaii.edu/stems2/curriculum/kilo-to-wonder/
In Depth Data Sheets
Resource for seasonal observation: https://auamo.org/
A slightly different, modified version of the huli ia form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cXntLW7tsQz0aHvVuVOpagyRNUw3DF54/view
A diverse collection of kilo forms and information: https://www.aimalama.org/resources/
