He Hawaiʻi Au Mau A Mau: Sovereignty Practices and Interpretations for Diasporic Kānaka in the Continental U.S.

Project Title

He Hawaiʻi Au Mau A Mau: Sovereignty Practices and Interpretations for Diasporic Kānaka in the Continental U.S.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Project Description

Currently, the conversations around Hawaiian Sovereignty and Wellbeing are based on the experiences of Kānaka Hawaiʻi who live in Hawaiʻi. However, currently there are 370,000 Kānaka living outside of Hawaiʻi, compared to the 310,000 Kānaka living in Hawaiʻi, who are not represented in these important conversations about the future for our people. Therefore, I wish to discover ways in which Diasporic Kānaka particularly practice, express, and engage with the concepts of Hawaiian Sovereignty and Wellbeing in their everyday experiences. I will be interviewing Diasporic Kānaka in the continental U.S. for the following year. In doing so, I hope to identify uniquely Diasporic sovereignty practices, resources, and communities, and the uniquely Diasporic issues that they address. Furthermore, I evaluate how the conversation around Hawaiian Sovereignty and Wellbeing can grow and be reframed around these current issues within the continental U.S. Hawaiian Diaspora. By exploring these questions, I will amplify representation for Diasporic Kānaka experiences and reassess Hawaiian wellbeing with the Hawaiian Diaspora at the center of the discourse.

Why is your research important?

It is important to represent the experiences and issues for Kānaka Hawai’i in U.S. Hawaiian Diasporas within the ongoing conversation of Hawaiian Sovereignty and Wellbeing.

What does the process of doing your research look like?

I have conducted a literature review on Hawaiian Diasporic research, and also let my own life experiences guide the direction of my research. Going forward, I plan on interviewing Diasporic Kānaka in the continental U.S. in the hopes of forming long standing community relationships.

What knowledge has your research contributed to your field?

My research contributes the currently unrepresented experiences and issues of Diasporic Kānaka in the continental U.S. to the discourse on Hawaiian Sovereignty and Wellbeing.

In what ways have you showcased your research thus far?

So far, I have showcased my research at the 2024 Oberlin Summer Research Institute Research Symposium and the 2024 Mellon Mays Midwest Regional Conference. 

How did you get involved in research? What drove you to seek out research experiences in college?

Oberlin does not currently have Hawaiian Studies or a Native Studies program, and so I wanted to conduct my own research in order to see it represented in my education at Oberlin.

What is your favorite aspect of the research process?

My favorite aspect of the research process is meeting and connecting with other Diasporic Kānaka.

How has working with your mentor impacted the development of your research project? How has it impacted you as a researcher?

My mentor has always supported me in staying true to my kuleana (responsibility) as Kānaka Hawaiʻi and to my field of Hawaiian Studies.

How has the research you’ve conducted contributed to your professional or academic development?  

My research thus far has helped me realize that the research that I conduct does fit into my long term professional goals within non-profit organizing, and can help towards my development beyond academia.

What advice would you give to a younger student wanting to get involved in research in your field?

Follow your naʻau (gut sense) always and surround yourself with researchers and mentors who understand and respect Native Studies.