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OUR WO R K
THEMES
O CE A NIA / HA WAI‘I
Oceania / Hawai‘i
Moananuiākea is the well-traveled pathway of our
ancestors and their stories. We understand Oceania
as one kingdom of many island nations connected
through language, customs, and culture, always
intertwined with way昀椀nding and navigation. The
Poʻe Maoli (Indigenous Peoples/Populations) of
Moananuiākea are the traditional stewards of the
largest body of water on our precious earth. This ocean
influences the world’s weather patterns and produces
roughly half of our global oxygen. Every island home
that is protected by Moananuiākea includes a multitude of island nations that contain eons of Traditional
Ecological Knowledge. Precious to not just its keepers
but the entire world.
We cannot afford to operate with a continental/introduced mindset, especially when it comes to our
vital life sources. Our peoples understand the fragile balance of our ecological relationships through
generations of keen observation and reverence,
and we can design and implement ingenious
solutions to thrive on our different island homes.
Living on small islands for generations equips the
peoples of Moananuiākea with the qualities and
practices to live in harmony with each other and
their environment. We populated and thrived on the
most isolated lands in the world through applied skill,
a commitment to excellence, and faith in our ancestral
teachings. Indigenous knowledge and ingenuity can
help heal the land, promote peace and compassion
through Aloha, and solve the challenges of living in
balance with Papahānaumoku (mother earth).
Written by Lamalama Ka Ulu
