Increasing conservation capacity by embracing ritual: kuahu as a portal to the sacred

Abstract

E ulu ē E ulu kini o ke Akua Ulu a‘e ‘o Kāne me Kanaloa Ulu ka ‘Ōhi‘a a lau ka wai Ka ‘Ie‘ie Ulu a‘e ke Akua a noho i kona kahu Eia ka wai lā He wai ola E ola ia‘u i ke kumu E ola i ke po‘o, ke po‘o pua‘a E ola i ka pae, ka paepae E ola i nā haumana, nā haumana a pau ‘Eli‘eli kapu, ‘eli‘eli noa In this Pule Ho‘oulu (prayer for inspiration), we are calling ourselves and you, the reader, to embrace growth and perpetuation of life’s many sacred manifestations, to honour the guardians of our places and the sources of our knowledge, and affirm the profound responsibility that is conservation management. This chant initiates the process of kuahu, an altar of Native Hawaiian spiritual practice within Hālau ‘Ōhi‘a, a ritual-based stewardship program in Hawai‘i led by Kumu (master teacher, a primary holder and source of knowledge for the community) Kekuhi Kealiikanakaoleohaililani. This paper outlines how the kuahu process has advanced learner capacity to embrace the many sacred dimensions of resource stewardship, thereby transforming conservation biology, and related conservation practices, through Indigenous perspectives. We examine themes evoked during the kuahu process at scales spanning the universal, the regional, and the personal. In doing so, we describe how kuahu practice can serve as a coparticipant, catalyst, and portal to sacred conservation, allowing learners to engage and grow more personal relationships with the environment, our communities, and ourselves.

Towards resilience in the Anthropocene: transforming conservation biology through Indigenous perspectives

“…Their work sets the scene for two additional papers which focus specifically on spirituality; arguably one of the most challenging yet important aspects in Indigenous conservation management when brought into conversation alongside non-Indigenous viewpoints and ways of being. Kekuhi Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, Aimee Sato, Christian Giardina, Creighton Litton, Smrity Ramavarapu, Leslie Hutchins, Evelyn Wight, Michelle Clark, Susan Cordell, Kainana Francisco, Heather McMillen, Pua'ala Pascua and Darcy Yogi's contribution 'Increasing conservation capacity by embracing ritual: kuahu as a portal to the sacred' opens with a, 'Pule Ho'oulu (prayer for inspiration)', as a dual ritual to their paper and to their work (Kealiikanakaoleohaililani et al 2021). The specific 'chant initiates the process of kuahu, an altar of Native Hawaiian spiritual practice within Ha ¯lau 'O ¯hi'a, a ritual-based stewardship program in Hawai'i led by kumu (master teacher, a primary holder and source of knowledge for the community) Kekuhi Kealiikanakaoleohaililani.…”

“…Our description of this Ka ¯naka 'O ¯iwi (Indigenous Hawaiian) oral narrative is framed within an Indigenous worldview that does not perceive dividing lines between humanity and nature (Gon et al 2021). From these oral narratives stem a rich tapestry of Indigenous language and customs including spiritual and material practices, which collectively embody a worldview that shapes the relationships between the unseen and the seen world (Kealiikanakaoleohaililani et al 2021;Paul et al 2021). This underlying and all-encompassing connectivity (Smith 1999) is the vantage point of this Special Issue, 'Transforming Conservation Biology Through Indigenous Perspectives'.…”

Urban ʻĀina: An Indigenous, Biocultural Pathway to Transforming Urban Spaces

“…ʻĀina of Kaʻōnohi, Aiea, HI 96701, USA; hoolahouiakalauao@gma 2 Hoʻōla Hou iā Kalauao, Aiea, HI 96701, USA; kaonohipoi@gmail 3. Office of Indigenous Innovation, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, kenos@hawaii.edu4 Group 70 International, Inc.; Honolulu, HI 96813, USA; kialoam@ 5 Office of Enrollment Services, University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu indrajit@hawaii.edu6 Mālama Learning Center, Kapolei, HI 96707, USA; chelsey@malam 7 Kōkua Kalihi Valley, Hoʻoulu ʻĀina, Honolulu, HI 96819, USA; pj uemotom@hawaii.edu (M.H.H. )…”

“…); despirit@hawaii.edu (D.E. )3 Office of Indigenous Innovation, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA; kenos@hawaii.edu4 Group 70 International, Inc.; Honolulu, HI 96813, USA; kialoam@g70.design…”

“…ʻĀina of Kaʻōnohi, Aiea, HI 96701, USA; hoolahouiakalauao@gmail.com2 Hoʻōla Hou iā Kalauao, Aiea, HI 96701, USA; kaonohipoi@gmail.com (A.K.D. ); despirit@hawaii.ed3 Office of Indigenous Innovation, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA; kenos@hawaii.edu4 Group 70 International, Inc.; Honolulu, HI 96813, USA; kialoam@g70.design5 Office of Enrollment Services, University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu, Kapolei, HI 96707, USA; indrajit@hawaii.edu6 Mālama Learning Center, Kapolei, HI 96707, USA; chelsey@malamalearningcenter.org 7 Kōkua Kalihi Valley, Hoʻoulu ʻĀina, Honolulu, HI 96819, USA; pjackson@kkv.net (P.J. ); uemotom@hawaii.edu (M.H.H.…”