Nā Mo'okū'auhau Holowa'a: Native Hawaiian Women's Stories of The
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Nā Mo‘okū‘auhau Holowa‘a: Native Hawaiian Women's Stories of the Voyaging Canoe Hōkūle‘a By Kathryn Louise Nālani Wilson A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy At the University of Otago Dunedin, New Zealand December 2010 Hō‘oulu‘ulu Mana‘o: Abstract The purpose of this thesis is to explore the lived experiences of contemporary Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) women voyagers and navigators from the double hulled sailing canoe Hōkūle‘a. The research is unique because it addresses the historical and contemporary gaps in scholarly texts and publications that have scarcely included women’s perspectives and contributions as traditional and present-day voyagers and navigators (Kalakaua, 1888; Emmerson, 1915; Kamakau, 1991; Nelson, 1991; Howe, 2006; Finney, 2003). The theoretical and methodological framework is embedded in mo‘okū‘auhau (genealogy), a concept that is interwoven throughout the doctoral project. The thesis begins by introducing the topic and examples of legendary women who voyaged from Kahiki (Tahiti) and are ancestors of several women interviewed. The creation of the Hōkūle‘a is explained as part of the Hawaiian cultural revival, which itself sprung up in reaction to the forces of colonisation and neo-colonisation. The thesis follows the voyages of Hōkūle‘a and the literature that subsequently became a part of the canoe’s legacy. The thesis also analyses the way that Kanaka Maoli women academic leaders have informed diverse areas of scholarship with contemporary meanings of mo‘ok`ū‘auhau (Kame‘eleihiwa, 1999; Meyer, 1998 and 2003; Kaomea, 2003; Silva 2004). ). As a synthesis of the two central themes of this thesis, (1) the influence of Hōkūle‘a to the Hawaiian cultural revival and (2) the importance of Kanaka Maoli women to this broader movement, in-depth interviews with five women who voyaged on Hōkūle‘a are presented. The women’s stories are included in the findings chapter and integrated with scholarly texts in the discussion chapter. The stories that the women shared were diverse, yet the interviews i brought forth reoccuring themes, which guide and inform the thesis discussion and conclusion. The themes are (1) Ho‘omanawanui: Patience and Perseverance, (2) Laulima: Cooperation and Joint Action, (3) Hōkūle‘a Ea: The Spirit of the Canoe, and (4) Mo‘okū‘auhau: Linking Past, Present and Future. When aligned with the scholarship available about the canoe, the stories of the women reveal the gendered nature of the Hawaiian cultural revival and Hōkūle‘a. The stories also support contemporary practices of Hawaiian epistemology and cultural perpetuation, including an acknowledgement of the spirit of the canoe and ancestral guidance. Thus, the thesis begins and ends with an acknowledgement of nā kūpuna (ancestors) and the continuity of mo‘okū‘auhau. ii Hō‘oia‘i‘o: Acknowledgements Mahalo e nā akua, nā kūpuna, nā ‘aumākua. From the depths of my being I truly believe that all who have come before guide my life journey, including this work. I acknowledge that these ideas were whispered in the wind and when my mind, heart and spirit were open and still, I listened; so, I acknowledge my ancestors and their everpresent guidance. Mahalo nui loa. Mahalo e nā wahi pana. There are so many sacred places that have influenced and shaped my knowing; Ka‘a‘awa, Kualoa, Kāne‘ohe, Nā Ko‘olua, and Palolo on O‘ahu Island; Kalama‘ula, Kalaupapa, Pelekunu and Wailua on Moloka‘i Island; and Ka‘ū, Volcano and Hilo on Hawai‘i Island. On the North American continent two prominent places that have also formed my consciousness are Colorado and Minnesota. More recently, I honour the islands of Aotearoa- New Zealand; Ōtepoti, Ōtākou and ‘Opōtiki. The geography of this space and place is where the thesis came together and should also be acknowledged. Mahalo nui loa. Mahalo e ku‘u ‘ohana. To my beautiful family, my mom, Carolyn Louise Averill, you have been such a huge support bringing me back and forth from home to home. I love you and thank you SO much! To my dad, Herbert Ralph Mahie Wilson you are an inspiration. Our mo‘okū‘auhau is what creates and shapes this work. Thank you for teaching me to listen to my heart and that the kūpuna are always with us. Mahalo nui loa! Aloha nō! Mahalo e ku‘u mau ipo. To Brendan James Hokowhitu, the love of my life, and his beautiful sons Tari Jay and Riley, it is our love that guided me back to your islands and led to the completion of this work. I can honestly say it would not have happened without you. Brendan, thank you so much for all of our conversations, for your patience and encouragement, and the endless hours of feedback and support. Aloha wau ia ‘oe, e ku‘u ipo. Aloha nō! Kia ora nui. Arohanui. Mahalo e ku‘u mau pēpē. To my beautiful daughter, Kaliko, and my son, Tai, I dedicate this work to you! I committed to the topic when Kaliko was growing in my belly. All of my determination fused through my cells and into your being, so together we proposed the thesis, flew to Hawai‘i, conducted the interviews, transcribed them, finished an article for publication, and then you were born right in the middle of the action! You motivated me to finish because you are the next generation of mana wāhine. To my beautiful baby boy, Tai, while you are growing in my belly I am finally finishing and feeling ready to close this chapter of my life so I that I can be the best mama I can be. Mahalo nui loa e ku‘u mau keiki. Aloha wau ia ‘olua. Aloha nō! Mahalo e nā kumu. To all the sources of knowledge that have guided, supported and contributed to this work, nā wāhine: Penny Martin, Shantell Ching, Catherine Fuller, Wahine Koa, Pi‘ikea Miller, and Moana Doi, I am honoured to know you and priviledged to have shared time with you. You are amazing! To my supervisors, Associate Professor Lisette Burrows and Dr. Mike Boyes you have been so patient and supportive. Lisette, you have been more than a supervisor and a dear friend. Mike, it was your kindness and grace that welcomed me to the school and nurtured the doctoral journey. To my advisors, Dr. Khyla Russell and Dr. Manulani Aluli Meyer, you were the papa, the foundation and the celestial bodies that helped me navigate to and from island to island across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. Kia ora nui. Mahalo nui loa! iii Papakuhikuhi: Table of Contents Hō‘oulu‘ulu Mana‘o: Abstract .................................................................................................... i Hō‘oia‘i‘o: Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ iii ‘Ōlelo Ho‘ākāka: Introduction.................................................................................................... 1 Nā Mo‘olelo o Pele a me Hina: Stories of Pele and Hina ....................................................... 3 Kūmaumau: Continuity ........................................................................................................... 8 He wahine holowa‘a: A Voyaging Story ................................................................................ 9 Hō‘ulu‘ulu Mana‘o: Thesis Overview .................................................................................. 14 ‘Ikena: Epistemological Orientation ......................................................................................... 19 Moloka‘i Nui a Hina ............................................................................................................. 19 Pacific Genealogical Connections ........................................................................................ 24 Epistemological Collisions: Pacific and Western Perceptions of Cultural Space ................ 27 Epistemological Re-searching .............................................................................................. 34 Mo‘okū‘auhau ....................................................................................................................... 40 Mō‘aukala: Historical Overview .............................................................................................. 47 Colonisation .......................................................................................................................... 47 Disease and Depopulation ................................................................................................. 48 1820 Missionaries and Mission Schools ........................................................................... 49 1893 Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy..................................................................... 54 1950s-60s Americanisation of the Hawaiian Islands ........................................................ 56 The Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance ..................................................................................... 58 Kanaloa.............................................................................................................................. 59 Aloha ‘Āina ....................................................................................................................... 61 iv ‘Ohana ............................................................................................................................... 63 Ka Wa‘a Kaulua o Hōkūle‘a -The Double Hull Canoe of Hōkūle‘a .................................... 63 The Voyages ...................................................................................................................... 66 Literature of Hōkūle‘a ....................................................................................................... 71 Historical Overview