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 |  | Newsletter Ke Alaula: "The Dawning" | March 2007 - Vol 1, Issue 2 | | |
| In This Issue | | | | | Quick Links | | | | | | | Aloha Mawae, | |  Pictured in photo are FNFP fellows: (Front row; l-r: Leslie Kaiu Kimura, Noa Lincoln, Brendon Te Tiwha Puketapu; Back row; l-r: Jamie Anne Kawailehua Makasobe, Layne Kahinuonalani Richards, Tipa Mahuta, Daniel Naho'opi'i, Brett Eruera Ellison, David O'Connell)
He Mihi - A Greeting
E nga mana, e nga reo, e karangatanga maha, tena koutou tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. He mihi nunui tenei ki a tatou katoa, e nga tangata whenua, huri noa i te moana nui a Kiwa. Tena tatou katoa - ka mau te wehi!
The FNFP Fellows participated in the inaugural First Nations' Futures Institute held at Stanford University in the Fall of 2006. The Institute served as the first phase of the FNFP, followed by place-based projects in Aotearoa (recently completed) and Hawaii. The Institute, which qualifies as a certificate course at Stanford, involved Fellows, partners, academic faculty, leaders in business, culture, First Nation communities and the environment.
In this issue of the Newsletter, we share short profiles of panelists and speakers who've participated and shared their expertise in this years Institute. Importantly, I want to again express my thanks to those who supported the program at Stanford University - from administrators to presenters. The fellows learned much, not only from the lessons shared, but also from the more organic process of interaction with incredible role models and leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds and communities. | | | | |  Our ancestors greet your ancestors...
Consistent with Polynesian kawa or protocols, it was important for the program to be invited/accepted by the original Native inhabitants of the area where Stanford University resides. During the welcoming ceremony, the fellows exchanged Maori and Hawaiian protocol with the Ohlone. Officials at Stanford University followed up on the fellows' request and sought out the Ohlone to set up a meeting at Jasper Ridge near the Leslie Shao-ming Sun Field Station. Pictured above is a group shot of the FNFP fellows, some Natives of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, FNFP directors, and officials from Stanford University's Students Affairs and American Indian and Alaska Native Program. | | | | | |  With the vastness of Monterey Bay serving as a backdrop, Alaskan Clan Leader Byron Mallot addresses FNFP fellows and program directors at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station at Monterey. We again want to express our appreciation to the HMS staff for the chance to have part of the institute based at this amazing facility.
2007 Kamehameha Fellows Sought
* Applications for Kamehameha FNFP fellows for the next incoming class will be available from April 2, 2007. Applications will be accepted beginning April 2, 2007 through to the deadline of May 31, 2007. Applications will be made available at www.ksbe.edu/fellowship and on the FNFP application site under the Hawai'i link. | | | | |  Nainoa Thompson is a Trustee of the Kamehameha Schools, President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, and is known especially as a master navigator and sail master of the double-hulled canoe Hokule’a. For more than 20 years he has inspired and led a revival of traditional arts associated with long-distance ocean voyaging in Hawai'i and throughout Polynesia. He is the first Hawaiian and first Polynesian to practice the art of wayfinding on long distance voyages since such voyaging ended in Hawai'i around the 14th century. His actions associated with Hokule’a have been linked to Hawaiian cultural revitalization in the ‘70s. In addition, Mr. Thompson serves as special adviser to the President of the University of Hawai'i (UH) on Native Hawaiian affairs, and is Regent Emeritus of the UH Board of Regents.
Nainoa Thompson gave what was perhaps noted as the most powerful speech of the program. He gave his keynote with a massive aquarium serving as his backdrop at the Monterey Aquarium. Mr. Thompson was able to evoke deep emotions while discussing his personal history and journey in life to get to where he is today. He credited one of his mentors, Papa Mau Piailug, for a great deal of his vision coming true, and later issued a challenge to the fellows -- a challenge put forth to Nainoa by his mentor earlier in his life. The Challenge: "Do you see the island?" In essence, Papa Mau instilled in Nainoa that he must first see the island in his mind before he can reach it. For the fellows, the saying was powerful. The challenge then is to have a goal, see that goal, then and only then, be able to attain the goal. | | | | |  Carlos Andrade, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He teaches Hawaiian astronomy, navigation, perspectives and concepts in land use decisions, planning, and education. He recently helped plan and present in the International Forum on Indigenous Mapping held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Presently, he is working on publishing a book on the history and geography of Ha’ena (Kaua’i) with the Hui Maka’ainana o Makana -- a community group from that part of the island.
Carlos Andrade spoke about his work at Ha'ena, Kaua'i and shared his insight on the Ahupua'a system Native Hawaiians implemented, which is often misquoted by contemporary commentators. The fellows learned that the ingenious method prevalently used in Old Hawai'i was ideal and is perhaps something to strive towards once again. Dr. Andrade tied his powerpoint presentation into Natural Resources, its importance for conservation, the Ahupua'a, and the working project of Ha'ena. | | | | |  Ann Botticelli is Vice President for Community Relations and Communications at Kamehameha Schools. Ann spent the first 22 years of her professional life in journalism, where she began her career in a short stint at the Associated Press in Detroit. She spent majority of her journalism career in Hawai'i covering state, city, business, and consumer issues for television stations KHON and KITV as a “beat” reporter. She also reported on politics for the Honolulu Advertiser and served for several years as the Hawai'i stringer for Time Magazine. In 2002, Ann executed a career change, joining Hawai'i’s oldest public relations firm, Communications Pacific. As Vice President of the Corporate practice, Ann helped business clients in the travel, hospitality, financial and health sectors, specializing in crisis communications. She then brought her expertise to Kamehameha Schools in May 2005, and continues her work there.
Ann Boticelli, along with the other public relations specialists (Teri Gorman and Ashley Simons), put together a dynamic presentation on communications and media skills. The lesson was on "how to communicate with and through the media". The fellows learned that the message issued to the media has to be clear and always express the philosophy of the company. The fellows were kept on their toes during the role playing portion of the lesson. Mock video interviews were given to the fellows. Here, they learned first-hand how difficult it is to stay on point and remain composed. Ann, Teri and Ashley very effectively demonstrated the value of being prepared and knowing what your message should be. | | | | |  Teri Gorman is Vice President of Communications for Maui Land & Pineapple Co., Inc. (MLP), a publicly traded company committed to sustainable agriculture, resort management, and the development of holistic communities. MLP bases its business practices upon traditional Hawaiian values of malama’aina (care for the land), po’okela (excellence), and ho’ohanohano (distinction in service to others). She has worked professionally in marketing, communications and public affairs for more than 20 years, holding various positions throughout that span including: Director of Marketing for the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Hawai'i and the Aotea Centre in Auckland, New Zealand; Vice President of External Affairs for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. | | | | |  Philippe S. Cohen is the Administrative Director of Stanford's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Philippe is responsible for the continuing ecological health of the Preserve, support of research and educational activities, and is the primary contact with surrounding communities on issues of mutual concern. As director and manager of biological field stations, Philippe has been involved in a broad range of management issues, but in recent years has developed a particular interest in urban/wildland interface issues. Philippe has also taken a lead in the development of sustainable/green facilities, drafting the sustainability guidelines for the Organization of Biological Field Stations and contributing to the planning, fundraising, design, and construction of Stanford's first green/sustainable building, the Leslie Shao-ming Sun Field Station (http://jrbp.stanford.edu/fieldstation.php).
Mr. Cohen welcomed the fellows to the Leslie Shao-ming Sun Field Station, giving them the grand tour of the facilities. He spoke of the importance of the Station and in what he hopes will serve as a working model. The phrase continuously stressed: "energy input and output needs to zero out." This would mark an ecologically smart property with true efficiency. The fellows were left in awe of the works of the Station, and Mr. Cohen assured his message and the Station would be remembered by the fellows by issuing them t-shirts. | | | | |  Peter M. Vitousek is Morrison Professor of Population and Resource Studies in the Department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University. He was born in Hawai'i, and now does most of his research there – making use of the extraordinary environments and ecosystems of the Islands as a model for understanding ecology and human-environment interactions globally. There is no truth to the rumor that his interest in Hawai'i is anything but academic. He graduated from HPA, Amherst College (BA Political Science), and Dartmouth College (PhD Biology), then taught at Indiana University and the University of North Carolina before joining Stanford’s Department of Biological Sciences in 1984. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was named “America’s Best Ecologist” by Time/CNN in 2001. Peter is married and has two children.
Peter Vitousek spoke alongside Kaeo Duarte on ecological issues facing the world, specifically Hawai'i where he conducts much of his internationally recognized research. He shared with the fellows his personal observations and studies done on the dry land field system in the Kohala area of Hawai'i Island. Sadly, this dry land field is the only one that has survived through the changing times, but serves as proof of a working example. Dr. Vitousek mentioned the unique value of Hawai'i as a laboratory for modeling global systems, particularly as we confront the impacts of climate change for Native peoples. The fellows took away a general understanding of ecology and its role in cultural vitality, but more importantly the crucial role their own native lands can serve. | | | | |  Neil J.K. Hannahs is the Director of the Land Assets Division for Kamehameha Schools. He is responsible for the team that manages Kamehameha’s 347,000 acres of agriculture and conservation lands in Hawai'i. Mr. Hannahs joined the Kamehameha Schools staff in 1974. Mr. Hannahs currently serves as chairman of the Hawai'i Public Television Foundation Board of Directors and President of the Land Use Research Foundation. He is also a trustee of Queen’s Medical Center, sits on the Board of Directors for Bishop Museum, and serves as a State Committee Member of the Hawaii Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). He has served as president of the Kaka'ako Improvement Association, Chair of Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center Advisory Council, Executive Producer of "Schifrin Symphony No. 1: Lili'uokalani," Vice-Chair of the Historic Hawai'i Foundation Board of Trustees and as Treasurer of Pacific Islanders in Communications.
Neil Hannahs and Ulalia Woodside presented primarily on Kamehameha Schools integrated resource management strategy. Neil Hannahs' talk focused on the need for managers of indigenous resources to balance mulitple returns and to ensure that we enrich our legacy resources for future generations. He stressed to the fellows conventional asset management has certainly been dominated by economic value and utility, but insisted there needs to be a general acceptance in evaluations to include a multi-structure evaluation of returns that includes environmental and cultural considerations for indigenous resource management. Neil and Ulalia inspired the fellows by sharing the type of balanced scorecard used by Kamehameha Schools. | | | | |  Ulalia Woodside is the Land Legacy Resources Manager for the Kamehameha Schools’ Land Assets Division. Her responsibilities include the development and implementation of programs to steward environmental and natural resources (Mälama ‘Äina), increase understanding and preservation of cultural resources (‘Ike ‘Äina), and realize place-based and culture-based educational experiences (‘Äina Ulu) on the more than 340,000 acres of KS’ agriculture and conservation lands. Ms. Woodside is deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture practices, having been trained in her family’s genealogical hula tradition and continuing her role as a student of lua (Hawaiian martial arts). She also serves on the boards of Kauahea Inc. and the Lalakea Foundation; two organizations dedicated to the advancement of Hawaiian cultural practices, natural and cultural resource education, and the preservation of the Hawaiian relationship to land.
Presenting alongside Neil Hannahs, regarding Kamehameha Schools' integrated management and resource management strategies, Ulalia Woodside expounded on cultural aspects related to the land. After introducing herself in traditional Hawaiian genealogical recitation, Ulalia's points continued to focus on culture. The fellows were privileged to have a private showing of a video Ulalia helped produce on Kamehameha Schools legacy. The point driven was culture, land, and responsibility. | | | | |  Ka’eo Duarte is from the ahupua‘a of Holualoa, Kona, on Hawaii Island. He holds a B.S.E. in Environmental Engineering with a minor in Geological Engineering from Princeton University; and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, specializing in Hydrology, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in the Water Resources Research Center and Botany Department. He is currently on an extended leave of absence working as the Water Resources Manager at Kamehameha Schools, Land Assets Division. His interests include groundwater hydrology, water management and optimization, coastal processes, ecohydrology and indigenous knowledge systems as it relates to resource management.
Kaeo Duarte followed up on Peter Vitousek's presentation by expanding the discussion of ecology to include research he's been engaged in. Kaeo also discussed the different mechanisms Hawaiians used to study ecology and tied these findings into everyday life. The fellows gathered insight on indigenous traditional knowledge systems and its successful workings that could perhaps be a benefit if implemented today. | | | | |  Riki Ellison has primary tribal affiliation with Ngai Tahu and serves as Private Secretary - Environment, working directly with the Minister for the Environment of New Zealand. Among his various interests, he holds in especially high esteem the ideal fact that perspectives of the Maori are an important part in agenda setting for the government and should be incorporated in a movement towards national standards, policy, and priorities. Earlier this year, Riki participated in the inaugural Emerging Pacific Leaders Dialogue, involving emerging Pacific leaders from across the Pacific. As part of this intense leadership program, under the theme of Navigating our Futures Together, Riki traveled to Australia, Kiribati, Fiji and New Zealand, interacting with senior political, government, community, industry and indigenous leaders gaining first hand experience of the social, cultural, economic and environment challenges facing small Pacific Island states.
Riki Ellison was welcomed as family at the Institute by the fellows especially because his cousin, Brett, is a participating fellow in the program. Riki discussed his role in environmental management as an advisor to the New Zealand government. A key part of his role has been to include native perspectives into governmental agendas. Riki expressed the critical challenge of climate change, and spoke specifically of the devastating impact sea level rise can have on low lying Pacific Islands and their communities. The fellows realized the dangers faced by their very own communities and the pressing need for change towards sustainability. | | | | |  Donald Kennedy, Ph.D., is the Bing Professor of Environmental Science and President emeritus at Stanford University. He also stands as the Editor-in-Chief of SCIENCE, the world’s leading scientific journal. Dr. Kennedy served stints as the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and sat as a member of the Board of Directors for the Health Effects Institute (a non-profit organization devoted to mobile source emissions), Clean Sites, Inc. (an organization devoted to toxic waste cleanup), and the California Nature Conservancy. He also serves as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society.
The fellows were honored to spend some time with Professor Kennedy. He shared with the fellows his vast experiences in leadership roles that the fellows could learn from, including in particular his time as the Stanford University President. The fellows were fortunate to "talk story" with Dr Kennedy in such an intimate and open setting. | | | | |  Arama H. Kukutai is the Managing Director of Finistere Partners, LLC. Having lived and worked internationally for much of his career, he brings a strong Asia-Pacific focus to Finistere’s activities. As Regional Director – North America, he led the New Zealand government’s trade development agency in North America from 2001, establishing multiple pathways for New Zealand businesses to access this key market. He has also advised companies in the information technology and manufacturing industries. Mr. Kukutai also enjoyed an active career in investment, both in commercial banking at Westpac Banking Corporation, and as Chair of the investment arm of PKW Incorporation. His specific interest lies in the development of indigenous economic partnerships.
The expertise of Arama Kukutai and Dr. Roberta Reiff Katz were evident in their talks of Business and Leadership. Mr. Kukutai shared his international trade and venture capitalist experiences and the business side of empowerment in the organization. He discussed the importance of intellectual property unique to Native people and the opportunities afforded by participating in the knowledge economy. Dr. Katz discussed her own experiences in the high tech sector and stepping stones to her current role. She encouraged the fellows to think innovatively about alternative business strategies and paradigms, which share a consistent view with native ways. Her message of the need to find successfel alternative business models is a critical challenge for indigenous communities. The economic development and business leadership aspects of this program are especially pronounced because of the disparities we face in these areas. Knowledgeo of these issues is important given the leadership roles and challenges that lie ahead of the fellows following their graduation. The responsibility to share their learnings with their own communities and build stronger first nations will be done only with business leadership capabilities. | | | | |  Roberta Reiff Katz, Ph.D., is Associate Vice President for Strategic Planning at Stanford University. She was one of the founders and the CEO of Flywheel Communications, Inc., a company specializing in the use of technology to manage rights-related transactions and dispute resolutions. Prior to joining Flywheel Communications, Inc., Ms. Katz was the President and CEO of the Technology Network (TechNet), a national bipartisan political network of technology industry executives; earlier, she served for four years as the Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Netscape Communications Corporation, and as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of McCaw Cellular Communications, Inc. (subsequently AT&T Wireless). Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Katz earned a PhD in cultural anthropology, specializing in issues of social and cultural change. In 1997, she published a book entitled Justice Matters: Rescuing the Legal System for the 21st Century. | | | | |  Phillip Leslie, Ph.D., is an economist in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. He teaches business strategy and specializes in empirical research on the behavior of firms. Originally from Australia, Professor Leslie obtained a PhD in economics from Yale University, and was a professor at UCLA before moving to Stanford in 2002. He has published in leading economics journals, is a member of the National Bureau of Economic Research, and has participated in business study trips to Australia and China.
Dr. Leslie drilled the fellows for three straight days on various business case studies. The cases were dissected and analyzed from every possible angle. This very interactive module was highly rated by the fellows and generated substantial debate on various business strategies. However, there was one issue the Maori fellows were adament about: As an Aussie, he may know business inside and out, but the "monopoly" position of the All Blacks as the best rugby team in the world could not be disputed. | | | | |  Byron Mallott is the former President and CEO of the First Alaskans Foundation. He has served numerous roles in both the private and public sectors. He started his public service as Mayor of his hometown of Yakutat, Alaska, at the age of 22. His public service continued in various roles including: a term of service as President of the Alaska Federation of Natives; appointment by Governor Knowles as Co-Chair of the Commission on Rural Governance and Empowerment; Clan Leader of the KwaashKiKwaan clan of the Raven tribe of Yakutat; Sitting member of the Board of Directors of Sealaska Corporation. Additionally, Mr. Mallott has served as a Director of five commercial banking institutions; founding Director of Alaska Commercial Fisheries and Agriculture Bank; Director of Alaska Air Group; Board member of the National Alliance of Business.
Byron Mallot role played an Elder while delivering his message. Given the challenges that First Nations face, there has been a growing concern that a dichotomy of sorts has broken out -- splitting the older and younger generations on grounds of philosophical thinking. Byron's message resonated emotions in calling for elders to "listen to the younger generation." Differences set aside, more can be achieved in growth of First Nations. Byron was inspirational on the grounds of cultural values, and the fellows assuredly learned the profound responsibilities (as the younger generation) they carry forward. | | | | |  Winona Simms, Ph.D., is the Director of the American Indian and Alaska Native Program, Assistant Dean of Students, and Resident Fellow at Stanford University. Dr. Simms is a longstanding participant in the university and college system. She has over twenty-five years experience of teaching in education, counseling psychology, Native history, Native psychology and multicultural courses. Furthermore, she has extensive experience as an administrator, working with students, developing programs and creating retention methodologies. Most importantly, she is an advocate for students.
Winona Simms, Thomas Massey, and Umi Jensen held a First Nations forum. All are involved in the student affairs of the American/Alaskan Native program at Stanford University and share in the effort to help to recruit/retain native students at the University. There is great effort put forth to provide the services needed to natives so they feel accepted into a Stanford Community that otherwise didn't feel as welcoming prior to the programmatic implementation. Together they shared their work and effort to bridge Stanford with the Natives. The effort has not been fruitless, but change certainly does take time -- a fact the fellows take to heart. | | | | |  Pamela Matson, Ph.D., is the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Professor of Environmental Studies in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, and serves as Dean of the School of Earth Sciences at Stanford University. She works extensively with multi-disciplinary teams of researchers to develop land management approaches that make sense economically and environmentally. They have identified the negative consequences of deforestation and intensive agriculture, and are working to develop new approaches that would reduce those impacts while still maintaining human livelihoods. Dr. Matson is an author of numerous scientific publications and four books. She serves in many esteemed positions, while working towards better conservations and sustainability.
Pamela Matson delivered a keynote focusing on Malama 'Aina (caring for the land) in one of Stanford's many beautiful outside courtyards. The main point she stressed to the fellows was to continuously think of the affects that our decisions have on the environment. She also noted that decision making is increasingly being better supported by applied science and research, and that through programs like this, western scientific knowledge is becoming more available to resource managers and policy makers to help us make better informed decisions. The keynote ended in a twilight discussion with Pamela and her colleagues (including husband Peter Vitousek) responding to the many questions her address stimulated among the Fellows and others. | | | | |  Rosamond Lee Naylor, Ph.D., is the Julie Wrigley Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and Associate Professor (by courtesy) in Economics at Stanford University. Her research focuses on the environmental and equity dimensions of intensive food production, including aquaculture. Naylor is the Director of Stanford’s new program in Food Security and the Environment and the Director of the Goldman Honors Program in Environmental Science, Technology and Policy.
Dr. Naylor discussed the decline of fisheries and the paradox of aquaculture serving as both a solution and contributor to those declines. The viability was discussed: farming vs. fishing, small scale vs. large scale, native vs. non-native. The end result? A very economically profitable venture, but at what price and at whose expense? | | | | |  Stephen Palumbi, Ph.D., teaches and does research in evolution and marine biology at Stanford University, and has long been fascinated by how quickly the world around us changes. He has lectured extensively on human-induced evolutionary change, has used genetic detective work to identify whales for sale in retail markets, and is working on new methods to help design marine parks for conservation. Dr. Palumbi recently published a book for non-scientists that documents the impact of humans on evolution, particularly of disease and pest organisms (The Evolution Explosion WW Norton, NY), and is a common lecturer on the Darwin Day circuit. In addition, he helped write, research and also appears in a new TV series The Future is Wild (BBC, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel) that explores the way evolution may shape the future.
Dr. Palumbi welcomed the group to the Hopkins Marine Station at Monterey and talked about some of its esteemed history. He spoke specifically of his research work, including research projects that have particular impacts for indigenous communities. Like many other presenters he asked critical issues, in this case "can you use a resource wisely without understanding it?" and "is there value in diversity?" Dr Palumbi shared potential solutions for discussion, like ecosystem based management. The group was intrigued with his more investigative genetic research too. He reached iconic status with the group with his genetic testing of whale meat in Japan, which found that meat sold under the scientic research take included other rare protected whale species, one that was thought extinct as well as (among other things) horse meat. | | | | |  William Wallace Mokahi Steiner, Ph.D., is Dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM) at the University of Hawai'i Hilo, and former Director of the US Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center based in Honolulu, HI. Dr. Steiner is “an inveterate observer of people and culture and find human diversity and behavior to be fascinating. I believe one of our biggest threats is the loss of cultural diversity itself. This can be put in context by recognizing that cultural diversity is a result of environmental diversity, and that loss of natural resources threatens the base upon which humanity is derived.” His dream is to return to ranching after his second retirement, in hopes to incorporate a recreational aspect to “enable others to share for a short time the joys that working with cattle and horses can bring.”
Dr. Steiner shared with the fellows the work he does at UH-Hilo. He spoke extensively on traditional Hawai'i agriculture and the better balance this style has with the environment. The discussion shifted to contemporary issues of Kalo breeding and genetic modifications. However, the underlying note here was to think progressively, but not overlook the brilliance of the traditional. The time spent with Dr Steiner reminded the group of the need to honor and keep alive our agricultural traditions and knowledge. | | | | |  Michael Wilcox, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor for the Department of Cultural and Social Anthropology at Stanford University. His main research interests are postcolonial approaches to archaeology, ethnic identity and conflict, and political and historical relationships between Native Americans and anthropologists and archaeologists. In his graduate studies at Harvard University he was involved in strengthening the Native American Program and in designing and teaching award-winning courses in Native American Studies.
Dr. Wilcox gave a challenging and thought-provoking talk on "What is culture?" from an anthropology context. He looked at culture from both an historical and futuristic perspective and provided a critical analysis of his own anthropological discipline. This very interactive and thought provoking module led to an interesting discussion he and Judge Joe had regarding the works of author Jared Diamond ("Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" (2005), and "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" (1997).). At issue were the diverging thoughts of the subject matter -- as Judge Joe would put it, when people come together, debate ensues. | | | | |  ‘Aulani Wilhelm (Kamehameha Schools 1987 graduate) is the Superintendent of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) Marine National Monument. She runs the Monument for the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Monument became the world’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) when President Bush designated this area of 139,793 square miles as a monument. The area is home to more than 7,000 species and is co-managed by NOAA, the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the State of Hawai'i. ‘Aulani recognizes its importance especially from a Native Hawaiian perspective: Hawaiians recognize that every element is indeed our ancestors, and should be taken care of accordingly.
'Aulani Wilhelm shared with the fellows the difficulties that can arise when dealing with hot issues that have major advocates on opposing sides. The First Nations' Futures Program is designed to build Native communities up, but what happens when communities are at odds with each other on issues. As is the case with 'Aulani facing pressures from Native Hawaiians who want to fish in the sanctuary she oversees and Native Hawaiians who want total conservation ... where do you draw a happy medium? As is the case now, the President has declared this area a monument. 'Aulani turned the tables on the fellows by asking them to role play part of the consultation process for a monument management plan and posed to them the questions: What now? What do you guys think? How can we move forward is still to be determined. | | | | |  Jon Osorio, Ph.D., is the Director and tenured Associate Professor of the Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. His teachings focus on nineteenth century history and his areas of research interest include: politics of identity in the Hawaiian kingdom, colonization in the Pacific. Dr. Osorio is an accomplished musician, composer, and author. He recently wrote Dismembering Lahui: The History of the Hawaiian Nation To 1887.
Dr. Osorio provided his usual stirring conversation of the Hawaiian situation and gave his Hawaiian studies perspective on key issues involving self determination and restorative justice. With Judge Williams, he talked about the similarities between Maori and Hawaiian issues of cultural identity, and the common struggle each culture faces. Among other things, the fellows were reminded that we first need to find out who we are before we can make a change to better what we want to become. In traditional Polynesian style, Jon shared his thoughts partly through song, much to the appreciation of the audience. | | | | |  Judge Joe Williams is the Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court and Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal. He was the first Maori lecturer in law at Victoria University in Wellington and he established the first unit specializing in Maori issues at a major law firm. In 1994, he became one of the founding partners of Walters, Williams and Company, where he specialized in environmental, public, and Maori law. Deeply rooted in his culture, Judge Williams remains determined to ensure that Maori value systems are recognized within the judicial system.
Judge Joe amazed and impressed with his academic demeanor mixed in with a polynesian twist, and wise sayings mixed in with humor alike. In his graduation speech to the fellows, he opened with a wise saying: "He Pukenga Wai", translated: "Where waters come together, people come together. Where people come together, debate ensues." In his powerful, echoing voice he presented indigeneity and science and the convergence. He presented what it is to be a leader and how to represent that role. In his exclamation, he noted the fellows to be leaders themselves and gave a final, lasting challenge: "Be the change you want to see." As with his booming voice, his message echoed to all the fellows. | | | | | Meet the Writer
Ke Alaula is compiled every month by William "BJ" Awa, Jr. and edited by Mawae Morton. BJ is a Kamehameha Schools graduate, and is currently in the Economics graduate program at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa working towards his Ph.D. Along with post graduate study and teaching assisting at UH, BJ works with Kamehameha Schools Land Assets Division as a program support intern. Noho ora mai ra. Naku noa, na
Mawae Morton First Nations' Futures Program
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