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Ritual + Sustainability Science? A Portal into the Science of Aloha

Author

Listed:
  • Kekuhi Kealiikanakaoleohaililani

    (Hālau ‘Ōhi’a—Hawai‘i Stewardship Training, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Natalie Kurashima

    (Kamehameha Schools, Natural and Cultural Resources, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA)

  • Kainana S. Francisco

    (USDA Forest Service, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Christian P. Giardina

    (USDA Forest Service, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Renee Pualani Louis

    (Hālau ‘Ōhi’a—A’a a Mole Cohort, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Heather McMillen

    (Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife, Honolulu, HI 96813)

  • C. Kalā Asing

    (Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Kayla Asing

    (Pūnanaleo o Hilo, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Tabetha A. Block

    (USDA Forest Service, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Mililani Browning

    (Kamehameha Schools, Natural and Cultural Resources, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA)

  • Kualii Camara

    (Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Lahela Camara

    (‘Imi Pono no ka ‘Āina, Three Mountain Alliance, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718, USA)

  • Melanie Leilā Dudley

    (Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife, Honolulu, HI 96813)

  • Monika Frazier

    (Aloha Kuamo’o 'Āina, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA)

  • Noah Gomes

    (Kamehameha Schools, Kealapono, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA)

  • Amy Elizabeth Gordon

    (Gig Called Life Coaching Services, Kamuela, HI 96743, USA)

  • Marc Gordon

    (State of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA)

  • Linnea Heu

    (Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Aliah Irvine

    (O’ahu Army Natural Resources Program, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857, USA)

  • Nohea Kaawa

    (Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife, Honolulu, HI 96813)

  • Sean Kirkpatrick

    (Hawaii Community College, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Emily Leucht

    (‘Imi Pono no ka ‘Āina, Three Mountain Alliance, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718, USA)

  • Cheyenne Hiapo Perry

    (Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • John Replogle

    (Hālau ‘Ōhi’a—’Ōhi’alaka Cohort, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Lasha-Lynn Salbosa

    (US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, Honolulu, HI 96850, USA)

  • Aimee Sato

    (Department of Botany, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 97822, USA)

  • Linda Schubert

    (Volcano School of Arts and Sciences, Volcano Village, HI 96785, USA)

  • Amelie Sterling

    (‘Imi Pono no ka ‘Āina, Three Mountain Alliance, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718, USA)

  • Amanda L. Uowolo

    (USDA Forest Service, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Jermy Uowolo

    (Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Bridget Walker

    (Kamuela Hardwoods, Kamuela, HI 96743, USA)

  • A. Nāmaka Whitehead

    (Kamehameha Schools, Natural and Cultural Resources, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA)

  • Darcy Yogi

    (Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

Abstract

In this paper, we propose that spiritual approaches rooted in the practice of Hawai‘i ritual provide a powerful portal to revealing, supporting, and enhancing our collective aloha (love, fondness, reciprocity, as with a family member) for and dedication to the places and processes that we steward. We provide a case study from Hawai‘i, where we, a group of conservation professionals known as Hālau ‘Ōhi’a, have begun to foster a collective resurgence of sacred commitment to the places and processes we steward through remembering and manifesting genealogical relationships to our landscapes through Indigenous Hawaiian ritual expression. We discuss how a ritual approach to our lands and seas makes us better stewards of our places, better members of our families and communities, and more fulfilled individuals. We assert that foundations of the spiritual and the sacred are required for effectively advancing the science of sustainability, the management of natural resources, and the conservation of nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Kekuhi Kealiikanakaoleohaililani & Natalie Kurashima & Kainana S. Francisco & Christian P. Giardina & Renee Pualani Louis & Heather McMillen & C. Kalā Asing & Kayla Asing & Tabetha A. Block & Mililani, 2018. "Ritual + Sustainability Science? A Portal into the Science of Aloha," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3478-:d:172665
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pascua, Pua‘ala & McMillen, Heather & Ticktin, Tamara & Vaughan, Mehana & Winter, Kawika B., 2017. "Beyond services: A process and framework to incorporate cultural, genealogical, place-based, and indigenous relationships in ecosystem service assessments," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 26(PB), pages 465-475.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kevin Chang & Kawika B. Winter & Noa Kekuewa Lincoln, 2019. "Hawai‘i in Focus: Navigating Pathways in Global Biocultural Leadership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, January.
    2. Stoeckl, Natalie & Jarvis, Diane & Larson, Silva & Larson, Anna & Grainger, Daniel & Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation,, 2021. "Australian Indigenous insights into ecosystem services: Beyond services towards connectedness – People, place and time," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    3. Natalie Kurashima & Jason Jeremiah & A. Nāmaka Whitehead & Jon Tulchin & Mililani Browning & Trever Duarte, 2018. "‘Āina Kaumaha: The Maintenance of Ancestral Principles for 21st Century Indigenous Resource Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Leah L. Bremer & Kim Falinski & Casey Ching & Christopher A. Wada & Kimberly M. Burnett & Kanekoa Kukea-Shultz & Nicholas Reppun & Gregory Chun & Kirsten L.L. Oleson & Tamara Ticktin, 2018. "Biocultural Restoration of Traditional Agriculture: Cultural, Environmental, and Economic Outcomes of Lo‘i Kalo Restoration in He‘eia, O‘ahu," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-21, November.

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