Hawaiian ScienceHawaiian Science‘Ike o ka po‘e ‘imi loa‘Ike o ka po‘e ‘imi loaKnowledge of a far-seeking people

Chant for knowledgeChant for knowledgeE ‘io e, e ‘io e, e kū, e manu eE ‘io e, e ‘io e, e kū, e manu eO ‘Io, o hawk, stop, o birdO ‘Io, o hawk, stop, o bird

Ke alu aku nei ka pule iā HakalauKe alu aku nei ka pule iā HakalauCombining the prayers toward HakalauCombining the prayers toward Hakalau

Kulia ka lani iā Uli, iā namu, iā naueKulia ka lani iā Uli, iā namu, iā naueThe chief strives toward Uli, toward mumbling, tremblingThe chief strives toward Uli, toward mumbling, trembling

Ka nehe i luna, ka nehe i laloKa nehe i luna, ka nehe i laloRustling above, rustling belowRustling above, rustling below

Ka‘a ‘ākau, ka‘a hemaKa‘a ‘ākau, ka‘a hemaRolling northward, rolling southRolling northward, rolling south

Chant for knowledgeChant for knowledgeKū makani, ha‘i ka laniKū makani, ha‘i ka laniThe wind rises, the heavens breakThe wind rises, the heavens break

Hekili ka‘aka‘a i ka laniHekili ka‘aka‘a i ka laniThunder rolling in the heavensThunder rolling in the heavens

Ka uila nui mākēhā i ka laniKa uila nui mākēhā i ka laniGreat lightning flashing in the heavensGreat lightning flashing in the heavens

Pane i ka lani, e ola ke kanakaPane i ka lani, e ola ke kanakaReply to the chief, to bring life to the peopleReply to the chief, to bring life to the people

Hō mai ka loea, ka ‘ike, ka manaHō mai ka loea, ka ‘ike, ka manaConfer skill, knowledge, spiritual powerConfer skill, knowledge, spiritual power

Chant for knowledgeChant for knowledgeI a‘e ka honua laI a‘e ka honua laThat the world continueThat the world continue

‘‘O waha lau ali‘iO waha lau ali‘iThe many chiefly mouthsThe many chiefly mouths

‘‘O kahi i waiho ai ka hua‘ōleloO kahi i waiho ai ka hua‘ōleloThe place where the word is presentedThe place where the word is presented

‘‘Eli‘eli kau maiEli‘eli kau maiGreat awe settles inGreat awe settles in

‘‘Āmama, ua noaĀmama, ua noaCompleted, kapu is liftedCompleted, kapu is lifted

Two world trainingTwo world training

Recent conflicts between Recent conflicts between “Science” & Hawaiian “Science” & Hawaiian CultureCulture Astronomy on Mauna KeaAstronomy on Mauna Kea GMO research on kalo (taro) GMO research on kalo (taro) Fishing regulationsFishing regulations

““Science” is not HawaiianScience” is not Hawaiian ““Book science” useless when Book science” useless when

dealing dealing with Hawaiian issueswith Hawaiian issues

We recognize that “science” is a process that

is not restricted to Western Civilization,

and that ‘Ike Hawai‘i (traditional knowledge)

can provide great value to modern endeavors.

What is “Science?”What is “Science?” AnAn approach to learning approach to learning marked marked

by:by: Observation / Empiricism Observation / Empiricism Manipulation / ExperimentationManipulation / Experimentation Prediction / ModelingPrediction / Modeling Testing / Replication / “Proof”Testing / Replication / “Proof” Transmission / PublicationTransmission / Publication

Empirical observationEmpirical observation

Pua ka wiliwili, Pua ka wiliwili, nanahu ka nanahu ka manōmanōThe wiliwili blooms, the shark bitesThe wiliwili blooms, the shark bites

Pua wiliwili Lālani Kalalea

Pua ke kō, Pua ke kō, ku mai ka he‘eku mai ka he‘eThe sugarcane are blooming, the octopus are appearingThe sugarcane are blooming, the octopus are appearing

Pua kō He‘e

Pala ka hala, Pala ka hala, momona ka wanamomona ka wanaThe hala fruit are ripening, the sea urchins are fatThe hala fruit are ripening, the sea urchins are fat

Hua hala pala Hā‘uke‘uke

LonoYour manifestations, O Lono, are in the

heavens:The long cloud, the short cloud, the

emerging cloud,The peering cloud, cloud unfurling in the

heavens

kino o Lonoikamakahi

ki

‘Owāli‘i makali‘

i

Experimentation /Experimentation /Modeling / PredictionModeling / Prediction Loko i‘a Loko i‘a ((fishpondsfishponds),), lo‘i lo‘i ((terraced agricultureterraced agriculture),),

‘auwai ‘auwai ((irrigation channelsirrigation channels)) Hand pollinationHand pollination

Testing / TransmissionTesting / Transmission He lohe pepeiao, He lohe pepeiao,

he ‘ike maka ho‘i he ‘ike maka ho‘iA piece of hearsay [or] seen personallyA piece of hearsay [or] seen personally

‘‘O ka mea kūpono, pa‘a, O ka mea kūpono, pa‘a, ‘o ka mea hewa, kāpae a‘e ‘o ka mea hewa, kāpae a‘eThe correct: retain, the flawed: set asideThe correct: retain, the flawed: set aside

Selective oral transmissionSelective oral transmissionWe pass on what we accept as trueWe pass on what we accept as true

Pala ka hala, Pala ka hala, momona ka wanamomona ka wanaThe hala fruit are ripening, the sea urchins are fatThe hala fruit are ripening, the sea urchins are fat

Hua hala pala Hā‘uke‘uke

Contrasting World Contrasting World ViewsViews

There are some implied assumptions There are some implied assumptions about Hawaiian vs. Western approaches, about Hawaiian vs. Western approaches, especially with regard to world view.especially with regard to world view.

Some of these are oversimplified here, Some of these are oversimplified here, but serve to highlight contrastsbut serve to highlight contrasts

Let’s explore some examples from the Let’s explore some examples from the restoration efforts on Kaho‘olawerestoration efforts on Kaho‘olawe

Western view of land & restorationWestern view of land & restoration

1.1. Land is viewed as a Land is viewed as a commoditycommodity, which one , which one manipulates toward "manipulates toward "best usebest use." ."

2.2. Biological elements are often manipulated Biological elements are often manipulated dramatically from “wild” toward human-dramatically from “wild” toward human-friendly domesticated forms.friendly domesticated forms.

3.3. People as hired People as hired laborlabor to realize to realize scope of workscope of work..4.4. Plants and animals are Plants and animals are objectsobjects to be to be

reintroduced to the island. reintroduced to the island. 5.5. BiologicalBiological elements are elements are separateseparate from from culturalcultural

(man-made) elements on the landscape.(man-made) elements on the landscape.

Hawaiian view of land & restorationHawaiian view of land & restoration

1. Land as conscious entity, reacting to humans in a reciprocal relationship.

2. Ecosystems modified and often semi-wild, key ecological processes intact.

3. People connected spiritually with place, contributing to and benefiting from the place.

4. Plants and animals as conscious individuals and requiring individual attention to thrive.

5. Plants and animals as sacred kinolau of kini akua and part of the cultural landscape.

Hawaiian world view Hawaiian world view exampleexample

The Hawaiian owl, The Hawaiian owl, pueopueo, is , is indigenous to Kaho‘olawe, indigenous to Kaho‘olawe, where it feeds largely on non-where it feeds largely on non-native rodents.native rodents.

PueoPueo is, for many Hawaiian is, for many Hawaiian families, one of the families, one of the kinolaukinolau of of ‘‘aumakuaaumakua, to be treated with , to be treated with utmost respect as a revered utmost respect as a revered ancestral form.ancestral form.

Natural vs Cultural Natural vs Cultural ResourcesResources

The idea that The idea that natural resourcesnatural resources are also are also cultural resourcescultural resources means that cultural means that cultural restoration is not merely devoted to restoration is not merely devoted to identification & stabilization of artifacts such identification & stabilization of artifacts such as rock shrines & petroglyphsas rock shrines & petroglyphsbut that the but that the living contextliving context of the island is valued of the island is valued as part of the foundation as part of the foundation & context for cultural & context for cultural stewardship & stewardship & enrichment.enrichment.

ObjectivityObjectivity Western science viewed as “coldly Western science viewed as “coldly

objective”objective” Hawaiian approach embraces feelingHawaiian approach embraces feeling Key contrast point between the twoKey contrast point between the two Intuition & passion important to bothIntuition & passion important to both Dispassionate western science Dispassionate western science

created immoral developmentscreated immoral developments To the wise, “what feels right” is rightTo the wise, “what feels right” is right

Validation of “Gut Validation of “Gut Feelings”Feelings”

The enteric nervous system contains billions of neurons, distributed diffusely along the digestive system, and provides the majority of the mood-altering chemical serotonin. There is a complex feedback system between the enteric nervous system and the CNS.Gershon 2008

Reconciliation of Western Reconciliation of Western and Hawaiian approachesand Hawaiian approaches

Recognition of ecological zonesRecognition of ecological zones Manipulative experimentationManipulative experimentation Transplantation of speciesTransplantation of species Expert consultationExpert consultation Concern for the future of resourcesConcern for the future of resources Imposing and lifting of restrictions Imposing and lifting of restrictions Importance of pest controlImportance of pest control

Hawaiian traditional skillsHawaiian traditional skillsfor dryland plantingfor dryland planting

Attention to weather & seasonal climateAttention to weather & seasonal climate Management of semi-wild ecosystemsManagement of semi-wild ecosystems Well developed agricultural protocolsWell developed agricultural protocols

propagation via seeds, cuttings, etc.propagation via seeds, cuttings, etc.hand-pollination, cultivarshand-pollination, cultivars

Specialized techniques for drylandsSpecialized techniques for drylandskuaiwikuaiwi rock mulching conventional rock mulching conventional

mulching/fertilizing irrigationmulching/fertilizing irrigationsoil & moisture retention via terracingsoil & moisture retention via terracing

Hawaiian techniques for Hawaiian techniques for coordinating cooperative coordinating cooperative efforteffort

Dispute resolution Dispute resolution ((ho‘oponoponoho‘oponopono))

Protocol for unification & joint Protocol for unification & joint efforteffort

Work viewed as composed of both Work viewed as composed of both physical and spiritual aspectsphysical and spiritual aspects

Moral conduct important during Moral conduct important during work and vital for successwork and vital for success

Value of ‘Ike Hawai‘iValue of ‘Ike Hawai‘i Haka ‘ūa‘u i ka hale uluhe o LauhakaHaka ‘ūa‘u i ka hale uluhe o Lauhaka

The Hawaiian petrels nest in the fern house of LauhakaThe Hawaiian petrels nest in the fern house of Lauhaka

Value of ‘Ike Hawai‘iValue of ‘Ike Hawai‘i Aia ke ana ko‘i i Kaluako‘iAia ke ana ko‘i i Kaluako‘i

At Kaluako‘i is an adze quarryAt Kaluako‘i is an adze quarry

Value of ‘Ike Hawai‘iValue of ‘Ike Hawai‘i Aia ke ana ko‘i i Kaluako‘iAia ke ana ko‘i i Kaluako‘i

At Kaluako‘i is an adze quarryAt Kaluako‘i is an adze quarry

The arrangment of ahupua‘a on the island of

O‘ahu demonstrates amazing optimization of

access to ecosystem resources.