Kalaupapa Place Names: Waikolu to Nihoa by John R K Clark (review)

Abstract

each year, giving us a glimpse into the capacity of labor and love for the land. As the film moves from one mo‘olelo to another, it honors the kūpuna and ‘ohana (families) of these places and the place-based knowledge that has accumulated over time and lives on through successive generations. Restoring loko i‘a is a connection to the past, linking Kānaka Maoli physically, mentally, and spiritually with kūpuna when they visit these spaces. The film also frames loko i‘a practices within education and academia, giving viewers a sense of how valuable these systems and ‘ike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge) are to elevating current and future generations. Through understanding the functions within a loko i‘a, we begin to understand the importance of kilo (keen observation) of our environment and our relationship with it. Indigenous kūpuna were biologists, ecologists, architects, historians, natural resource managers, and much more than what Western society knows today, as practicing kilo was essential to their daily lifestyle and a foundation for sustaining their connection with ‘āina and those around them. The concept of loko i‘a embodies a space of productivity, as it is a reflection of the mauka (upland) and makai (oceanside) systems and the delicate balance that must be maintained between them. That is why restoring wai (fresh water) from upland streams and groundwater springs is so important to the functioning of loko i‘a, as well as managing the health of ocean fisheries. As a Native Hawaiian and an academic graduate student researcher who has had the privilege to work with loko i‘a restoration efforts and conduct projects in such places, this film is a great reminder of my role in our collective kuleana to care for and perpetuate ‘ike kūpuna. As Aunty Kehaulani Lum, a kia‘i at Pā‘aiau loko i‘a, graciously shared during a panel discussion on the film hosted by Historic Hawai‘i Foundation on 27 October 2021: “‘Āina is our textbook, and the biggest tool is our heart.” Kai Piha: Nā Loko I‘a is a testament to Native Hawaiian resilience and the knowledge that exists within us, which we pass down over generations.