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

Kekuhi Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, Natalie Kurashima, Kainana S. Francisco, Christian P. Giardina, Renee Pualani Louis, Heather McMillen, C. Kalā Asing, Kayla Asing, Tabetha A. Block, Mililani Browning, Kualii Camara, Lahela Camara, Melanie Leilā Dudley, Monika Frazier, Noah Gomes, Amy Elizabeth Gordon, Marc Gordon, Linnea Heu, Aliah Irvine, Nohea Kaawa, Sean Kirkpatrick, Emily Leucht, Cheyenne Hiapo Perry, John Replogle, Lasha-Lynn Salbosa, Aimee Sato, Linda Schubert, Amelie Sterling, Amanda L. Uowolo, Jermy Uowolo, Bridget Walker, A. Nāmaka Whitehead and Darcy Yogi
Additional contact information
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

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-17

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.

Keywords: sacred ecology; biocultural conservation; Hawai‘i (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3478-:d:172665

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