Abstract

Kipuka: Expanding Place-Based Knowledge Through GIS
Track: Tribal/Indigenous GIS Programs
Authors: Kamoa Quitevis, Zachary Smith

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has built a Geographic Database to help answer questions about land use in Hawaii. This Database intends to further the mission of OHA to care for the resources of Hawaii and to perpetuate the culture of Native Hawaiians. A sense of 'place' was a foundational aspect of traditional Native Hawaiian identity. GIS can mimic the oral traditions of Hawaiians by acting as a repository of geographical knowledge. Kipuka, the GIS of OHA was created to strengthen contemporary Native Hawaiian identity and promote this knowledge to all the people of Hawaii.
This presentation discusses the process of creating a GIS blending culture with land and history in Hawaii. We will examine the issues and obstacles involved in creating a GIS for Hawaiians. The presentation also looks at the data available within Kipuka and how this data is used to meet the research needs of OHA.