The Pacific Ocean is the largest physical presence in the Hawaiian environment, the most important entity for physical, mental and spiritual sustenance, and is therefore an important part of Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) cultural practices, including literary arts. Kanaka Maoli have always had a close relationship with the sea, documented in many genres describing long distance voyaging, navigation, sailing, surfing, fishing, canoe racing, recreation, healing, food, and religious practices, to name a few. Moreover, mo‘olelo document traditional Kanaka Maoli knowledge and conservation skills, and values of mālama ‘āina (caring for the environment), critical today with climate change and the looming global ecological impact. This course explores the body of Hawaiian literature related to the ocean from traditional orature to contemporary literature. Traditional themes of migration, origin, exploration, survival, connection to nature and mālama honua (caring for the earth) are interwoven throughout contemporary film, novels, short stories, poetry, plays, chants, songs and prayers as well. Texts for the course will be primarily written in or translated into English.
Some key questions include: What are the kinds of relationships Kanaka Maoli have with the ocean? How do Kanaka Maoli express our relationship with the ocean in our literature? How does this differ from American, British, and/or other western literatures of the sea? How does it compare with other Polynesian, Pacific, and/or Indigenous expressions? How does the ocean (and/or elements of the ocean—deep sea, reef, waves, beach, points, bays, estuaries, sea life, etc.) figure into Kanaka Maoli consciousness? How does the ocean (and/or elements related to the ocean) figure into Kanaka Maoli poetic/literary devices/expression? What are the kaona/metaphoric values of Kanaka Maoli expressions of the sea? What are the key Kanaka Maoli “literature of the sea” texts? How can critical theories such as Chad Allen’s “Transindigenous” methodology be particularly valuable in studying Moana Maoli literature across the Pacific? What kind of impact could this have on ecological, cultural, economic, political and social justice? What are the decolonial benefits for Indigenous (and possibly settler) populations from such an approach? What are other (Indigenous) theories and/or methodologies that would be useful in studying Hawaiian (or Pasifika) literature of the sea?
The course will include a research component in library and digital archives resources.
Requirements:
- A short paper on a text, author, or theme
- A longer, research-based essay (15-20 pages)
- Regular critical responses on readings
- Library and archives workshop/field trip
- Oral presentation
Possible texts (subject to change):
Allen, Chad. Transindigenous, Methodologies for Global Native Literary Studies.
Hauofa, Epeli. We Are the Ocean, selected works.
Kahaulelio, D. Hawaiian Fishing Traditions.
Nakuina, Emma et. al. Nanaue the Shark Man and other stories.
Nakuina, Moses. The Wind Gourd of La‘amaomao.
Walker, Isaiah. Waves of Resistance.
A course reader, links to digital resources.