Lessons Learned About Conservation Practices and Their Impact on Hawaiian Well-Being Among Youth

Abstract

The project described in this paper was one of six (6) sub studies in the ‘Imi Na’auao project, a collaborative research project which explored the impact of cultural restoration, culturally centered economic development and cultural revitalization in social change on Hawaiian wellbeing. Our specific work was organized around Kupu, an organization grounded in aloha ‘aina, cultural restoration and health among youth. Māʻawe Pono was used as a research framework to explore Native Hawaiian facets of food security and aloha ‘aina practices. NVIVO was used to analyze qualitative data in the form of youth speeches and journals. Results revealed that Kupu youth believed that their lives had been impacted in 3 ways as a result of their guided land practices and experiences: a) increased sense of pride, b) improved self- confidence and c) an increased sense of purpose. Ultimately, we learned that listening to youth voices, both expressed in written and oral formats, is essential to sustaining knowledge of land, culture and health from generation to generation and for Hawaii's future.