Pacific Islands

Pacific Islands


American Samoa
Traditional Knowledge, Use, and Management of Living Marine Resources in American Samoa: Documenting Changes over Time through Interviews with Elder Fishers
By: Arielle Levine and Fatima Sauafea-Le‘au
Bio One
2013
Key words: Fishing, fish populations, change in fishing practices
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arielle_Levine/publication/275343995_Traditional_Knowledge_use_and_Management_of_Living_Marine_Resources_in_American_Samoa_Documenting_Changes_Over_Time_through_Interviews_with_Elder_Fishers_1/links/558b004508aee99ca9ca3bed/Traditional-Knowledge-use-and-Management-of-Living-Marine-Resources-in-American-Samoa-Documenting-Changes-Over-Time-through-Interviews-with-Elder-Fishers-1.pdf
The article discusses how over the lifetime of a fisherman, the population of fish found around the island has declined. The article argues that the decline in the fish population is related to the change in fishing techniques as well as the number of foreign fishermen in the area. The article also discusses how traditional fishing methods were more sustainable on the islands.

Guam
Community based fisheries management on Guam
By: Adrienne Loerzel
Duke University
May 2013
Key words: Pacific Islands, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Fishing, Guam, Coral Reefs
https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10161/6828/loerzel.mp.final.pdf?sequence=1
This thesis looks at the declining ecosystems of the coral reefs around Guam. Through the examination of traditional fishing techniques and the modern techniques that are being used, the author proposes a more community centered way of fishing. The adoption of more traditional based fishing methods might help repair relations on the island with the indigenous population, as well as improve the ecosystems that rely on the coral reefs of the area.

Hawaii
A Sense of Place: Indigenous Perspectives on Earth and Sky
By: Ka’iu Kimura
June 18, 2020
Indigenous Education Institute (Webinar)
Keywords: Native Hawaiian, astronomy, navigation, cultural revitalization, protection
http://indigenouseducation.org/multimedia/
Kimura discusses her work as the director of the Imiloa Astronomy Center, at the University of Hawaii. This institution highlights Native navigation and astronomical achievements, and combines elements of both Native and Western sciences. Kimura is a prominent figure within the cultural and political issues surrounding plans for further scientific development atop Mauna Kea.

Study examines indigenous agriculture, how it could help state food problems
By: Max Dible
Hawaii Tribune Harold
March 11, 2019
https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2019/03/11/hawaii-news/study-examines-indigenous-agriculture-how-it-could-help-state-food-problems/
Key words: Hawaii, Climate Change, Pacific Islands, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Agriculture
The article is summarizing a study that was done on traditional subsistence ways of growing food as a supplement to the way the state of Hawaii has been growing food to solve the food crisis on the islands. The study identified specific areas that would be good for indigenous agricultural practices however due to several different reason are not being utilized for agricultural use.

Culture Keepers - Miki’ala Ayau Pescaia
By: Miki’ala Ayau Pescaia
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Vimeo
October, 2018
Keywords: Hawaii, CultureKeeper, Moomeheu, Molokai, Kalaupapa, water, irrigation, birds, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, triangulation
https://vimeo.com/293263573
As the Interpretive Park Ranger and Storyteller of Kalaupapa, Mikiʻala Ayau Pescaia shares native stories and history with visitors. Wind, waves and other weather phenomenon have deep cultural resonance for Indigenous Hawaiians. Miki’ala shows and describes connections between traditional ways of stewarding resources, such as water, and the modern counterparts, showing how TEK evolves with time and new technologies.

Conversing with Pelehonuamea: A workshop combining 1,000+ years of traditional Hawaiian knowledge with 200 years of scientific thought on Kīlauea volcanism
By: James P. Kauahikaua and Janet L. Babb
USGS
June 29, 2017
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2017/1043/ofr20171043.pdf
Key words: Hawaii, Volcanoes, Pacific Islands, Traditional Ecological Knowledge
This symposium discusses different ways in which traditional ecological knowledge from historic Hawaiian chants has been used to understand and verify scientific knowledge. The talks range in a variety of subjects, all involving the knowledge gained from the traditional chants in combination with scientific knowledge. The majority of the talks focus on the understanding of volcanic activity that has impacted the islands, however, there are also some talks about the water systems found on the island and their importance.

The Future is Behind Us: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Resilience Over Time on Hawai’i Island
By: Heather McMillen, Tamara Ticktin, & Hannah Kihalani Springer
Regional Environmental Change, 17:579-592
2017
Key words: Social Resilience, Adaptation, Pacific Islands, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Climate Change
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10113-016-1032-1
Local and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) systems are thought to be particularly valuable for fostering adaptation and resilience to environmental and climate change. This paper investigates the role of TEK in adaptation to social–ecological change at the community level. It is unique because it takes a longitudinal perspective and draws on historical and contemporary data. Authors focus on a case study from Hawai‘i where TEK, cultural identity, and their relationships to environmental stewardship are locally seen as the basis for social resilience.

Learning and Transformation in the Context of Hawaiian Traditional Ecological Knowledge
By: Benjamin C. Feinstein
Adult Education Quarterly, 54(2):105-120
2004
Key words: Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Transformation, Environmental Education, Indigenous Knowledge, Transformative Learning
ttp://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0741713603260275?journalCode=aeqb
Traditional ecological knowledge is a potentially powerful medium in which to teach environmental education and has the potential for influencing transformative learning. Although many educators agree that one of the focuses of environmental education is adult transformation, this has not been extensively explored in the context of Hawaiian environmental knowledge. Specifically, there has been very little work done in immersion courses where nonnative and part-native students learn from local and indigenous experts. The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of transformative learning in this context.

Case Study: Restoring a Part of Hawai'i's Past: Kaloko Fishpond Restoration
By: Stanley Bond, Jr. and Richard Gmirkin
Ecological Restoration, 21:284-289;doi:10.3368/er.21.4.284
December 2003
https://er.uwpress.org/content/21/4/284

Case Study: Native Hawaiian Collection, Use, and Management of Plants and Plant Communities within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
By: Jim Martin and Laura Carter Schuster
Ecological Restoration, 21:307-310;doi:10.3368/er.21.4.307
December 2003
https://er.uwpress.org/content/21/4/307

Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Geographic Information Systems in the Use and Management of Hawaii's Coral Reefs and Fish Ponds
By: Mark A. Calamia
High Plains Applied Anthropologist, No. 2, Vol. 16
Fall 1996
The author presents an approach to document Hawaiian traditional ecological knowledge and apply automated means for marine resource management.

Northern Mariana Islands
Medicinal Plants and Traditional Knowledge in the Northern Mariana Islands
By: Dilip Nandwani, Julita A. Calvo, Jack Tenorio, Felix Calvo, and Lourdes Manglona
Journal of Applied Biosciences
2008
Key words: Medicinal plants, Northern Mariana Islands
http://m.elewa.org/JABS/2008/8(2)/3.pdf
The short article explores the different medicinal plants found on the Northern Mariana Islands.The article discusses the issue of the traditional knowledge on medicinal plants disappearing. The disappearance of the knowledge is also causing a disappearance of plants themselves. The article calls for a change in regulations to protect both the traditional knowledge of the medicinal plants, but also the plants themselves.

Last updated: July 3, 2023