New website dedicated to Hawaiian land, map research

Three Hawaiian scholars will present an overview of a new website dedicated to Hawaiian land and map research in upcoming Eia Hawai‘i and Puana Ka ‘Ike lectures in Hilo and Kona.

Members of the website team Kulani Jeremiah-Wong, Jenny Maonikeala Estrella and Raymond Kaimana Estrella will discuss “Avakonohiki — Ancestral Visions of ‘Aina,” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in room Wentworth 1, and from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday in the Keauhou Ballroom III at the Sheraton Keauhou Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay. Both lectures are free and open to the public.

These Hawaiian scholars all share one thing in common: their connection and commitment to learning about their ancestral lands and how they are able to share their research by using the World Wide Web. They are key partners in the development of the website, and they will go over what the website has to offer to those who would like to learn more about land titles and farming practices for sustenance.

They will share challenges, some useful methods, and group dynamics experienced in creating the website (avakonohiki.org). They will explain their progress in using the site to increase awareness and revitalization of the cultural practices of subsistence growing, mala‘ai, and the responsible utilization of contemporary techniques. They will also give an overview of the Kamakakuoka‘aina Grant and how graduate research assistants harvested, transcribed, combined and indexed, land documents and provided them on the website, fully text-searchable for all.

And they will ask the question, “How can we be of service?” to both the novice and expert researcher.

For more information on this presentation, contact Joy Cunefare at 322-5340 or e-mail info@kohalacenter.org. For lecture schedules visit http://kohalacenter.org/puanakaike/about.html. Webcasts of previous lectures are available at http://keauhouresort.com/learn-puanakaike.html.

The lectures are sponsored by Keauhou-Kahalu‘u Education Group, Kamehameha Schools, The Kohala Center and the University of Hawaii at Hilo Kipuka Native Hawaiian Student Center.