Navigating Papahānaumokuākea as Cultural Liaisons

By Pīkake Kuniyoshi and Kalauʻihilani Robins

As cultural liaisons aboard the Okeanos Explorer through a partnership between NOAA Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) and the Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group, we were honored to bridge traditional Hawaiian knowledge and scientific exploration within Papahānaumokuākea. Our role offered a unique platform to merge ʻŌiwi perspectives with marine research, reminding us that these realms can harmonize to steward our ocean heritage.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey was creating culturally grounded educational materials for crew members. These materials showcased ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge), emphasizing place-based knowledge through ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Together, we explored themes such as island names, hana hei (string figures used for storytelling and mapping), kilo hōkū (stargazing), ulana lau hala (weaving), lei-making, and even taught two mele/oli (Mai Lalo Aʻe Ka Moana Oʻo and Puka Mai Ka Lā i Kumukahi) to those aboard.

We aimed to provide everyone aboard a lens through which to view our ocean as more than a resource – it is an ancestor, a kumu, and a living archive of our heritage.

Our daily life aboard the Okeanos was dynamic and rich with cultural exchange. We engaged with crew members, learning about their roles in ocean exploration while sharing Hawaiian ʻike on the same topics. From translating job titles into ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, to making a collaborative kīhei (ceremonial shawl), celebrating Makahiki, and constructing a new ʻōlelo noʻeau, our kuleana underscored the importance of fostering mutual respect and reciprocal knowledge exchange between Indigenous and scientific communities.

One particularly moving experience was witnessing bioluminescent phytoplankton at night. Watching the ocean glow under the starlit sky was a visceral reminder of the interconnectedness between kānaka and kai. Those of us present had unique interpretations of this phenomenon. This experience of witnessing the shimmering phytoplankton was ethereal, and inspired a new ʻōlelo noʻeau capturing the awe and reverence these moments evoked – a feeling that still resonates deeply within us. These experiences reaffirmed that cultural practices remain invaluable in interpreting the natural world.

Now that we have returned home, our role as cultural liaisons serves as a reminder of our responsibility to protect Papahānaumokuākea and our kuleana to perpetuate ʻike kūpuna. We were fortunate to have taken Hawaiian studies 365 (Pana Paemoku o Kanaloa) from Carlos Andrade and Kekuewa Kikiloi, respectively. A major takeaway from the class is that it was a common practice for aliʻi to voyage up to Papahānaumokuākea as a rite of passage.

We couldnʻt help but feel as if this was a rite of passage for ourselves as well. We are both so humbled and honored to have been a part of the weaving and passing down of multigenerational ʻike and look forward to seeing our haumāna huakaʻi (journey) up to Papahānaumokuākea one day, too.

Through partnerships, both old and new, we can ensure the preservation of our cultural and ecological treasures for future generations.

I ulu no ka lālā I ke kumu.

Pīkake Kuniyoshi is a project manager for the UH Sea Grant College Program, board member for Ka Lau o Ka Lāhui, and kama- ʻāina to Waipiʻo, Oʻahu. She has a deep passion for mālama ʻāina and her work is grounded in interdisciplinary biocultural approaches encompassing marine biology, botany, education, and graphic design. Kalauʻihilani Robins is a kumu at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, specializing in ʻōlelo a moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi. Guided by a deep commitment to perpetuating ʻike kūpuna, she develops curriculum rooted in Hawaiian culture, creating opportunities for students to connect with their heritage in contemporary ways to strengthen their Hawaiian identity.