{"id":221407,"date":"2025-09-09T12:48:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T22:48:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=221407"},"modified":"2025-09-09T12:49:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T22:49:07","slug":"indigenizing-library-spaces-at-hale-laakea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/09\/indigenizing-library-spaces-at-hale-laakea\/","title":{"rendered":"Ea in the stacks: Indigenizing library spaces at Hale La\u02bbakea"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Cultural games like kōnane bring traditional knowledge to life inside Hale Laʻakea<\/span> Library.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This article by Windward CC<\/abbr> specialist librarian Cindy Texeira and her daughters, Kainani and ʻAulani<\/span> Wagner, students in 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s Library and Information Science program, was first published in Ka Wai Ola on September 1<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Academic libraries have long reflected Western models of knowledge and order through their values, systems, and structures. They can be sterile and intimidating places, especially for those whose histories and voices have been marginalized.<\/p>\n

At Hale Laʻakea<\/span> library at Windward Community College in ahupuaʻa<\/span> Kāneʻohe<\/span>, our goal is to create a space where Native Hawaiian students feel a sense of belonging—a place rooted in aloha ʻāina,<\/span> ʻike<\/span> kūpuna, and ea (sovereignty).<\/p>\n

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Bilingual signage throughout the library helps normalize ʻōlelo<\/span> Hawaiʻi.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Decolonizing the library means acknowledging and undoing the colonial structures embedded in how we organize information, provide services, and occupy space. It is an ongoing process that requires us to question what voices are prioritized, who feels welcome in our spaces, and what cultural values are reflected or erased.<\/p>\n

This fall, Hale Laʻakea<\/span> will host a series of powerful activations (interactive exhibits) from Kanaeokana that invite patrons to connect, reflect, and engage in spaces of ea.<\/p>\n

The first, “Lā Hoʻihoʻi<\/span> Ea,” is a digital journey through primary texts, visuals and audio centered on Kamehameha III<\/abbr> and his vision of an independent l\u0101hui. It highlights true historical accounts of his leadership and includes perspectives from both K\u0101naka and non-kanaka allies.<\/p>\n

Next, “Ka Malu ʻUlu<\/span> o Lele,” explores Lahaina\u2019s sacred history and cultural resilience. Learners will journey through moʻolelo<\/span> and mele rooted in the legacy of Kihawahine, the shade of the ʻulu<\/span> groves, and the call to restore wai and ea to Lele.<\/p>\n

The final activation, “Luka Keʻelikōlani<\/span>,” invites visitors into the world of Princess Ruth Keanolani Kan\u0101hoahoa Keʻelikōlani<\/span>, also known as Luka or Ruta, an aliʻi<\/span> wahine who embodied unwavering commitment to ʻōlelo<\/span> Hawaiʻi<\/span>, tradition, and her people.<\/p>\n

Though she was trained in Western ways, she chose to speak only Hawaiian as an act of resistance and required those around her to do the same. This activation mirrors her firm stance. All content is presented in Hawaiian, with English translations available by QR<\/abbr> code. The space invites us to ask, “He aha ka hana a Ruta? What would Ruth do?”<\/p>\n

From August through November, these activations will rotate between the Windward CC<\/abbr>, Honolulu Community College, and Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College libraries, allowing the broader community to engage in meaningful moments of learning and intention-setting. Contact each library for more information about dates\/times.<\/p>\n

Hale Laʻakea<\/span> continues to evolve. ʻŌlelo<\/span> Hawaiʻi<\/span> was added to print and digital signage, art pieces throughout the library reflect Native Hawaiian voices, service-learning opportunities are offered through archival translation work and cultural exhibit development, and we hosted a Keiki Reading Day, welcoming ʻohana<\/span> from our community to listen to moʻolelo<\/span> from k\u016bpuna and other Native Hawaiian storytellers.<\/p>\n

Windward CC<\/abbr> students can borrow cultural resources, including ʻukulele,<\/span> ʻohe<\/span> kāpala (kapa-making stamps), and traditional games like k\u014dnane and h\u016b. We are also in the planning stages of a lumi \u02bbohana, a space for parents and their keiki to read, study, and play together in a culturally grounded environment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hale Laʻakea<\/span> Library at Windward CC<\/abbr> is working to design a place of belonging for Native Hawaiian students. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[1057,62,63,207,303,71,9,66],"class_list":["post-221407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-hawaiian-language","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-library","tag-library-and-information-science","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-uh-manoa","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t