Aloha ʻĀina translates to “love for land.” However, it is also a way to describe Kānaka activists fighting for the liberation of Hawaiians. For our movement(s) for exercising our ea (sovereignty), the individuals who are involved have deeply rooted pilina (relationships) to their respective ʻāina, wai (waterways), and/or kai (ocean). As an Aloha ʻĀina and farmer, I personally have dedicated my life to fighting for ea. However, as an openly queer and māhū person, I, as well as other kānaka with similar identities, have faced particular hardships and difficulties trying to practice our traditional lifeways. As such, I want to connect with queer Aloha ʻĀina to create healing and supportive community spaces for ourselves within the context of working ʻāina.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Adrienne Keene 
Community Partner: Hoʻokuaʻāina
 

Kalikoonāmaukūpuna (Kaliko) Kalāhiki is a queer and māhū Kanaka Maoli student, community builder, artist, creative, and farmer. They are currently a junior at Brown University studying Critical Native American and Indigenous Studies. Their work focuses on building sustainable, supportive, loving, and caring communities for peoples from marginalized identities. After college, they hope to return to their home island Oʻahu where they will continue learning about and practicing traditional loʻi kalo farming partially as a means of healing intergenerational trauma and interpersonal conflict. They believe that turning towards Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Lifeways, coupled with recognizing and upholding the sovereignty of Native communities, is essential to actualizing environmental justice and combating climate change.