Empowering Indigenous agency through community-driven collaborative management to achieve effective conservation: Hawai‘i as an example
Kawika B. Winter
A B C D N , Mehana Blaich Vaughan B E F , Natalie Kurashima D G , Christian Giardina D H , Kalani Quiocho B I , Kevin Chang D J , Malia Akutagawa E K L , Kamanamaikalani Beamer E K and Fikret Berkes M
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Kāne‘ohe, HI, USA.
B Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
C National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kalāheo, HI, USA.
D Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI, USA.
E Hui ‘Āina Momona Program, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
F University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
G Natural and Cultural Ecosystems, Kamehameha Schools, Kailua-Kona, HI, USA.
H Institute of Pacific Island Forestry, US Forest Service, Hilo, HI, USA.
I Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Honolulu, HI, USA.
J Kua‘āina Ulu Auamo, Kāne‘ohe, HI, USA.
K Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge – Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
L William S. Richardson School of Law – Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
M Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
N Corresponding author. Email: kawikaw@hawaii.edu
Pacific Conservation Biology 27(4) 337-344 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20009
Submitted: 5 February 2020 Accepted: 4 December 2020 Published: 14 Janaury 2021
Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2021 Open Access CC BY
Abstract
Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) around the world are increasingly asserting ‘Indigenous agency’ to engage with government institutions and other partners to collaboratively steward ancestral Places. Case studies in Hawai‘i suggest that ‘community-driven collaborative management’ is a viable and robust pathway for IPLCs to lead in the design of a shared vision, achieve conservation targets, and engage government institutions and other organisations in caring for and governing biocultural resources and associated habitats. This paper articulates key forms of Indigenous agency embodied within Native Hawaiian culture, such as kua‘āina, hoa‘āina, and the interrelated values of aloha ‘āina, mālama ‘āina, and kia‘i ‘āina. We also examine how Hawai‘i might streamline the pathways to equitable and productive collaborative partnerships through: (1) a better understanding of laws protecting Indigenous rights and practices; (2) recognition of varied forms of Indigenous agency; and (3) more deliberate engagement in the meaningful sharing of power. We contend that these partnerships can directly achieve conservation and sustainability goals while transforming scientific fields such as conservation biology by redefining research practices and underlying norms and beliefs in Places stewarded by IPLCs. Further, collaborative management can de-escalate conflicts over access to, and stewardship of, resources by providing IPLCs avenues to address broader historical legacies of environmental and social injustice while restoring elements of self-governance. To these ends, we propose that government agencies proactively engage with IPLCs to expand the building of comprehensive collaborative management arrangements. Hawai‘i provides an example for how this can be achieved.
Keywords: community-based subsistence fishing area (CBSFA), community-driven collaborative management, Indigenous community conserved area (ICCA), Indigenous people and local communities (IPLC), Native Hawaiian, Place.
References
Akutagawa, M., Cole, E., Diaz, T. P., Gupta, T. D., Gupta, C., Fa‘anunu, A., Kamaka‘ala, S., and Tauali‘i, M. (2016a). Health impact assessment of the proposed Mo‘omomi community-based subsistence fishing area – Island of Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i. Available at https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/46016/Moomomi_HIA_FullReport_Web_Final.pdfAkutagawa, M., Kamaka‘ala, S., Williams, H., and the Native Hawaiian Rights Clinic (2016b). Appendix 4: Traditional & Customary Practices Report for Mana‘e, Moloka‘i. Final Environmental Assessment for Pāku‘i Watershed Project. Available at https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/46017
Alegado, R. (2019). Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope fight the process, not science. Nature 572, 7–7.
| Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope fight the process, not science.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31350535PubMed |
Andrade, C. (2008). ‘Hā’ena: Through the Eyes of Ancestors.’ (University of Hawaii Press: Honolulu, HI, USA.)
Armitage, D., Berkes, F., and Doubleday, N. (Eds) (2007). ‘Adaptive Co-Management: Collaboration, Learning, and Multi-Level Governance.’ (University of British Columbia Press: Vancouver.)
Ayers, A. L., Kittinger, J. N., Imperial, M. T., and Vaughan, M. B. (2017). Making the transition to co-management governance arrangements in Hawai ‘i: a framework for understanding transaction and transformation costs. International Journal of the Commons 11, 388–421.
| Making the transition to co-management governance arrangements in Hawai ‘i: a framework for understanding transaction and transformation costs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ayers, A. L., Kittinger, J. N., and Vaughan, M. B. (2018). Whose right to manage? Distribution of property rights affects equity and power dynamics in comanagement. Ecology and Society 23, 37.
| Whose right to manage? Distribution of property rights affects equity and power dynamics in comanagement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beamer, K. (2014). ‘No Mākou ka Mana: Liberating the Nation.’ (Kamehameha Schools Press: Honolulu, HI, USA.)
Berkes, F. (2009). Evolution of co-management: role of knowledge generation, bridging organizations and social learning. Journal of Environmental Management 90, 1692–1702.
| Evolution of co-management: role of knowledge generation, bridging organizations and social learning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19110363PubMed |
Berkes, F., and Folke, C. (Eds) (1998). ‘Linking Social and Ecological Systems. Management Practices and Social Mechanisms for Building Resilience.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)
Chang, K., Winter, K. B., and Lincoln, N. K. (2019). Hawai‘i in focus: navigating pathways in global biocultural leadership. Sustainability 11, 283.
| Hawai‘i in focus: navigating pathways in global biocultural leadership.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Delevaux, J., Winter, K., Jupiter, S., Blaich-Vaughan, M., Stamoulis, K., Bremer, L., Burnett, K., Garrod, P., Troller, J., and Ticktin, T. (2018). Linking land and sea through collaborative research to inform contemporary applications of traditional resource management in Hawai‘i. Sustainability 10, 3147.
| Linking land and sea through collaborative research to inform contemporary applications of traditional resource management in Hawai‘i.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Delevaux, J. M. S., Stamoulis, K. A., Whittier, R., Jupiter, S. D., Bremer, L. L., Friedlander, A., Kurashima, N., Giddens, J., Winter, K. B., Blaich‐Vaughan, M., and Burnett, K. M. (2019). Place-based management can reduce human impacts on coral reefs in a changing climate. Ecological Applications 29, e01891.
| Place-based management can reduce human impacts on coral reefs in a changing climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gon, S., and Winter, K. (2019). A Hawaiian renaissance that could save the world. American Scientist 107, 232–239.
| A Hawaiian renaissance that could save the world.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
HCA (2018). Making the case for community-based adaptive collaborative management in Hawai‘i. A position paper adopted by the Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance on 24 July 2018. Available at www.hawaiiconservation.org/position-papers/
Hill, R., Adem, Ç., Alangui, W. V., Molnár, Z., Aumeeruddy-Thomas, Y., Bridgewater, P., Tengö, M., Thaman, R., Adou yao, C. Y., Berkes, F., and Carino, J. (2020). Working with indigenous, local and scientific knowledge in assessments of nature and nature’s linkages with people. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 43, 8–20.
| Working with indigenous, local and scientific knowledge in assessments of nature and nature’s linkages with people.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holling, C. S., and Meffe, G. K. (1996). Command and control and the pathology of natural resource management. Conservation Biology 10, 328–337.
| Command and control and the pathology of natural resource management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ige, D. (2016). Sustainable Hawai‘i Initiative. Policy initiative of the State of Hawai‘i, announced at the 2016 World Conservation Congress, 1 September 2016. Available at (https://governor.hawaii.gov/sustainable-hawaii-initiative/ [accessed 26 January 2020].
IUCN (2016). The Hawai‘i Commitments at the World Conservation Congress – planet at the crossroads. 1–10 September 2016, Hawaii, USA. Available at https://portals.iucn.org/congress/hawaii-commitments
Johnson, J. T., Howitt, R., Cajete, G., Berkes, F., Louis, R. P., and Kliskey, A. (2016). Weaving indigenous and sustainability sciences to diversify our methods. Sustainability Science 11, 1–11.
| Weaving indigenous and sustainability sciences to diversify our methods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kame‘eleihiwa, L. (1992). ‘Native Land and Foreign Desires: Pehea lā e Pono ai. How Shall we Live in Harmony.’ (Bishop Museum Press: Honolulu, HI, USA.)
Kashwan, P. (2020). American environmentalism’s racist roots have shaped global thinking about conservation. In ‘The Conversation’, 2 September 2020. Available at https://theconversation.com/american-environmentalisms-racist-roots-have-shaped-global-thinking-about-conservation-143783 [accessed 15 October 2020].
Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, K., Kurashima, N., Francisco, K. S., Giardina, C. P., Louis, R. P., McMillen, H., et al. (2018). Ritual + sustainability science? A portal into the science of aloha. Sustainability 10, 3478.
| Ritual + sustainability science? A portal into the science of aloha.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kealiikanakaoleohaililani, K., McMillen, H., Giardina, C., and Francisco, K. (2019). Cultivating sacred kinship to strengthen resilience. In ‘Green Readiness, Response, and Recovery: A Collaborative Synthesis’. (Eds L. K. Campbell, E. Svendsen, N. F. Sonti, S. J. Hines, and D. Maddox.) pp. 188–204. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-185. (US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Newtown Square, PA.) Available at
Kikiloi, K., Friedlander, A. M., Wilhelm, A., Lewis, N., Quiocho, K., 'āila, W., and Kaho'ohalahala, S. (2017). Papahānaumokuākea: integrating culture in the design and management of one of the World's largest marine protected areas. Coastal Management 45, 436–451.
| Papahānaumokuākea: integrating culture in the design and management of one of the World's largest marine protected areas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kurashima, N., Jeremiah, J., Whitehead, A., Tulchin, J., Browning, M., and Duarte, T. (2018). Āina Kaumaha: the maintenance of ancestral principles for 21st century Indigenous resource management. Sustainability 10, 3975.
| Āina Kaumaha: the maintenance of ancestral principles for 21st century Indigenous resource management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mace, G. M. (2014). Whose conservation? Science 345, 1558–1560.
| Whose conservation?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25258063PubMed |
MacKenzie, M. K., Serrano, S. K., Sproat, D. K., Obrey, A. K. and Poai, A. K. (Eds) (2015). ’Native Hawaiian Law: A Treatise.’ (Kamehameha Publishing: Honolulu, HI, USA.)
McGregor, D. (2007). ’Na Kua’aina: Living Hawaiian Culture.’ (University of Hawai‘i Press: Honolulu, HI, USA.)
Minton, D., Conklin, E., Wiggins, C., Carr, R., Lynch, H., Walsh, C., Rose, J., and Amimoto, R. (2018). 2-year post-closure condition assessment: 2018 Ka‘ūpūlehu, Hawai‘i Marine Surveys. The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i Report, 19 November 2018.
O'donnell, E. L., and Talbot-Jones, J. (2018). Creating legal rights for rivers: lessons from Australia, New Zealand, and India. Ecology and Society 23, 7.
| Creating legal rights for rivers: lessons from Australia, New Zealand, and India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Oliveira, K. A. R. (2014). ‘Ancestral Places: Understanding Kanaka Geographies.’ (Oregon State University Press: Corvallis, OR, USA.)
Olsson, P., Folke, C., and Berkes, F. (2004). Adaptive Comanagement for building resilience in Social–Ecological systems. Environmental Management 34, 75–90.
| Adaptive Comanagement for building resilience in Social–Ecological systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15383875PubMed |
Pukui, M. K., and Elbert, S. H., (1986). ‘Hawaiian Dictionary: Hawaiian–English, English–Hawaiian.’ (University of Hawaii Press: Honolulu, HI, USA.)
Rodgers, K. S., Stender, Y., Richards Donà, A., Tsang, A., and Han, J. H. (2018). Long-term monitoring and assessment of the Hā‘ena, Kaua’i community based subsistence fishing area. Prepared for State of Hawai‘i, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources
Rodgers, K. S., Stender, Y., Richards Donà, A., Tsang, A., Han, J. H., Graham, A., Stamoulis, K., and Delevaux, J. (2019). Long-term monitoring and assessment of the Hā‘ena, Kaua’i community based subsistence fishing area. Prepared for State of Hawai‘i, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources
Tipa, G., and Welch, R. (2006). Comanagement of natural resources: issues of definition from an indigenous community perspective. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 42, 373–391.
| Comanagement of natural resources: issues of definition from an indigenous community perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
UN General Assembly (2007). United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: resolution adopted by the General Assembly, 2 October 2007, A/RES/61/295. Available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/471355a82.html [accessed 26 January 2020].
Van Tilburg, H., Watson, T. K., Faria, K., Hoomanawanui, K., Ho-Lastiama, I., Ritte, W., Maly, K., Nahoopii, M., Horcajo, K., Kaupiko, K., and Ball, D. (2017). A guidance document for characterizing native Hawaiian cultural landscapes. US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region, Camarillo, CA. OCS Study BOEM 2017-023. Available at https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/environmental-stewardship/Environmental-Studies/Pacific-Region/Studies/2017-023.pdf
Vaughan, M. B., Thompson, B., and Ayers, A. L. (2017). Pāwehe Ke Kai a ‘o Hā‘ena: creating state law based on customary indigenous norms of coastal management. Society & Natural Resources 30, 31–46.
| Pāwehe Ke Kai a ‘o Hā‘ena: creating state law based on customary indigenous norms of coastal management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Winter, K., Beamer, K., Vaughan, M., Friedlander, A., Kido, M., Whitehead, A., Akutagawa, M., Kurashima, N., and Lucas, M. (2018). The Moku System: managing biocultural resources for abundance within social–ecological regions in Hawai‘i. Sustainability 10, 3554.
| The Moku System: managing biocultural resources for abundance within social–ecological regions in Hawai‘i.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Winter, K. B., Rii, Y. M., Reppun, F. A. W. L., Hintzen, K. D., Alegado, R. A., Bowen, B. W., Bremer, L. L., Coffman, M., Deenik, J. L., Donahue, M. J., Falinski, K. A., Frank, K., Franklin, E. C., Kurashima, N., Lincoln, N. K., Madin, E. M. P., McManus, M. A., Nelson, C. E., Okano, R., Olegario, A., Pascua, P., Oleson, K. L. L., Price, M. R., Rivera, M. A. J., Rodgers, K. S., Ticktin, T., Sabine, C. L., Smith, C. M., Hewett, A., Kaluhiwa, R., Cypher, M., Thomas, B., Leong, J.-A., Kekuewa, K., Tanimoto, J., Kukea-Shultz, K., Kawelo, A., Kotubetey, K., Neilson, B. J., Lee, T. S., and Toonen, R. J. (2020a). Collaborative research to inform adaptive comanagement: a framework for the He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve. Ecology and Society 25, 15.
| Collaborative research to inform adaptive comanagement: a framework for the He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Winter, K. B., Lincoln, N. K., Berkes, F., Alegado, R. A., Kurashima, N., Frank, K., Pascua, P., Rii, Y. M., Reppun, F., Knapp, I. S. S., McClatchey, W., Ticktin, T., Smith, C., Franklin, E. C., Oleson, K., Price, M. R., McManus, M. A., Donahue, M. J., Rodgers, K., Bowen, B. W., Nelson, C. E., Thomas, B., Leong, J. A., Madin, E., Rivera, M. A. J., Falinski, K. A., Bremer, L. L., Deenik, J. L., Gon, S. M., Neilson, B., Okano, R., Olegario, A., Kawelo, A. H., Kotubetey, K., Kukea-Shultz, J. K., and Toonen, R. J. (2020b). Ecomimicry in Indigenous resource management: optimizing ecosystem services to achieve resource abundance with examples from Hawai‘i. Ecology and Society 25, 26.
| Ecomimicry in Indigenous resource management: optimizing ecosystem services to achieve resource abundance with examples from Hawai‘i.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woodley, S., Bertzky, B., Crawhall, N., Dudley, N., Londoño, J. M., MacKinnon, K., Redford, K., and Sandwith, T. (2012). Meeting Aichi Target 11: what does success look like for protected area systems. Parks 18, 23–36.
Worboys, G. L. (2015). Concept, purpose and challenges. In ‘Protected Area Governance and Management’. (Eds G. L. Worboys, M. Lockwood, A. Kothari, S. Feary, and I. Pulsford.) pp. 9–42. (ANU Press: Canberra.)
