Abstract
Despite efforts by colonizers to eradicate Hawaiian culture, the 1970s saw the re-emergence of Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) identity, language, and culture. One area where this continues to be seen is in clothing designed by Kanaka Maoli entrepreneurs who use cultural values to guide their decisions. Using a case study methodology, the authors interviewed designer Micah Kamohoali'i and examined a transcription of the interview using a line-by-line analysis, yielding four themes: authenticity, education, responsibility, and sustainability. These themes were related to Kanaka Maoli values of i ka ʻōlelo ke ola, i ka ʻōlelo ka make (in the language there is life and in the language there is death), ohana (family), kuleana (privilege, responsibility), and aloha `aina (love for the land). Findings align frameworks for the study of material culture, expand the literature to include Hawaiian fashionable clothing, and yield insights into alternatives to the Western fashion system.
Presenters
Andy ReillyProfessor, Fashion Design and Merchandising, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Hawaii, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Communications and Linguistic Studies
KEYWORDS
Colonization, Culture, Design, Fashion, Hawaiian, Sustainability, Symbolism, Values
