Waves of Knowing: A Seascape EpistemologyIn Waves of Knowing Karin Amimoto Ingersoll marks a critical turn away from land-based geographies to center the ocean as place. Developing the concept of seascape epistemology, she articulates an indigenous Hawaiian way of knowing founded on a sensorial, intellectual, and embodied literacy of the ocean. As the source from which Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) draw their essence and identity, the sea is foundational to Kanaka epistemology and ontology. Analyzing oral histories, chants, artwork, poetry, and her experience as a surfer, Ingersoll shows how this connection to the sea has been crucial to resisting two centuries of colonialism, militarism, and tourism. In today's neocolonial context—where continued occupation and surf tourism marginalize indigenous Hawaiians—seascape epistemology as expressed by traditional cultural practices such as surfing, fishing, and navigating provides the tools for generating an alternative indigenous politics and ethics. In relocating Hawaiian identity back to the waves, currents, winds, and clouds, Ingersoll presents a theoretical alternative to land-centric viewpoints that still dominate studies of place-making and indigenous epistemology. |
Contents
HEE NALU Reclaiming Ke | |
OCEANIC LITERACY A Politics and an Ethics | |
SEASCAPE EPISTEMOLOGY Ke Kino and Movement | |
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ahupua‘a āina ali‘i ancestors articulate beach Beachboys becomes Blankenfeld body canoe Carter colonial concept connection constructions contemporary Kānaka coral create critical cultural DeSoto dominant economic embodied empowerment Endless Summer engage etak expanding experience films fish fishpond genealogy hālau Hawaiʻi Hawaiian identity Hawaiian language he‘e nalu ho‘okele Hōkūle‘a Honolulu human ideology imagination indigenous epistemology interaction Kame‘eleihiwa Kanaka epistemology Kanaka identity Kānaka Maoli Kanaka surfer kapu kaulua ke kai knowing kūpuna land language lawai‘a learning means mo‘olelo moana modern movement moving narrative Native Hawaiian navigator neocolonial O‘ahu Oahu ocean-based knowledge Oceania oceanic knowledge oceanic literacy Ōlelo Hawai‘i ontology Pacific Islanders philosophy physical Piailug place-based place-based education political and ethical potential practices reef relationship rhythms sail Satawal seascape epistemology shore space spatial specific spiritual stars surf tourism industry surfboard swells Teaiwa Thompson voyage wa‘a Waikīkī waves Western wind