Importance of Moʻolelo

Aloha mai!

Throughout my own experiences in Indigenous education, I have come to the understanding that there is an importance to capture the moʻolelo (stories) of our elders and youth. There is a necessity to capture these stories in order to understand, revitalize, and grow from the experiences of our people. Since the beginning of our existences, the art of storytelling was a critical vehicle for learning and teaching. This form of education has allowed us to sustain our cultures and people for thousands of years. It has kept our sacred knowledge safe throughout all of the triumphs and struggles that our people faced. These stories are our moʻokūʻauhau (genealogies) of our families, our people, and our culture. These moʻolelo tell us who we are and set the path of who we may be. In the succession of these stories, we understand and learn about the past, present, and future.

The moʻo (succession/lineage) relates very closely to education. We see the moʻokūʻauhau within the academy, and it is valuable to learn from the experiences of our predecessors. By capturing their stories, we are able to strengthen our abilities to enact change within the field of education. We will have the opportunities to learn and grow from both, their successes and mistakes. It is also important to give a voice to our youth, our next generation of Indigenous scholars. There is an undeniable power of the dreams that emerge from young people. They have the passion and motivation that the field of Indigenous education needs. It is important to mentor them so that they do not become jaded or burnt out from the uphill battles of this type of work. Perhaps, the hope of the youth will revitalize the spirits of all in Indigenous education. So, the moʻolelo of our children or next-generation scholars is important. Too often, I feel that established scholars (in all fields) are so busy with their own careers that they forget about listening to the needs of the emerging scholars. We must not ignore their struggles; we must help them. They are our future…

On this website, I will feature the moʻolelo of our people. It is my hope that their words may offer advice, inspiration, and hope for Indigenous scholars. I believe that it is important to celebrate the good work that people are doing. We must work together in order to continue the successes of the Indigenous education movement. We should never feel like we are fighting alone. So, if you would like to share your moʻolelo or know of anyone that has a great one to tell, please contact me.

Me ka haʻahaʻa,
Malu