Island Voices: Celebrating Our Past,

Present, and Future

The 39th Annual Hawaiʻi Sociological

Association Conference

University of Hawaiʻi Hilo

February 24-25, 2018

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Aloha and welcome, It is an honor to have fellow sociologists here at UH Hilo; a place that is home to not only the incredible hospitality that symbolizes what aloha truly is but is also a place of wonder. UH Hilo is rooted in the history and culture of Hawaiʻi, dedicated to justice in our present and working for the best future for all – here in the islands and indeed across the nation, as well as globally. This conference is a shared effort by so many. Thank you to all who have helped make this event happen, who will be sharing your wisdom with us, and all who have generously given their time to be here. Mahalo nui loa, Eunice Leung Brekke, Lindy Hern and Noreen Kohl - HSA Executive Committee 2018

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Keynote Address UCB 100 “I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope” : The Future Lies in the Past – Who We Were, Who We Are, Who We Want to Be” Kalei Kanuha, MSW, PhD Hawaiian people have always understood our existence as being rooted across the dimensions of time – past, present, future. We honor our past because we are always connected to our ancestors who came before us; we honor our present because all that we are today is endowed by the legacy of our ancestors; and we honor our future because we carry forth the collective lived experience across the dimensions of time and space, upon which we build future generations. Due to colonization and globalization, and its resultant culturalhistorical trauma, these sacred islands and our native people have been transformed by a new world order in which we are challenged to situate ourselves. What is the role of sociology specifically in the Hawaiʻi context that addresses tough social problems and contributes to social change? How do we conduct research, teach and serve our local community in ways that respond to this call and vision of our past, present and future? And where are we today as we navigate towards a future for our moʻopuna? "It is as if the Hawaiian stands firmly in the present, with his back to the future, and his eyes fixed upon the past, seeking historical answers for present-day dilemmas." (Kameʻeleihiwa, 1992)

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