Lectures in History Hawaiian History and Culture
Mar 8, 2026
Veda Schlimgen, a Gonzaga professor of Hawaiian history and culture, traces 20th-century Hawaiian language revival, canoe rebuilding, and political activism. Short segments cover wayfinding’s rebirth, protests over land and military use, and how language work unlocked archival records. The conversation ties Hawaiian movements to wider Pacific decolonization.
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1960s Revival Linked To Pacific Decolonization
- Hawaiian cultural revival began in the 1960s as a response to language loss, demographic change, and Pacific anti-colonial movements.
- Veda Schlimgen links recovery efforts to broader decolonization and a deliberate push to reclaim land, language, and traditions rather than pursue formal independence.
Hokulea Voyage Reclaimed Wayfinding Skill
- The Polynesian Voyaging Society rebuilt ancient double-hulled canoes and sailed Hokulea to prove intentional voyaging between islands.
- Hokulea's 1976 Tahiti voyage, using Micronesian navigator Mau Piailug's wayfinding, drew 17,000 onlookers and refuted drift theories.
Pukui's Records Saved Hawaiian Knowledge
- Mere Kawena Pukui documented Hawaiian language, myths, and practices at the Bishop Museum when speakers were declining.
- Her dictionary and audio recordings preserved pronunciation and primary sources used by revivalists and scholars later.