Shawn Malia Kanaiaupuni, Ph. D.
2004
Welina mai! Welcome to the inaugural issue of Hulili, a multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal on Hawaiian well-being. The word hulili is defined as “ladder, bridge, as to scale a cliff or cross a gully” (Hawaiian Dictionary, Pukui & Elbert, 1986, p. 89). Our vision for Hulili is to create a multidisciplinary forum for current research that examines the nature, needs, and strengths of Hawaiians, their families, and their communities. We believe that through collaboration and critique, Hulili will foster new connections and shared insights and mobilize greater Hawaiian well-being. The seeds of this work were planted last year at Kamehameha Schools’ first annual research conference on the education and well-being of Hawaiians. The Policy Analysis & System Evaluation (PASE) department at Kamehameha Schools planned and hosted the three-day event that brought together researchers, educators, and other professionals from various fields dedicated to improving Hawaiian well-being. The result was a powerful exchange of current findings, recent data, and new challenges from areas including health, medicine, education, social work, economics, government, law, and culture. This issue of Hulili features three essays from invited speakers, eight articles based on conference presentations, and two additional articles. We thank the members of our esteemed editorial board for their support in preparing this first issue. We also acknowledge Elaine Dunn for her editorial expertise and Stacey Leong Mills for her book design. For this first issue, reviewers included one editorial board member and PASE staff. We hope Hulili begins to bridge the gap between our current state of well-being and a future where indigenous Hawaiians are in their rightful place as a vibrant, thriving people.
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