Why a research blog inspired by Pacific Islands History?

In short, the islands in the Pacific Ocean encompass a region of the world that defies unassuming simplistic expectations, and its historical past is complicated, layered, and the sort of thing one could spend their whole lifetime thinking about and still find new and unexpected ways to engage. It can be tempting to think that since you've stamped your passport to Hawai'i or Tahiti or some other tropical island that you've seen them all. But you'd be wrong. I hope to show through a revisionist, indigenous lens on Pacific Islands History, that while there may be broad sweeping themes that have impacted many islands across the Pacific Ocean in the past and in somewhat similar patterns, each island nation is unique and curiously adapting to the contemporary contradictions of environmental woes, tourism, or other economic and political issues, with customs, languages, and beliefs that have sustained the livelihoods of those who live in and love Oceania.

Oceania. Maybe this should be the Oceania research blog instead of te reo ura? That would be a most appropriate title indeed. But for concerns which will become evident very soon, "Pacific Islands History" is appropriate to address the constructed ways this region has been dissected, minimized, and often relegated to the margins of other kinds of history...even though its linguistic and cultural diversity contributes to a global reach that mimics the incredible ancient tradition of purposeful, celestial voyaging which populated nearly every inhabitable island in Oceania by our ancestors of old.

The longer justification for this blog, at this time, is that the islands of the Pacific is home. There is more at stake now than ever before to engage the past to better prepare for an uncertain future. Unfortunately, growing up here in Hawai'i, we were taught so little about Hawaiian or even the larger Pacific Islands region's history. Sadly, I think that's the case for many indigenous, and other peoples of color, who aren't exposed to representation in their own history books until you know how to actively search for it yourself. "Home"lands or places of rootedness are never easy to deconstruct. Simply because as a by-product of this place, I have to acknowledge the dark corners, the rough edges of history that are hard to explain away, while at the same time honor the innate beauty and charms and complete joy it is to be from a place that birthed such amazing things as surfing, hula and spam musubi.

It is my hope that a specific focus on the peoples, cultures, languages, and pasts of Te Moana Pātitifa, the Pacific Ocean in reo Tahiti, creates ongoing, relevant conversations that traverse a diverse political, economic, cultural, linguistic ocean and landscape with those of us in the region who are of, live in, or love Oceania. This way, we fortify our metaphoric va'a with a wider range of representations and lived realities that have been absent from history books for too long, but which nevertheless are sailing toward a new vision of Oceania.

The view from the va'a is breathtaking. I hope you come along for the ride.