The Divine Feminine: Calling Back the Treasured Moʻolelo From the Forbidden Past to Heal the Present

Abstract

When we listen to mo‘olelo (stories) of specific places and spaces in the Hawaiian Islands, we see ‘wāhine (women) traits of strength and resilience in how they perform their kuleana (obligation) to the ‘āina (land). By strengthening the ties of sovereignty within the Hawaiian Islands, the ‘wāhine are teaching ways to secure food for the lāhui (nation). Using narrative inquiry and Kānaka Ōiwi methodology, this body of work draws broader parallels through the lenses of intersubjectivity to understand the implications of coloniality and the continued rise of women’s presence in their efforts to strengthen the food sovereignty for the lāhui.