Indigenous resource management systems as models for librarianship: I waiwai ka ‘āina

Abstract

This commentary suggests a (k)new model for the practice of Indigenous librarianship that positions a traditional natural resource management system as a metaphor for library practices. By detailing the experiences of Native Hawaiian librarians working with materials and collections representing Hawaiian knowledge, the article discusses specific Hawaiian natural resource management principles (kapu, kūlana, waiwai, and lele), and explores their possible applications in library contexts. The result is a description of Hawaiian librarianship grounded in Hawaiian values and practices with the goal of best serving Hawaiian communities.