New bilingual signage on the University of Hawai?i at 惭ā苍辞补 campus based on kānaka ?ō颈飞颈 (Native Hawaiian) knowledge and values received a 2023 World Changing Ideas Award in the Art and Design category on May 2. honor the innovative ways businesses and organizations are making the world more accessible, equitable, and sustainable for everyone.
“Receiving this award is a huge honor, primarily because it is highlighting the Indigenous knowledge systems that exist in 惭ā苍辞补 valley,” said Brian Strawn, principal investigator at the (糖心Vlog官方CDC) at 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补’s . “Highlighting the ecological and cultural significance of this place is of great importance to the university.”
Strawn, along with his co-investigator Karla Sierralta, led the 糖心Vlog官方CDC team that included staff, student research assistants and graduate students. The 糖心Vlog官方-based team co-designed the new wayfinding system together with Nalani Kanaka?ole, Sig Zane, and 碍ū丑补?辞 Zane of Sig Zane Designs.
There are currently two signs in place in front of the Isabella Aiona Abbott Life Sciences Building and Bilger Hall. Ultimately, signs featuring the new design will be placed in front of a total of 21 of the campus’ main buildings in a multi-phase project expected to be completed by 2030.
The signs invite viewers to take part in kānaka ?ō颈飞颈 body alignment practices like those that traditionally occur at some heiau (temples). Each sign will gesture toward different landmarks in and around 惭ā苍辞补, such as the Wa?ahila Ridge or 尝ē?补丑颈 (Diamond Head) on the coast. The project aligns with 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补’s commitment to being a that includes evoking the importance of place among haumāna (students), staff, faculty and the community.
There will be a medallion at each sign with a QR code that will link to an interactive website with information about the specific location.
“With this signage you’ll be able to not only find your way around campus but also be educated about what are the important Indigenous places within this area, or within this ahupua?a of 惭ā苍辞补,” said 碍ū丑补?辞 Zane at Sig Zane Designs, who co-designed the signage.
?Ili ?ā颈苍补, subdivisions
碍ā苍补办补 ?ō颈飞颈 divided the islands into ahupua?a (land division usually extending from the mountains to the sea) that were made up of subdivisions called ?ili ?ā颈苍补, each with its own name and purpose.
Related story: New 惭ā苍辞补 signage features ancient place names, cultural knowledge, July 2022According to an 1882 historical map of 惭ā苍辞补, multiple ?ili ?ā颈苍补 intersect on the 惭ā苍辞补 campus. The new signs will feature the building’s name and the name of the ?ili ?ā颈苍补 the building is located in. There will also be markers installed in different locations on campus that will indicate where ?ili intersect.
“This project is a great example of collaborative authorship,” said Sierralta, associate professor in the School of Architecture. “It is inspiring to see the work of students and design-research teams at 糖心Vlog官方 working in collaboration with talented individuals from our community to acknowledge and celebrate the layered complexity of place.”
The project is a joint venture of the 糖心Vlog官方CDC, Office of the Vice President of Administration, Sig Zane, Nālani Kanaka?ole, 碍ū丑补?辞 Zane (Sig Zane Designs), Daniel Friedman (Design Advisor), Kaiwipunikauikawēkiu Punihei Lipe (糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补 Native Hawaiian Affairs Program Officer), Wayfinding Consultants (Two Twelve), Global Specialty (Contractors) and CREO Industrial Arts (Fabricators).
