In Hawaiian, Lanakila means victory. Victory is what Hawaiian cultural practitioner Joshua Lanakila Mangauil, 28, strives to achieve when he speaks around the San Francisco Bay Area about Hawaiian cultural-based sciences.
Mangauil shared Hawaiian science ideologies, creation stories, legends and traditional practices with the goal of educating others about the interdependence and relationship that Hawaiian people have with their land and the world in a free lecture at the Santa Rosa Junior College planetarium Oct. 13.
By 7 p.m. the long line to enter the show stretched around the outside of the planetarium building, and with limited seating, people crowded into the event, but not all could enter. Before the show started, Hawaiian music played inside the planetarium while black and white projected photos adorned the ceiling.
As a leader of the Ku Kia’i Mauna (Guardians of the Mountain) Movement, he emphasized the sacredness of Mauna Kea and the need to protect the mountain and its environment from the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope.
The Thirty Meter Telescope is set to be built atop Mauna Kea, the highest mountain in Hawaii, but construction was delayed after many non-violent protests that seek to stop the construction of the telescope completely. Mangauil participated in many of these protests. The Thirty Meter Telescope plans to be one of the largest telescopes in the world.
Mangauil recounted the history of the Hawaiian people and the loss of their traditions and practices after transitioning from a chiefly system to a monarchy. Native Hawaiians faced such discrimination that “if you [spoke] the [native] language, you were beaten,” he said. This discrimination almost eradicated native culture. “Eventually, the elders stopped speaking the [native] language.”
In the 1970s, Hawaiian activists began advocating, reintroducing and embracing Native Hawaiian culture and “the language came back, [and] bloomed into Hawaiian immersion schools,” Mangauil said. These schools consist of going “outside and look[ing] at our mountain and our river and our fish.” Chants and hula also helped preserve the cultural traditions and stories of native Hawaiians.
Mangauil explained the interconnectedness of Hawaiian scientific observations, creation stories and cultural practices that influence their relationship with their mountain Mauna Kea.
Mangauli tells the Hawaiian creation story of the universe, the earth and humanity. “In the beginning there was nothing and suddenly there was a little wisp in the void of nothingness,” Mangauli said. That wisp created motion and that motion created the universe.
Earth Mother and Sky Father came together to create the stars and the Islands of Hawaii. Sky Father desired the stars and conceived a stillborn child and then Sky Father buried the child in the earth. The stars grieved and cried, and from the stars’ tears and the buried child came forth a plant Kalo (Taro).
The second child born human from the sky and stars must always respect and care for its older sibling, and in doing so the older sibling would nourish the human generations to come.
Taro is still an important food source for Hawaiians and its product, poi, is sacred to the people because Hawaiians believe that ancestors are present when poi served.
Mauna Kea is considered sacred to Hawaiians because it is part of the creation of the universe, and in their creation stories, it is a sibling to humanity. “When we look at that mountain it is the eldest child,” Mangauli said.
Constructing another telescope larger than the 13 telescopes currently on the mountain will endanger the unique and fragile ecosystem of the island, Mangauli said. “The mountain plays a very important role in our ecosystem.”
Mangauli strives to protect the ecosystem and preserve their sacred mountain. “Every decision we make, we have to think seven generations ahead,” he said.
Mangauli closed by saying, “When you breathe that air and earth, I encourage to [go] look at yourself and think, am I giving to this earth what its given me?”
SRJC student Suechada Lindsay attended the show and shared her thoughts. “I didn’t know anything about it until he explained what the mountain really meant to him, and I understand now that they shouldn’t build the telescope. I loved all the pictures on the wall; it really made it feel like Hawaii,” Lindsay said.
SRJC student Xavier Sandoval also enjoyed the show. “I liked the show because it showed how Hawaii is viewed by its native people and not just the perspective from tourists. It’s like the deeper meaning of Hawaii,” he said.
Justin • Oct 22, 2015 at 9:57 am
I am a life-long resident of Hawaii. I was born in Waikiki after my parents moved here in the 80s for economic reasons. I’ve studied the land and the histories of our people for years, and currently work as a bio-cultural resource in the visitor industry. I think this gives me a unique perspective — I am a bridge between two worlds.
To put it plainly: 1) Hawaiians are not against science or the telescope; 2) they are against it being built without appropriate native Hawaiian “protocols”. This means that 3) native Hawaiians must be in control of any further development of the area, since these protocols must by definition be performed and originated by native Hawaiians.
This is, let’s be honest, a sideways demand for “sovereignty.” Lanakila and his ilk claim the telescope will harm the palila bird ( which lives over 4,000 feet below the area), the aquifers, etc. These claims are unsupported by the EIS and any other validated assessment instrument. But the “Protectors” do not accept “western” science; they only accept versions of reality originated by native Hawaiians. No matter what happens, Lanakila and the Protectors will not be happy until a race-based governing entity is in control of Maunakea — and the rest of Hawaii.
Kerry Simpson • Oct 24, 2015 at 6:45 pm
I believe Native Hawaiians were involved in the seven year approval process. And I am sure it was Natave Hawaiians trying to perform a blessing ceremony at the site when Joshua and his friends protested so loudly and constantly that the ceremony was cancelled. Don’t these Native Hawaiians count?
Euclid A. LoGiudice • Oct 21, 2015 at 9:45 pm
Joshua Lanakila Mangauil and the protesters; also known as “protectors” have traveled to the mainland and Europe, presenting shows and demonstrations claiming that Maunakea or as they refer to the mountain: “Mauna a Wakea” is under siege by TMT and other telescopes and have given many across the globe the impression that Hawaiians are united in their fight against TMT and Astronomy on Maunakea. This is absolutely wrong! Many Hawaiians welcome both Astronomy and the new TMT on Maunakea. Lanakila has also endeavored to align himself and the protesters with Native American Groups who are fighting against real atrocities against their people and nature in general and used these affiliations to further his agenda. He’s also using a “GoFundMe” account to receive donations to support his cause and spread his lies! The only “desecration” occurring on Maunakea and Hawaii at this point is all the misinformation being spread by Lanakila and the protesters!
Michael Kealoha Stevens • Oct 21, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Joshua Mangauil does not speak for all Hawaiians… he speaks for a small, very vocal minority of Hawaiians… and by that I mean people of Hawaiian ancestry, not simply residents of Hawai’i. Even if the total number of supporters for his protest movement were native Hawaiians (which they are not, but let’s just say they are for the sake of argument) they would represent less than 10% of the native Hawaiian population worldwide (More Hawaiians live in California and Washington state than in the islands themselves). That percentage does not constitute a mandate, it constitutes a fringe movement that is capitalizing on social media users heartstrings in order to mobilize support for their cause by representing themselves as the underdog fighting the monied elite. Nothing could be further from the truth.
“He Hawai’i au”… which translates from ‘olelo Hawai’i into English as “I am Hawaiian”… and as a native Hawaiian who cherishes our history and traditions, I and the vast majority of my Hawaiian brothers and sisters do not accept Joshua’s take on what it means to be Hawaiian, nor do we accept his made-up version of ancient Hawaiian religion (he freely admitted that he created a “new” version of the Hawaiian god KU to promote this protest, and he was told to remove it from the mountain by the leaders of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, who told him it was inappropriate… and yet it still sits there, in defiance of that request, on the mountain), nor do we believe the 150 year old myth about Wakea and Papa giving birth to Hawai’i island, instead preferring to embrace the much older, unadulterated 1500 year old version of the Wakea myth, wherein Wakea is not a god, but a man, born on the island of ‘Oahu, while rejecting the idea of resurrecting the old Kapu system and worship of the ancient gods in some piecemeal fashion while secretly wearing Christian cross necklaces under our shirts.
Do not be fooled into believing this very charismatic, yet deluded young man without researching the facts on your own. He is no authority. Seek counter arguments, read the historical texts by David Malo and Samuel Kamakau, read the scientific texts by Martha Beckwith and Ross Cordy, talk with Hawaiian political leaders and businessmen, talk with the scientist involved with existing telescopes and those involved with planning for TMT, talk with the teachers who are currently receiving windfall funding from the TMT consortium to use in their classrooms, talk with the astronomy students and robotics students at the University of Hawai’i… and then make an informed opinion based on all the facts, not simply the misrepresentations of a marginalized minority of the Hawaiian people.
Gail Armand • Oct 21, 2015 at 7:05 pm
As someone who is at home on Hawaii Island, it is distressing to see this student newspaper unquestioning of Lanakila’s perspective. His charismatic presence tends to overshadow the peculiar ideas he presents as being Hawaiian culture. He has a brand. He is anti-science at a time when culture and science do not tend to clash – the clash is a made thing. To more fully understand the interface between Hawaiian culture and science, one might look at Imiloa in Hilo, where the science of astronomy is displayed as it has progressed in a uniquely Hawaiian way from the wayfaring days when Polynesians came to these islands in canoes. Look to the present day voyagers, the Hokulea making its way around the globe. Take note that these voyagers are supportive of the telescope community, and promote on their website The White House Astronomy Night. Lanakila and his cohort had the great good fortune to attract the attention of Game of Thrones personality Jason Momoa, who posed at a demonstration with his shirt off and brought national attention to the idea that Hawaii doesn’t need another telescope. Seriously, this is like Pamela Anderson saying Hawaii doesn’t need another telescope. It is important to understand that the night sky at Mauna Kea is unique in the world. The furor over the Thirty Meter Telescope has more in common with the anti-stem cell movement than for example the ideas that returning wild rivers to their natural state is desireable, even if it means undoing power plants. These are important distinctions, and worth this student paper exploring more deeply.
Eric Johnsen • Oct 20, 2015 at 12:02 am
I am a life long resident of Hawaii. My family moved here after WW2 because my father loved Hawaii’s multicultural mix and Hawaiian music, which he learned to play even before coming to Hawaii. Mr. Mangauli does not represent a majority view of the Hawaiians I know. They do not all ascribe to an ancient Hawaiian religion. Yes, they respect the beauty of the environment and the uniqueness of Hawaian culture and want to preserve both.. They also want and enjoy the benefits of science, technology and clean industry. Astronomy has brought much good to Hawaii. The TMT will bring more science, jobs, rent, education and more support for good stewardship of Mauna Kea than any such before.
Mr. Mangauli has assumed the mantel of a religious leader and is using his influence to spread misinformation and division in regard to the TMT which he opposes citing religion.
OK. How about this point of view: The observatories are light filled jewels of diamond precision, adorning our finest peak, looking to the heavens to see aspects of God.
M. Kerry Simpson • Oct 19, 2015 at 9:07 pm
SRJC Oakleaf
As an Astronautical Engineering educated teacher of high school Physics and Astronomy, I would like to present some counterpoints to the Mauna Kea/Thirty Meter Telescope presentation last week by Joshua Lanakila Mangueil. In the interest of fairness I believe facts he may have downplayed should be known by SRJC students.
1). Hawaiians have never considered the entire mountain sacred and untouchable. They mined it for stones to make tools and weapons of war, they farmed its slopes, and hunted over most of its surface. They may have considered it sacred but had no problem with using its resources to improve their lives.
2). Over the past 7 years the TMT Corporation worked with Native Hawaiians, the University of Hawaii, environmentalists, and local government to insure the mistakes made with earlier observatories were not repeated. Native Hawaiians mapped the entire astronomy area to insure no sacred sites, graves, or sacred structures were located in the final construction area. They went through every step of securing required licenses, approvals, inspections, and permits. Protesters allowed each step to proceed without major confrontations.
3). A multi-year process of evaluating possible TMT sites was carried out around the world with Mauna Kea proving to be the best location by far.
4) Not all Hawaiians are against the TMT. In a newspaper survey of 4,000 people, 71% voted for “Enforcement of all existing rules and laws to allow TMT construction to proceed.”
5) Unlike earlier observatories which payed rent of only $1.00, TMT agreed to a rent of several million dollars and to donate $1,000,000 a year for twenty years toward education on Hawaii.
6). It appears many Hawaiians are protesting TMT under the auspices of Hawaiian sovereignty because it makes for good press. TMT has nothing to do with this issue which is currently being handled by a Native Hawaiian election and congress.
7). Finally, there is no such thing as Hawaiian science ideology. There is no Chinese science, German science, or American science just as there is no Christian or Catholic science. Science is just science – a set of steps all scientists follow so any test can be reproduced anywhere. Joshua’s attempt to combine science with either religion or nationality is a bad idea.
TMT went the extra miles to collaborate with Native Hawaiians, Joshua appears to not have that word in his dictionary.
Yvonne Kealoha • Oct 24, 2015 at 9:48 pm
Yes Yes…thanks for all the informative input.
RSmithw • Oct 19, 2015 at 8:44 pm
I am a bit surprised, college students are generally taught to listen to BOTH side of an argument and then make or form a logical Informed opinion. Suechada Lindsay says
” I understand now that they shouldn’t build the telescope.” He / she only heard ONE SIDE of the story as did All who were in attendance. I do hope other students who are interested in the controversy learn about and pay attention to the Pro – TMT side. The ancient Hawaiians navigated by the Stars. TMT will do and see FAR…. FAR more than the Human species has ever imagined TMT is for the entire Human Species Not a few angry Hawaiians.
Daniel Jenkins • Oct 19, 2015 at 10:46 am
Lanakila and the “protectors” insist that they are not anti-science. I’m wondering if the language “Hawaiian cultural-based sciences” and “Hawaiian science ideologies [etc]” is an accurate reflection of Lanakila’s presentation, or just really sloppy reporting. Imagine if I said “Mike Huckabee’s Christian science ideology informs his view that Lanakila’s dress is an offense to his brethren”?
Veronica Ohara • Oct 19, 2015 at 3:35 am
Hawaiians support TMT on Mauna Kea; there are aspiring astronomers, people who work with the telescopes and astronomers. Astronomy has always been central to our culture, after all that is the science that brought our ancestors to these shores. Many of us respect our culture and are scientists, we see no conflict with conserving Mauna Kea and building TMT.
As for the myths of Mauna Kea, the taro, the iwi bones, these are recent developments by those who oppose TMT. Poi is NOT a sacred food, in fact most of the poi is manufactured from taro grown outside Hawaii. It’s so expensive now most Hawaiians can’t afford to eat as regularly as we used to.
No one is prevented from cultural practices on the Mauna. I would like to remind you we are a mixed people and most of us were born into the Christian faith. It’s true that we dance the hula and invoke the names of Hi’iaka and Pele but it’s part of the dance, we don’t actually worship the old gods today. It is a way of showing respect for our culture and to continue the tradition.
The movement for Hawaiian independence from the United States of America is underway. The opponents of TMT have pitted this stance for sovereignty against any science. It’s a pity because TMT will work to raise student’s STEM levels, our college test scores are the lowest in the nation. Science, astronomy would be better in terms of careers for Hawaii, at the moment most work in the hotel industry where the wages are so low than most people work two or three jobs on a regular basis.
Please support our astronomy students.
Yvonne Kealoha • Oct 24, 2015 at 9:43 pm
I totally agree with you…my feelings exactly…
Curt Sharp • Oct 25, 2015 at 2:39 am
I have supported the TMT project since hearing of it many years ago. What I “resent” mostly are the “activists” who say they support “Hawaiians”. I am Hawaiian and they certainly do not represent my interests. At all! Lots of negative and inaccurate bullshit being presented to the naive students. Lots of spin doctoring goin on. I wait impatiently for the TMT project to press a head.