Demarginalizing knowledge through place-based learning : exploring the educational experience at the lo'i

Abstract

Papa lo'i kalo, a system of integrated wetland taro patches, are serving as sites of place-based learning for schools and the community. The taro plant and the lo'i inform students about the traditional knowledge of taro farming and create a space in which the power of learning and teaching is most influenced by the community and the place itself. The educational experience at the loʻi raises questions about the normative content of curriculum, control of education, and approaches to pedagogy. Using student reflections and an oral history with a taro farmer, this thesis will explore the loʻi as a critical place that has the potential to reshape students' understanding of Hawaiʻi, its history, and the Native Hawaiian community.