Kawaihuahua'iokewalo: Building Cultural Identity through Music

Abstract

With the changing landscape of urban areas in Hawai‘i, there have been disconnections with the built environment and the indigenous lands in which such buildings rest. The histories and identities of place are often neglected, and the preservation of culture is often lost. The research of this doctoral thesis strives to create a new approach to culture-based design by using Hawaiian music as a means of cultural identity. Hawaiian music plays a major role in the Hawaiian culture, as it is through music that the identity of place and people have been preserved and passed down through the generations. As architects, the goal of creating spaces that capture the identity of place and the essence of its people is something that should be encouraged here in Hawai‘i. If Hawaiian music has the power to create and connect a sense of identity and place amongst the community, then Hawaiian music can lead us to successful culture-based design. Elements of Hawaiian music are analyzed in its relation to design principles. These elements are then applied in the design of a Hawaiian Music and Dance Cultural Center, a place for the preservation and perpetuation of Hawai‘i’s cultural arts. Located in the Kaka‘ako Makai area, this design project focuses on ways in which we can recover cultural identity in developing urban areas.