Aokānaka: Reclaiming Kanaka Identity Through Social Media

Abstract

This qualitative study was conducted to better understand the use of an Instagram platform called AoKānaka to explore aspects of Kānaka identity: moʻokūʻauhau, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, ʻāina, moʻolelo. This research on AoKānaka engaged six participants to discuss and share experiences to prompts posed by the creators of the platform who were, at the time of this study, keiki (children). Data collected indicated three themes: hoʻoikaika, pilina and hoʻokānaka. A second level analysis that directly addressed the research question indicated that the platform provided participants with three “hoʻōla” (heal): hoʻōla Kānaka, hoʻōla ʻohana, and hoʻōla lāhui. This study indicated that platforms like AoKānaka can serve to strengthen cultural understandings and become repositories that preserve and sustain elements of Hawaiian identity.