Indigenous-Led Transportation Solutions: A Pasefika Framework of Transportation Planning in the Koʻolauloa Moku of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
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Apelu, Dylan Lloyd
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Abstract
In this research, I employ indigenous, pasefika methods to create a framework for transportation planning. Koʻolauloa, a rural community home to Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders indigenous to other United States territories, has long standing transportation justice and equity issues surrounding safety and resilience. Using talanoa, a pasefika engagement method of inclusive, transparent and cultural dialogue-based meetings, and talk-story, a Hawaiian storytelling method used to exchange knowledge, culture, beliefs and values between two parties, I engage the indigenous and pasefika community, government agencies, and professional planners and engineers in Koʻolauloa. Complementing these storytelling methods, I use indigenous statistics in the form of a community preference survey to understand safety and resiliency for Koʻolauloa.
Using these indigenous, pasefika methods I can reframe safety and resiliency around the culture, values and beliefs of Koʻolauloa. From the talk-story with government agencies and professional planners and engineers, I can identify how their data-driven approach is leading to gaps in engagement and projects that don’t match the community. There is a need to go beyond participation and inclusion from the stakeholders and for them to build deeper long-lasting relationships with the community. Using methods like talanoa and talk-story should be utilize by planners and engineers, and the stories and conversations should be viewed as legitimate data in the planning process.
For the community of Koʻolauloa, the talanoa revealed how these stories and conversations can lead to rich planning solutions that is supported by the community. The relationship between the people, the ʻāina, kai, and their ancestors and descendants is important to understand for planners, as it influences the solutions being made by the community. For example, the community saw that a contributing factor to their fatalities and collisions was because the spirit of aloha was missing. This belief and the important cultural relevance of aloha led to them wanting safety solutions such as gateways, signs and RRFBs that remind people to “Drive with Aloha.”
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2025-12
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Thesis (Masters Degree)