Waiwai

In an effort to honor the indigenous history of the mokupunis of Hawai’i, The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Community Design Center (UHCDC) partnered with students of IIT’s Institute of Design Spring 2023 Communication Design Workshop to visualize the indigenous land division system, along with other spatial concepts, in ways that current students and community members can easily digest. Our class was tasked with translating complex, culturally ingrained concepts by learning from subject matter experts, local partners, student user groups, and secondary research. This project is one of a few prototypical concepts developed from our research that focuses on using experiential learning strategies to help the University of Hawaii students learn about indigenous concepts. Waiwai is a platform of guided walks that offers students an interactive, experiential way to learn about Hawaiian culture and history, and the natural environment.