RESEARCH THROUGH CONVERSATION
According to Merriam-Webster, social media can be defined as “forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content.” Over time the use of social media has evolved well beyond the means of chatting with your friends or sharing photos with family. Now, there are a variety of ways that society has learned to utilize social media. I developed my research question after noticing the new purposes the social media can serve and new opportunities it can provide; one being a means for indigenous people to shed light on issues that have been affecting their communities, to educate the general public about their culture and two; to normalize native practices.
CONVERSATIONS THROUGH MEDIA
In attempt of finding answers to my research question, I met with three individuals, all of indigenous backgrounds, who have displayed how the use of social media can play a role in the perpetuation of their culture. I've taken our conversations and produced them into the form of a podcast.
From listening to their personal experiences, I've learned of the ways that social media has become a resource to educate, inspire, and spread awareness about their culture. It is evident that they have all recognized the advantages of social media in the way it can provoke change. |
EPISODES
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Kuʻulei Perreira-Keawekane (@mauli.ola) On this episode I got the chance to sit down and talk with a Hawaiʻi famous instagramer who is known for sharing Native Hawaiian driven content with her followers. As a Hawaiian it’s really refreshing and awesome to see Hawaiian content coming to the forefront of social media. Hawaiʻi is often just looked at as a vacation destination, but through people like Kuʻulei and my other guests that I got to speak with, a lot of truth and clarity about the history and current issues Hawaiʻi is facing is coming to light, and being shared with the world. Keola Nakanishi (@mana_maoli) I sat down and spoke with Keola Nakanishi, director of the non-profit organization Mana Maoli. Although first known as a non-profit with a mission of educating Hawaiʻi's youth through culture based learning, Mana Maoli has brought global attention to Hawaiʻi and the issues its native population have been facing. Through the production of what they call, Collaborative Music Videos, the have been able to spread awareness on important topics such as the protection of Mauna Kea from the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, as well as educate the public by sharing different Hawaiian mele. Jonah Kahanuola Solatorio (@ehoopilimai) and Reflection In this episode I talk about the conversation I had with Jonah Solatorio, the creator of the Instagram account, E Hoʻopili Mai! With this Instagram account Jonah teaches his followers how to speak in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ( Hawaiian). By providing daily lessons on this social media platform, Jonah hopes to not only perpetuate the language of his kupuna but to also normalize the use of the Hawaiian language. I learned of the inspiration and motivation that lead to the creation of E Hoʻopili Mai and the impact that Jonah has been able to make not only in Hawaiʻi but around the globe. |
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ABOUT MEB.A. IN CREATIVE MEDIA, UHWOAloha! My name is Courtney Quiamzon and welcome to my Senior Practicum website.
I was born and raised in the city of Waipahu on the island of Oʻahu. Being apart of the 2016 graduating class of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, a lot of my creative inspiration comes from the values I have learned while at Kamehameha. Such as the importance of perpetuating the Hawaiian culture and assuring its preservation. As a student of the Academy of Creative Media, my educational journey at UHWO has led me to gaining skills in video production and editing, animation design, audio recording and editing, and graphic design. Throughout my college career I have had the opportunity to apply what I've learned from my creative coursework to different jobs and internships. I have been fortunate to work with companies like PBS Hawaiʻi and intern with media groups such as Summit Media Hawaiʻi and Mana Maoli. After earning my degree I hope to pursue a career in broadcasting, to help share authentic stories about Hawaii and contribute to the perpetuation of my home's native culture. I hope you have learned more about the utilization of social media by indigenous people through the findings I have discovered through out the research from my senior capstone project. |