I ka nānā no a ʻike.

By observing, one learns

— ʻŌlelo noʻeau no. 1185

Welina mai to a critical, Indigenous, wahine ʻŌiwi space to speak back to the "Ivory Tower" of academia through humanizing reflections on my ongoing educational and career journey.

I use this blog to document personal updates, book reviews, and reflexive writing. Mahalo for taking the time to engage with me.

Moʻolelo, 2 min. read Kourtney Kawano Moʻolelo, 2 min. read Kourtney Kawano

Aloha 'Āina, Ea, and Hoʻoulu Lāhui

This past week, I spent some much-needed time engaged in ʻāina, cultivating new friendships, and nurturing old ones. Last Saturday, I went out to a loʻi and got to talk story with college students and recent graduates about their relationship with ʻāina, and I'm always amazed and inspired by the depth of ʻike our youth have when it comes to Aloha ʻĀina work.

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Haʻi Manaʻo, 1 min. read Kourtney Kawano Haʻi Manaʻo, 1 min. read Kourtney Kawano

Being a good ancestor in the present

Anishinaabe water protector, activist, educator, politician, and community leader Winona LaDuke calls on us to "be the ancestor your descendants would be proud of." As I continue to learn of new uprisings and encampments in support of Gaza across the U.S. continent, Winona's wisdom is ever present. But what does it mean to be a good ancestor today? What does it look like?

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