{"id":232005,"date":"2026-04-09T11:58:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T21:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=232005"},"modified":"2026-04-09T11:58:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T21:58:02","slug":"talk-story-sessions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/talk-story-sessions\/","title":{"rendered":"Talk story sessions set to connect communities with Papahānaumokuākea"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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(Photo credit: Andrew Sullivan-Haskins, PMDP<\/abbr>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The one-year anniversary of the official designation of Papahānaumokuākea<\/span> as a National Marine Sanctuary was celebrated on March 3, a historic milestone in the ongoing protection of one of the most sacred and ecologically significant places on Earth. In recognition of this anniversary, the Papahānaumokuākea<\/span> Marine Debris Project<\/a> (PMDP<\/abbr>), Papahānaumokuākea<\/span> Sanctuary Advisory Council<\/a> (SAC<\/abbr>) and the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Sea Grant College Program<\/a> (Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Sea Grant) are starting the new, community-centered initiative, Papahānaumokuākea:<\/span> Bringing the Place to the People.<\/p>\n

Papahānaumokuākea<\/span> is a place of profound cultural, ecological and ancestral significance. Yet for many, it remains distant and abstract. The project seeks to bridge that distance by fostering meaningful, community-led engagement that deepens public awareness, stewardship, trust and cultural connection to the Papahānaumokuākea<\/span> National Marine Sanctuary. Beginning in summer and fall 2026, PMDP<\/abbr>, SAC<\/abbr> and Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Sea Grant will host community talk story sessions on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island (Hilo and Kona), Maui, Lānaʻi,<\/span> Molokaʻi,<\/span> Oʻahu<\/span> and Kauaʻi.<\/span><\/p>\n

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(Photo credit: Andrew Sullivan-Haskins, PMDP<\/abbr>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This initiative centers Native Hawaiian voices, values and leadership, elevating cultural resource conservation and protection as foundational to the sanctuary\u2019s past, present and future. Their vision is a living, island-to-island exchange where communities do not simply learn about Papahānaumokuākea,<\/span> but actively shape how its story, stewardship and future are carried forward.<\/p>\n

Rooted in listening<\/h2>\n

These gatherings are not presentations delivered to communities, they are conversations rooted in listening. This initiative allows SAC<\/abbr>, whose kuleana is to represent the communities, to learn directly from each island community and amplify their voices. The sessions will explore how Western science and Indigenous knowledge systems can be meaningfully integrated, community perspectives on stewardship and management, cultural resource protection priorities, opportunities for youth engagement and leadership, and how communities wish to remain connected to Papahānaumokuākea.<\/span><\/p>\n

Community organizations, cultural practitioners, educators and schools, conservation groups, youth leaders, kupuna and ʻike<\/span> holders, and interested individuals are invited to express their interest in hosting, partnering or participating in a talk story session on their island. The initiative is an invitation to listen, learn and steward together.<\/p>\n

The initiative was funded by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Sanctuary Community Fund<\/a>. Find more information on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Sea Grant\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The project seeks to bridge that distance by fostering meaningful, community-led engagement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":232012,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[665,1363,1314,1600,635,73,9,438],"class_list":["post-232005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-conservation","tag-manoa-research","tag-manoa-sustainability","tag-public-impact-research","tag-sea-grant-college-program","tag-sustainability","tag-uh-manoa","tag-uh-sea-grant","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t