Synthesis of Data Inputs from the Bishop Museum Collections on Drought Related Environmental Changes and Natural Climate Indicators from Traditional Responses

This research provides insight on Native Hawaiian relationships to drought historically as well as current practices within community-based management. Of importance are historical records of drought spanning short term in one section of an island to three generations across multiple islands. This dataset represents a survey of the Ulukau, Papakilo Database, and Kuluwaimaka Collection from the Bishop Museum for drought related environmental changes and natural climate indicators, traditional responses to related disasters. First, a review of Hawaiian proverbs (‘ōlelo no‘eau) related to drought and elements impacted by drought (e.g., plants, food resource, death, famine) identify perspectives that reflect household to island wide scale impacts of drought with practices and policies embedded within some. Next, through recorded chants and resources individual elements such as wind and rain names teach us about specific locations, and more so patterns. Historical analysis of Hawaiian chants from Ka‘ū, a well-known drought location on Hawai‘i Island, reveal more focus on water than drought and Hawaiian words not previously affiliated with drought, molo, have provided new understanding that Hawaiians view the loss of water and food with drought. Finally, a review of historical stories of drought references teaches families and communities about lessons related to drought. Hawaiian proverbs, chants, and stories provide new insights that contribute to our understanding of drought in Hawai‘i within Hawaiian data formats.