Native Skywatchers - Soundscapes

**Native Skywatchers - Hawaiian Star Compass, Mahalo Sea & Stars - Year 4**

"Native Skywatchers - Hawaiian Star Compass, Mahalo Sea & Stars”

A Collaborative Research Project - Year 4

This project lives at the intersection of Science-Art-Culture - Team members include: Kumu Barbara Sarbin (lead), Kumu Joan Patton, Kumu Anna Aoki, and Kumu Christine Yasuhara in collaboration with Dr. Annette S. Lee-Principal Investigator.

Our framework is "Two-Eyed Seeing". This was shared by Carola Knockwood (Mi'kmaw) and described by her Mi’kmaw elders: Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing is learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western knowledges and ways of knowing, and to use both these eyes for the benefit of all. (Bartlett, Marshall and Marshall 2012, 336)

Using a 10-week interdisciplinary, project-based co-learning, co-creating model, students in grades K, 1, and 2 at the Volcano School of the Arts and Scienc were asked to follow a research and design process to first brainstorm, evolve, conceptualize, and then fabricate a solution to the creative challenge:

Research Questions - Design Challenge:

-How do you express mahalo/put down thanks for life through soundscape using whale song, the star compass, mo'olelo, and movement?

-Can you create empathy through soundscape performance to show what is the human's kuleana (responsibility) in relationship to ocean/land/sky environments?

The "Hawaiian Star Compass, Mahalo Sea & Stars" performance, installation, and exhibit will open at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo, Hawai'i on March 12, 2026 and be open until May 1, 2026.

Native Skywatchers - Volcano School - "Hawaiian Star Compass, Mahalo Sea and Stars" - Exhibit Highlights ...Mar to May 2026

Native Skywatchers "Hawaiian Star Compass, Mahalo Sea & Stars", Mokupāpapa Museum, Hilo, Hawai'i, March 2026 ©Native Skywatchers. All Rights Reserved.

Native Skywatchers-Volcano School, Koholā 'Oli

Native Skywatchers-Volcano School, Hawaiian Star Compass

Native Skywatchers-Volcano School

Exhibit Brochure View & Download

The Volcano School of Arts and Sciences, is a Hawaiian-Focused Public Charter School located in the rural town of Volcano, Hawai'i, adjacent to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, Hawai'i. The school vision is Kūlia, 'Ohana. Aloha.... Learning through Volcano's unique natural and cultural resources to become creative global citizens. “Native Skywatchers”, is proud and honored to partner with our educator and student collaborators at the Volcano School of Arts and Sciences. In carrying out this work, we honor and recognize our dear friend and colleague Kālepa Baybayan who brought us together in 2019-2020. In memoriam: Kālepa Baybayan.

" Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences"

"Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences"

Ahéhee', Gracias, Mahalo, Miigwech, Pilamayaye, Merci, Thank you!