AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

This dissertation provides a coherent and an in-depth analysis of Hawai’i tourism’s impact on Nā Kumu, who are considered to be the fabric of Hawai’i society. Nā Kumu was identified to be the teachers of the Kanka Maoli or the Native Hawai’ian culture, which was embedded into community connectivity. The varying perspectives of these teaching practices were examined through transcendental phenomenology and transcription data analyzed according to proximal expressions of invariant elements. Eight Nā Kumu participated in this study, ranging in their degree of practice, community role, how they conceptualized the role of kumu, and what the lived experience of Hawai’i tourism meant to them. These elements led to a greater understanding of how tourism in this state impacts Kānka Maoli societal teachings, which suggests Hawai’i societal policy as the primary control mechanism to how Hawai’i tourism is experienced by Nā Kumu and contributed to Nā Kumu sense of well-being as inhabitants of Hawai’i. The findings may also suggest the cognitive construct of what community connectivity is believed to be according to Nā Kumu values, which impacts their overall sense of well-being. This suggests the cognitive proximal approach of the kumu as either internal or external, which affects their perception of Hawai’i tourism. However, the overall essence of Hawai’i tourism’s impact on Nā Kumu was found to be causal by Hawai’i societal policy because this mechanism ultimately provides regulation and control of a given industry.