Hoʻohua Hou

This program is meant to build on and protect the ʻike of Native Hawaiian kūpuna. The lāhui needs the ability to use and steward this knowledge as a guide for pono and distinctively Hawaiian ways of being. ʻIke kūpuna is essential foundation for Native Hawaiian identity and worldview.

This program is focused on protection of ʻike kūpuna and other intangible aspects of Native Hawaiian culture, including traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, genetic resources, associated traditional and customary practices, and the intellectual property comprised of or developed from these cultural resources. This work includes advocacy for advancement in the law that prevents cultural appropriation and abuse, including within the intellectual property system.

The world is changing ever more quickly. As change occurs, the lāhui needs to ensure that Native Hawaiian ʻike kūpuna is not adapted incorrectly, exploited or abused without conforming to traditional protocols, nor restricted from use in daily Hawaiian life. Yet there are numerous risks including the capture of cultural property as privatized intellectual property rights that are weaponized against the community, regulation restricting rights to cultural practice, and failures to institute law and policy that adequately enable cultural practice and the use of traditional knowledge.

NHLC is dedicated to being at the forefront of advocacy with kumu and practitioners to protect ʻike kūpuna and Native Hawaiian traditional protocols for the stewardship of this ike.

Need Assistance?

If you have a legal issue and would like to see if we can help you, please call our office at (808) 521-2302 or contact us using our Contact Form.

Executive Director

Litigation Director

• The National Native American Bar Association Intellectual and Cultural Property Committee maintains helpful resources regarding traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, and genetic resources information.