The Kaulike Initiative

The Kaulike Initiative is a groundbreaking project dedicated to advancing justice for Native Hawaiians by documenting, analyzing, and amplifying the voices of our people across Hawaiʻi and the diaspora. Rooted in the principle of kaulike—balance, fairness, and justice—the project brings together community members, scholars, and practitioners to explore how systemic inequities continue to shape Hawaiian lives while also lifting up models of resilience and strength.

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Through a combination of quantitative research, like the Ward Research survey, and qualitative efforts, including focus groups and community gatherings such as those held during the 2023 CNHA Convention in Las Vegas, the project provides one of the most comprehensive portraits of Native Hawaiian experiences to date. More than a research study, Kaulike is a call to action: to recognize injustice, to imagine new futures, and to recommit to keeping our lāhui strong, connected, and thriving wherever we live.

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The project resulted in a forthcoming book, Hawaiian Soul: Resilience, Restoration, and Justice. All the pieces from this book will be made available free on this website for public use. A limited number of books are available for pre-order (click here to reserve your copy). The book will be released widely in early 2026 from Mutual Publishing.  To receive updates on the book release, please sign up for our newsletter.