UH Mānoa is the oldest and largest university in the University of Hawai‘i system. As a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, the campus strengthens Native Hawaiian knowledge and cultural values by integrating early Polynesian navigation practices into their campus wayfinding and signage system. First conceived by students in the Architecture department, the bilingual signage project turned into an administration-backed initiative to implement kānaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiian) navigational knowledge and values across the 320-acre campus.

UH Manoa’s signage project centers traditional Polynesian navigation techniques and kānaka ʻōiwi alignment practices. Traditionally, the islands were structured into ahupuaʻa (land division usually extending from the mountains to the sea) which were made up of subdivisions called ʻili ʻāina. The signs demarcate on which ‘ili ‘āina buildings are located, are placed according to where ancient kānaka ʻōiwi erected heiau (temples), and point toward different landmarks in and around Mānoa. They also feature medallions that include a QR code that’s synced with an interactive map accessible by smartphone to understand the surrounding land.

Our longtime collaborators and kānaka ʻōiwi designers and cultural practitioners Sig and Kūhaʻo Zane and Nalani Kanakaʻole were commissioned to create the cultural concept and unique watermark for the signage. The three tapped us to lend our wayfinding and fabrication expertise on the tactical elements of execution like contracting fabricators and ensuring the signs contained all of the necessary wayfinding components. Our mission was to lend our resources and knowledge as needed so the Hawaiian way of navigation could take precedence.