Dr. Lynette Hi’ilani Cruz (2012), a retired professor of anthropology at Hawai’i Pacific University (HPU), is a long-time community organizer and strong advocate for Hawaiian independence. Whether working on issues of homelessness, respecting the land, sustainability, or Hawaiian sovereignty, Lynette educates by integrating an awareness of the land (‘aina) with knowledge of the history and of the national and cultural identity of that place/site. As a professor at HPU, Lynette took her students on field trips to create a different method of learning—that is, having the land speak to the students. Currently, she is “Kupuna-in-Residence” at HPU and continues these field trips.
Journey to Justice: A Conversation with Dr. Lynette Cruz and Eiko Kosasa(Part 1 of 2)
In this Part I of the interview, Lynette discusses her teaching philosophy and practices. I began by asking her where she was born and raised.
Running time approximately 29 min.
Journey to Justice: A Conversation with Dr. Lynette Cruz and Eiko Kosasa(Part 2 of 2)
In Part 2, we begin with a five-minute clip of Dr. Lynette Cruz discussing the pedagogical value of student field trips, a teaching method raised in Part 1. What is most striking about Dr. Cruz is her thoughtful approach to life and to politics. Her social justice work centers on understanding people’s relationship to the land and relationship to each other as key to finding solutions to the larger issues.
Running time approximately 28 min.
