Finding the Return Home through Writing | Kristiana Kahakauwila

“We have been trained, educated to feel that we are not enough.” – Kristiana Kahakauwila

Hosted by our very own Noe on their show ‘Navigating Oceania’ that airs every Thursday at 7pm PST right here on the Daybreak Star Radio! Noe, got the chance to sit down with published author Kristiana Kahakauwila, so go check out the full video interview down below‼️👇

‘Aloha ʻāina’ Through Story

As Noe shares their culture beautifully throughout their show, we come to learn the term “Aloha ʻāina“. Which means ‘love of the land’, ‘love as the land’, and Kristiana embodies that fully within her work. Starting with her first book ‘This is Paradise‘, which revolves around a conversation about our relationship to home. The idea of leaving and also learning why and how to return, hoping to use her ‘Kuleana‘ (responsibility) to help people who grow up in the diaspora see a way home.

Kristiana states that this comes from her experience, growing up off island in Southern California, constantly reckoning with her identity. Stating that this feeling of not being enough was prevalent but she soon realized that even Native Hawaiians that grew up on island felt the same way. Showing her that this problem affected her people on a deeper level and even transcended cultures.

This is what birthed ‘This is Paradise‘ and led her to find her target audience immediately. Stating that she aims for a wide and broad audience, to invite them to connect with the material on a different level. Not only that but it led her to her second book, and unearthed a new found question for her to dive into.

Who You Write For vs. Who You Write To

“Write the story that only you can write, that’s how you find your voice and your vision.” – Kristiana Kahakauwila

‘Clairboyence‘ is Kristiana Kahakauwila’s second book and first that is geared towards a younger demographic. A story that dives into culture, identity and home all through the lens of a young girl that gains a special power. Not only that but Kristiana gets to teach the history of the land in unique ways both about the past and future.

Kristiana is a writing teacher and she emphasizes that there is a difference between who you write for and who you write to. Writing for somebody is choosing the right vessel and direction in order to hit your target demographic. As Kristiana states that her work aims to both incorporate young adults and young children broadly in her different work. Although tapping into who you write to goes much deeper.

Who you write to allows you to tap into the heart of your message, allows you tap into your ‘Ea‘ (sovereignty, breath). Meaning that it guides the love, passion and voice of your work, specifically because you are writing to someone. It shows you what to explain and what not to explain because you are going off the understanding and knowledge of the person that you are writing to.

“We don’t have to understand everything at once, what are we ready for right now?” – Kristiana Kahakauwila

Releasing Your Work Into The World

Kristiana emphasizes to her students the idea of the ethical work that your writing will do in the world. She comes across the well-known fact that most writers and creatives are fearful of putting their work out into the world. Writing always has to come from a deep place in order to feel real and fulfilling, but that leads to persistent doubt and fear.

What we can do best is use the writing tools that are available to us in order to curve those feelings and enhance the output of our work. Channeling your story into structure, understanding your target demographic and diving into that, holding onto your integrity by reminding yourself who you write to. All of these different concepts are ways that writers can keep themselves on track and mindful of the importance of their work.

Kristiana Kahakauwila shares this with her students because your writing does do work in the world. Releasing a project does make ripples into the world, starting small and sometimes expanding beyond what you perceived as achievable. So, don’t give up, write your story, and only the story that you can write.

Check out the full video interview down below and go support Kristiana Kahakauwila in everything that she continues to do‼️👇

Kristiana Kahakauwila Website

Kristiana Kahakauwila Instagram