Giavonna Kalaiwa

Hello!

Kaua Kalaiwaa is an artist born and based in Waimānalo, on the east side of Oahu who designs websites, graphics, and presentations for Native Hawaiian, Indigenous, or resiliency based non-profit organizations. Kaua graduated from Kapiʻolani Community College with an Information Technology Associate's degree. Currently, she is a student at the University of Hawaii - West Oahu as a Creative Media General track major to dip her toes into different opportunities. Concurrently, she is studying for her Pacific Hawaiian Studies certificate to learn about her Hawaiian culture and how to be more respectful of her culture when looking for inspiration for her designs. She finds working with nonprofits meaningful because of their mission and what they do for the surrounding community, such as CERENE, The Center for Resilient Neighborhoods who use research and data to help find better ways for communities to prepare for natural disasters.

Research Topic: Archiving

Research Question: Why is it important to have a digital plant database that effectively engages the community in learning about and appreciating native plants through an interactive online and physical experience while also incorporating traditional knowledge, frameworks, and sustainability practices in documentation and categorization of plant species on campus?

Abstract:

Many students, faculty, and community walk through the University of Hawaii at West O‘ahu campus surrounded by plants, yet few know their names, origins, or cultural significance. This project proposed the creation of a Plant Pilina Database and Awareness Initiative to bridge that gap through education, conservation, and cultural preservation. The initiative will document native and non-native plants found on campus, incorporating scientific data alongside Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)—including Hawaiian names, traditional uses, and cultural stories. The database will be digitally accessible through an interactive website and QR-coded signage for the mala on campus as the pilot garden of the project. By connecting people to the plants they encounter daily, the project promotes mālama ʻāina (care for the land) and encourages active participation in sustainability. Through fostering biodiversity awareness and guiding campus landscaping toward native species, this project will serve as a resource for courses in Hawaiian Studies, Environmental Science, and Sustainability. Ultimately, this project seeks to cultivate a deeper relationship between people and place—empowering the UH West O‘ahu community to see plants not just as greenery, but as living archives of knowledge, resilience, and identity.

Capstone Project: Website

Project Title: Plant Pilina

Capstone Proposal:

CREATIVE PROCESS:

The concept of creativity has come a long way. The Old Greeks would call those creative forces muses, other religions referred to them as God. Today people still mostly treat creativity as an aha moment outside the area of influence. However, just by looking at the creative process one can tell, that creativity and creative work is more than just that one "Aha-Moment" (insight). It is clear that generating ideas demands planning and preparation, identifying something of interest like a problem, an opportunity or a challenge, doing research. This then leads to thinking of a solution, allowing time to incubate and iterations before arriving at something “complete.” Students learn that hard work is what makes their ideas come to life and sticktuiveness is what helps them get better.

DELIVERABLE:

For her senior capstone, Kaua created an educational website as part of her Plant Pilina Database and Awareness Initiative, a project grounded in her commitment to cultural preservation and ʻāina-based learning. Building on her research into Native Hawaiian and endemic plant archiving, she documented the plants found across the UH West Oʻahu campus—pairing scientific information with Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), including Hawaiian names, cultural uses, and traditional stories. Her website serves as an interactive resource that connects students, faculty, and community members to the plants they encounter daily, supported by QR-coded signage in the campus mala as a pilot site. Through this work, Kaua promotes mālama ʻāina, strengthens biodiversity awareness, and positions plants as living archives of memory, resilience, and identity. Her project ultimately fosters a deeper relationship between people and place, enriching learning across Hawaiian Studies, Sustainability, and Environmental Science. This is just a start for her.

Go and check it out!

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