CARRYING ON

By Emily Garcia

In 2016, I spent a majority of my year documenting Hawaiian cultural preservation through art in the city of Eugene, Oregon. As a woman of Hawaiian heritage, I was incredibly proud that Marcus Mariota's Heisman trophy win in 2015 helped attract attention to the people of Polynesia. But when I came to the University of Oregon, it became clear that not very many people on campus understood what was genuine Hawaiian culture, and what was commercialized fantasy. Recognizing the large Polynesian population in Eugene, I decided to seek out those who are working to carry on the traditions of Hawai'i and other Polynesian cultures. In September, I had the privilege to present my documentary to the community of Eugene during a Hawaiian cultural event, Aloha Friday. 

* I do not own the rights to the historical photos of Hawai'i nor the modern photos of the Islands. All were found on Google Image Search for the sole purpose of educating the public about Hawaiian culture and its preservation in Eugene.