Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 7, 1 July 2005 — Tradition vs. tech [ARTICLE]

Tradition vs. tech

Cultural anel scientific groups seek eommon ground

The recent controversy surrounding UH's genetic research on kalo highlights the potential for conflict when technology and Hawaiian culture converge. Efforts are being made, however, to find a eommon ground on such issues. Discussions on this subject have been taking plaee between the Royal Order of Kamehameha I and the Hawai'i Life Sciences Council, a new organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of biotechnology and other sciences in the state. The eouneil, working with nearly 300 people and organizations, including Kamehameha Schools, has developed a 180-page document that acts as a guide for the life-sciences industry in the state. Council President Lisa Gibson said that the life-sciences industry has the potential to provide the state with an alternative eeonomie pillar to tourism and the military. But she stressed that collaborating with the Hawaiian community is essential. "If we work together, we ean decide what is good science and what is bad science," she said. The Royal Order of Kamehameha has also formed a biotech panel that is examining several issues of eoneem to the Hawaiian community, said Bill Souza, a representative of the royal society. The panel has already held a meeting on kalo genetic engineering with UH scientists and is planning additional meetings throughout the summer. "We are trying to create an opportunity for Hawaiians to be able to eome to the table and express our interests," Souza said. ī-2