Uncovering Sacred Roots, Canoe Plants, and Kava Culture with Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp
Episode Summary:
In Episode 42 of Coming to the Mat, host Dr. Méré Tari Sovick sits down with writer, poet, Indigenous cultural researcher, and public historian Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp to explore the shared cultural, linguistic, and spiritual lineage of the Pacific through the lens of kava (or 'awa). Raised in the homestead community of Papakōlea, Hawaii, Adam shares insights on how 'awa served as a vital "canoe plant" brought by early Polynesian voyagers, tracing its ancestral roots back to Melanesia. The conversation dives into the ancient transition from betel nut to kava, common Austronesian root words—such as Vanua and Honua—and how plants function as living ancestral connections across Oceania. Together, Dr. Sovick and Adam address the impacts of colonial separation, discuss the importance of including Melanesian and Micronesian voices in broader Pacific narratives, and highlight how reclaiming traditional practices serves as a powerful act of resurgence and unity for Pasifika communities today.
Special Note on First Nations & Torres Strait Islander Connections:
Although not explicitly detailed in the audio, this conversation holds in high regard and recognizes the First Nations peoples of Australia and the Torres Strait Islanders as an integral part of our broader Oceanic family. Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders connect to the wider Pacific through deep shared roots from the ancient continent of Sahul. In particular, Torres Strait Islanders—as a Melanesian people—serve as a direct geographic, cultural, and ancestral bridge linking the Australian continent with Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the wider South Pacific.