The Problem with Common Ground: Translation and Colonial Logics in the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center Online Interface

Abstract

The ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center attempts common ground with Native Hawaiians who protect Mauna a Wākea from occupation by astronomical research. Through interface analysis of the ‘Imiloa website, I consider navigation in three ways: a traditional Hawaiian practice of culture, a user interaction within a digital interface, and a rhetorical figure that steers users through colonial logics. I argue that the ‘Imiloa interface creates a colonial user experience by translating Hawaiian knowledge into Eurowestern frames of knowledge, excluding the political meaning of Mauna a Wākea, and appealing to an ethical tourism ethos. I suggest reflexive approaches of interfacing with cultural knowledges.