The speaker recounts their experiences and shares their truth about being sent back from Hōlanikū, reclaiming their narrative after months of uncertainty.
5 Jun 2025
Kalo: The Heart of Hawaiian Culture, Food Sovereignty, and Ancestry
Mahiʻai Nick Kālāmakani Francisco discusses the cultural importance of kalo (taro) in Hawaiian identity, explaining its role as an ancestor and a means to achieve food sovereignty, in this interview.
1 May 2025
Embracing Change: From Teacher to Conservationist. A journey to Hōlanikū.
In this episode of Native Diaspora, host Belinda, also known as Kalani, discusses her upcoming journey to Hōlanikū, also known as Kure Atoll, and the synchronicities that led her here. She shares her personal experiences, including losing her job as a teacher, the significance of Hōlanikū in Hawaiian culture, and her volunteer work focused on conservation and community engagement. Kalani emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with nature and the spiritual connections she feels towards her ancestry and the land. She also expresses her desire to document her experiences and raise awareness about environmental issues.
CHAPTERS
00:00Introduction to Hōlanikū and Personal Journey
05:55 The Significance of Hōlanikū
12:03 Preparing for the Journey and Community Impact
takeaways
Kalani is moving to Hōlanikū for a volunteer opportunity.
She lost her teaching job, which led to this new path.
Hōlanikū is the oldest island in the Hawaiian chain.
The island holds significant spiritual and cultural importance.
She aims to document her experiences on the island.
The podcast will shift focus to her journey and conservation work.
Kalani wants to raise awareness about environmental issues.
She feels a strong calling to this opportunity.
The experience will allow her to live closer to nature.
12 Apr 2025
The Treaty of Waitangi & Treaty Principles Bill: Navigating Indigenous Rights and Colonial Legacy
Host Belinda, also known as Kalani, dives deep into the complexities of the Treaty of Waitangi, the Treaty Principles Bill, and the ongoing impacts of colonialism on Māori culture. She explores the current political climate surrounding Indigenous rights in New Zealand/Aotearoa , while Emily shares her personal experiences as a Māori woman. Emily reflects on her time working at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the importance of cultural identity, and the role of art in expressing indigenous narratives. She also delves into the creation story and the deeper meanings behind her art. The dialogue emphasizes the need for solidarity and collective action—both from Māori and non-Māori—towards Indigenous empowerment and addressing historical injustices.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:46 Understanding the Waitangi Treaty
06:36 Translation Issues and Misunderstandings
08:17 Legal Status of the Treaty
09:19 Current Political Climate and Treaty Principles Bill
11:33 Hikoi: Historical Protests and Their Significance
19:44 Experiences at Waitangi Treaty Grounds
20:30 Education and Awareness of Māori History
23:14 Creation Stories and Cultural Representation
29:08 Decolonization and Community Engagement
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Treaty of Waitangi has different interpretations in English and Māori.
Understanding the Treaty of Waitangi and its impact on Māori culture.
Insights into the Treaty Principles Bill.
Colonialism has lasting impacts on Indigenous cultures and identities.
Current political movements threaten Indigenous rights and recognition.
Art serves as a powerful medium for cultural expression and activism.
Indigenous movements are gaining momentum globally, reflecting a collective struggle.
Education about indigenous history is often lacking in mainstream narratives.
Community involvement is crucial for indigenous empowerment.
Non-Māori allies must support Māori voices and leadership.
Cultural identity is deeply tied to language and heritage.
The future of indigenous rights depends on collective action and awareness.
29 Mar 2025
Defunding Education, Politics, and The Dark History of Career Origins: Breaking Free from Capitalism’s Grip and Creating Local Change
In this conversation, Belinda also known as Kalani discusses the evolution of her podcast, Native Diaspora, and delves into the complexities of the education system in the U.S., particularly in relation to federal funding, political influences, and the role of religion. She explores historical narratives and the dark history of career orgins, questioning their relevance and the impact of consumerism and capitalism on society. She emphasizes the importance of local change and awareness in addressing these systemic issues.
00:00 Introduction to Native Diaspora
03:21 Show begins
03:46 Impact of Federal Education Funding
09:43 Challenges in the Education System
11:25 The Role of ICE in Schools
12:58 Religious Influence in Education
16:25 Exploring the dark history of Career Origins and Education History
29:12 Consumerism and the System
35:37 Creating Change Through Local Support
15 Mar 2025
Unschooling The System
In this episode, host Belinda, also known as Kalani, engages in a deep conversation with Taʻimiroa Pajimola, one of the co-founders of Pua ʻAʻaliʻi Un-Schooling. They explore the necessity and philosophy behind unschooling, particularly in the context of Indigenous education. Taʻimiroa shares her personal journey through the perspective of a farmer and mother creating a community-focused educational model that emphasizes traditional skills, moon cycles, and the importance of connecting back with the land/'āina. The discussion highlights the challenges of traditional education systems and the transformative potential of unschooling for families and communities in Hawaiʻi.
13 Feb 2025
The Flawed Education System Through The Lens of an Educator
In this conversation, Belinda, also known as Kalani, discusses the future of education from an Indigenous perspective, emphasizing the need for marginalized voices to be heard. She shares her personal experiences as a special education teacher, highlighting systemic issues within the education system that perpetuate colonial narratives and fail to support diverse student needs. The conversation calls for accountability in education, the importance of cultural identity, and the necessity for collective action to reclaim narratives and empower marginalized communities.
6 Feb 2025
Episode one: Can we escape the system?
Navigating and working within a system as a teacher and Kanaka Maoli that is indoctrinating and assimilating Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) students in their homeland. Episode one Trailer two.
3 Feb 2025
Sneak Peak: Trailer one, Episode one.
The future of education is Indigenous.
26 Jan 2025
Trailer
A platform dedicated to sharing the voices of marginalized Indigenous and Native communities, both from my ancestral homeland and my travels. It offers a space for discussions on the impacts of desecration, colonialism, and capitalism, while honoring storytelling rooted in history, creation stories, ancestral wisdom, and the process of re-indigenizing education. Let’s collectively remove our Western lens. As we unlearn what has been passed down from the conquerors, we can reshape our perspective through an Indigenous and Native worldview.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,153
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
3.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
37
Social presence
0
YouTube
74
Engagement
0
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