About

Editor: Gregory C. Loui

Personal Statement

I made the first step of my journey into Polynesian Futurism listening to my family, my ohana tell me about the Hawaiian past. The past is still alive in the Hawaiian Islands, with each building, volcano and tree carrying a story.One of the first legends I learned was Maui and how he pulled the Hawaiian Islands from the sea. That legend was just one of thousands I have heard since birth. Inspired by the rich heritage surrounding me, I began reading Science-Fiction and Fantasy books. Even as a teenager, I recognized Science-Fiction and Fantasy books are powerful tools for a society because they can influence and inspire people’s minds. However, there were no books about me and my people, no books that explored Pacific Islanders. We just did not exist. We could not use this cultural tool to explore our present or future. I did not know how essential this problem would become in my life; at least, not until I went to college.

At the University of California San Diego, I found a path to continue Science-Fiction. That path was Speculative Design, which is essentially Futurism, a discipline dedicated to designing the future using our present as inspiration. In other words, Futurism is a more comprehensive version of Science-Fiction. I soon developed a passion for crafting future scenarios both impossible and all too real. It was the perfect fit for me. Since my first classes, I have acted as project lead for almost every upper-division design course. I was the creative mind and team leader for projects that ranged from designing future medical rooms to mars colonies. On a more personal note,I have worked in Futurism for years as a Science-Fiction writer. Hundreds of hours of research, outlining and writing went into creating each novel. So far,I have written over a million words over the last five years, showing my dedication to this craft. In another extracurricular project, I created interdisciplinary workshops with the Arthur C. Clarke Center and the Cross-Border Initiative for underprivileged youth in San Diego in order to teach them more about the creative process. I used Science-Fiction as the framework of the workshop, letting the youth explore their own identities and social agency through a lighter version of Futurism. Through my studies and extracurricular activities, I have accumulated a wide variety of skills and experiences that prepared me for any career in Futurism. And yet, that is one only aspect of my story; I was missing my heritage as a Pacific Islander.

It took coming to the United States mainland to realize what it meant to be an Islander because I was cut off from my culture and had to reassess my relationship to my heritage. I did not know if my ancestry was enough. In response, I founded the UC San Diego Pacific Islander Student Association to create a community for others like me on campus. The organization is small, but we are a diverse group that include Chamorro, Samoans, Maori and of course, Native Hawaiians. We hold monthly General Body Meetings to learn more about our respective cultures and to live our heritages. However, I knew I could go further. It was great to relive the past, but I realized that I wanted to combine both my heritage and my passion for futuristic thinking. That way is through Polynesian Futurism, a speculative process based on Polynesian culture and specific problems we face. It uses this context to create a unique future and reject the popular historization that separates Polynesians from the modern world.