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Kipuka Database Research Guide

Overview

Kipuka is a geographic information system (GIS) developed by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) that links historic land, cultural, and archival data to geographic location. Grounded in the traditional Hawaiian land system—mokupuni, moku, ahupuaʻa, ʻili, and kuleana—Kipuka reinforces the concept that ʻike is embedded in ʻāina and encoded through inoa wahi (place names).

 

This guide introduces Kipuka as a reference tool for place-based Hawaiian research, particularly for land tenure, Māhele research, genealogy, and archival discovery. It explains when to use Kipuka, how to interpret its data, and how it works in relation to other core resources such as Papakilo and Ulukau.

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When to Use Kipuka

Use Kipuka when your research question is place-based or involves land relationships over time. Kipuka is especially useful for:

  • Land tenure research, including Māhele and Land Commission Awards (LCAs)

  • Locating ahupuaʻa, ʻili, and kuleana boundaries

  • Connecting TMKs to historic and contemporary land information

  • Situating archival records, testimonies, and awards spatially

  • Understanding relationships between land, genealogy, and governance

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Kipuka is most effective when researchers need to see how land, history, and records intersect geographically, rather than reading a single document in isolation.

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Understanding Kipuka’s Scope

Kipuka functions as a mapping and visualization platform, not a full-text digital library. It displays data layers that represent land divisions, awards, historic sites, and related records, often linking out to Papakilo, Ulukau, or archival repositories for documents and texts.

 

Unlike Ulukau (full-text Hawaiian-language sources) or Papakilo (aggregated indexes and metadata), Kipuka’s strength lies in spatial context—showing where ʻike is located on the landscape.

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Core Research Strategies

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Searching by Place

Researchers can search Kipuka using:

  • Place names (ahupuaʻa, ʻili, moku)

  • TMK numbers

  • Land award numbers (LCA)

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Place-based searching is especially effective for understanding how multiple records relate to the same ʻāina.​

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Land Commission Awards (Māhele Research)

Kipuka is a key entry point for Māhele research. Researchers can:

  • Search for LCA numbers

  • View awarded lands on the map

  • Follow links to registers, testimonies, and award documents hosted in related systems

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For full documentary research, Kipuka should be used alongside UH Mānoa’s Māhele research guides and archival records at the Hawaiʻi State Archives.

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Using Layers & Tools

Kipuka includes multiple interactive tools that support reference work:

  • Layers: Toggle land awards, ahupuaʻa boundaries, historic sites, and other datasets

  • Identify Tool: Click on map features to view details and linked records

  • Measure & Buffer: Analyze distance and spatial relationships

  • Bookmarks & Basemaps: Shift scale and geographic perspective

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Understanding how layers appear or disappear at different zoom levels is essential for accurate interpretation.

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Interpreting Kipuka Data

Data in Kipuka represents historical and contemporary knowledge systems that may change as new information becomes available. Researchers should:

  • Read map data in conjunction with archival records and textual sources

  • Pay attention to dates, sources, and linked repositories

  • Recognize that boundaries and names reflect specific historical moments

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Kipuka is best used as part of a layered research approach, not as a standalone authority.

 

Cultural Context & Ethical Use

Land information in Kipuka reflects living relationships between people, ʻāina, and ʻike. Researchers should approach land and genealogy data with care, especially when working with family histories or culturally sensitive locations.

 

Ethical research practices include:

  • Respecting community and family knowledge

  • Avoiding extractive use of place-based information

  • Consulting ʻike holders or cultural practitioners when appropriate

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These considerations are central to responsible Hawaiian research.

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Related Research Tools

Kipuka works most effectively alongside other Hawaiian research resources:

  • Papakilo: Aggregated discovery of genealogical, archival, and land records

  • Ulukau: Full-text Hawaiian-language newspapers, dictionaries, and reference works

  • Hawaiʻi State Archives: Original Māhele records, testimonies, and government documents

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Together, these tools support a comprehensive understanding of land, history, and genealogy.

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Conclusion

Kipuka is a powerful reference tool for situating Hawaiian history, genealogy, and archival records within the landscape itself. By visualizing how land, people, and records intersect, Kipuka enables researchers to approach Hawaiian land tenure and place-based research with greater depth, accuracy, and cultural responsibility.

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