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Emalani Case (Writer, Scholar, Activist)
Emalani Mailekaluhea Kanekapolei Case, more commonly known as Emalani Case, is a Kanaka Maoli writer, scholar and activist.

Personal Life
Emalani Case is originally from Waimea on the Big Island of Hawai’i. She grew up immersed in traditions and stories, and has trained in hula since she was young. Case has gone on to publish a number of works in the Pacific studies space, notably her first book Everything Ancient was Once New: Indigenous Persistence from Hawai’i to Kahiki. Emalani Case was a lecturer in Pacific Studies at Victoria University of Wellington for a number of years, and is now a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland.

Education
Emalani Case attended Hawai'i Community College in Hilo, Hawai'i, and went on to gain her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Hawai'i, also in Hilo. She went on to gain her Master of Arts, also in English from the University of Hawai'i in Manoa. Case came to Aotearoa in 2012 to study towards her PhD in Pacific studies. In Aotearoa Case studied under the late Dr Teresia Teaiwa, influential Pacific Scholar. She speaks English and Hawai'ian.

An important part of Emalani Case's life and story is Hula, in which she is both a practitioner and teacher. Case credits her cousin, Pua Case, as her kumu hula/ hula teacher. Case opens up about hula in an interview with e tangata, saying "I often talk about how hula has taught me to see the world as being storied. Every single thing has a story. Every maunga, every awa, every landscape, seascape and skyscape has a story, and recognising that teaches us to interact with the world in a more respectful way. When you can acknowledge that every stone has a story and a place in this world, then you tread a little more carefully."

Activism
Emalani Case regularly engages in activism, promoting solidarity, decolonization and social justice across the Pacific. Case has been involved in influential protests, such as advocating for Mauna Kea, as well as standing at Ihumātao. While addressing the frontline at Ihumātao, Case says "“Mauna Kea and Ihumātao are not isolated moments, they are movements that speak to each other across oceans ... from Mauna Kea, we recognise the struggle at Ihumātao because we know it, we’ve felt it.  From Mauna Kea, we’ve also felt the Māori recognition of our struggle, we’ve felt the prayers, we’ve been inspired by the actions, and we’ve been empowered by the solidarity," Case's work across activism and academia promote Pacific solidarity in the face of issues which affect the region. In an interview with Victoria University, Case lists some of the causes closest to her heart as:


 * The movement to protect our Mountain, Mauna Kea, in Hawai’i
 * The movement to demilitarize Hawaiʻi and to end the military occupation of our islands.
 * The movement for a free and independent Pacific.
 * The movement for climate justice.

Emalani Case advocates for the demilitarization of Hawai'i and the wider Pacific, and has been vocal against RIMPAC (The Rim of the Pacific exercise). RIMPAC is a military exercise which takes place in Hawai'i every two years. Case writes about RIMPAC "Rimpac is highly destructive. It pollutes and contaminates our lands and water, it threatens wildlife, and it puts a strain on Hawaiʻi’s already fragile ecosystems. Every year, it results in an increase in toxic waste, noise pollution, and unnecessary, preventable damage. It also contributes to the ongoing dispossession of Indigenous lands." In 2020, Case stood with other Indigenous people across Hawai'i and the wider Pacific to cancel RIMPAC, and urge New Zealand to pull out of this exercise.

Everything Ancient was Once New: Indigenous Persistence from Hawai’i to Kahiki.
Emalani Case's first book, Everything Ancient was Once New: Indigenous Persistence from Hawai’i to Kahiki, is an important work which explores Indigenous persistence in the Pacific through the concept of Kahiki, coming from Hawai’i. This was published in 2021. Case speaks about the title of this book in an interview with e tangata, saying "“Everything ancient was once new” was therefore the reminder I needed to recommit myself to that process of creation, future building, dreaming, storytelling, and Indigenous persistence that enabled our survival in the past and that will allow our ancientness to be in a constant process of becoming in the present."