Our Commitments

Kohala Oral History Project (KOHP) uses digital technologies to deepen, not replace, the living relationships and responsibilities that surround Kohala’s oral histories. Technology is a set of tools in service to kūpuna, ʻohana, and ʻāina—not the other way around.​

Purpose and guiding values

The system exists to protect, transmit, and make thoughtfully accessible the voices, memories, and ʻike (knowledge) of North Kohala. All technical choices are guided by community values, cultural protocols, and the principles of indigenous data sovereignty (the right of the community to govern its own knowledge and data). We commit to minimizing harm, honoring consent, and ensuring that stories are not taken out of context or used in ways that conflict with community expectations.​

Kohala Oral History Project is committed to the ethical and respectful use of technology in all aspects of our work. We will never use artificial intelligence (AI) or other digital tools to create an artificial likeness of any person, living or deceased, including generating new images, video, or audio that purports to represent them or their voice. We will not use language‑generation, voice‑cloning, or video‑language tools to fabricate, simulate, or alter a person’s words, expressions, or appearance in a way that could mislead viewers or listeners about what they actually said or did.​

How we use technology and “intelligent” tools

We use transcription, indexing, and intelligent search tools to make interviews easier to discover by topic, person, place, and theme. These tools help users find relevant segments and create a conversational way to explore the KOHP archive, but they do not change or rewrite what kūpuna said. All automated outputs (like suggested tags, summaries, or Q&A answers) are treated as drafts and must be checked against the original recordings and transcripts when accuracy or nuance matters.​

All edits to media (such as basic color correction, audio cleanup, or trimming for length) are made only to improve clarity, accessibility, or quality, and will never change the meaning, intent, or context of the original contribution. We will clearly distinguish authentic oral histories from any interpretive or educational materials that may accompany them.​

Human oversight, consent, sensitive content, and take down policy

Human reviewers—especially community members and cultural advisors—remain the final authority on how content is described, tagged, translated, and surfaced in search. When there is a conflict between a technical “best practice” and cultural guidance, cultural guidance prevails. We maintain clear processes for correcting errors, updating descriptions, and withdrawing or restricting items when requested by participants or their ʻohana (family).​

Interviews are included, described, and shared only within the bounds of informed consent agreements and community expectations. Some materials may be restricted, time‑delayed, or shared only with certain audiences, based on cultural sensitivity or family wishes. We avoid using sensitive material to train or improve external services, and we do not grant third parties unrestricted rights over community content.​

KOHP maintains a Take‑Down and Content Review Policy that explains how people can request review, restriction, or removal of materials; this policy is available on request and on our website.

Transparency, limitations, and security

We clearly indicate to users when they are seeing an automatically generated response, and we encourage them to consult the full recording or transcript for context. Intelligent search tools can misinterpret language, under‑represent certain perspectives, or miss nuance, especially around Hawaiian language, spiritual topics, or complex family histories; users are invited to treat these tools as guides, not definitive authorities, and to report mistakes, mis‑tagging, or culturally inappropriate results.​

We follow recognized archival standards for preservation, backup, and documentation to safeguard materials for future generations, and select storage, backup, and access systems with attention to security, reliability, and long‑term sustainability. Only authorized staff and partners may manage the underlying systems, and all must agree to this responsible technology framework.​

Community voice, caution, and continuous reflection

Community members, kūpuna, and educators are invited into ongoing dialogue about how this technology KOHP is using is working, what feels supportive, and what needs to change. Policies and tools will be reviewed regularly and adjusted when they no longer align with community values or emerging best practices. If new technologies introduce risks to dignity, consent, or community trust, we will err on the side of caution, prioritize human review and judgment, and update our practices to uphold these principles.​

Anyone who feels that a recording, description, or technical feature does not reflect the dignity and intentions of the people represented may contact KOHP at kohalaoralhistoryproject@gmail.com to request review or change. By using technology in this way—carefully, transparently, and under community guidance—we seek to ensure that digital tools help carry Kohala’s stories forward while honoring the people, places, and relationships at their heart.​

Updated 9/13/26