Pursuits of Purpose: Dialogues between Environmental, Social and Individual Well- Being in Honolulu

Abstract

Understandings of the finiteness of earth s natural resources and structural unequal power- relations, leads people to wonder how change can be enacted. The thematic axis of this thesis is shaped by the concepts of well- being and sustainability. It demonstrates how social entrepreneurs in Honolulu, who centralize social and environmental well- being in their practice of social entrepreneurship, shape a pursuit of purpose that restructures social priorities. It reflects how the historical trajectory of Hawai i has an ongoing influence on contemporary conditions in the community and thereby influences the practices of the entrepreneurs. Practices of social entrepreneurs in Honolulu take place on the verge of an indigenous and modern paradigm which function as umbrellas to capture and dissect perceptions of man s relationship with nature, affluent sets of values, attitudes and behavior. This thesis offers a perspective on sustainability as both a value and a lived practice in which one considers injustices that have been established in the past and future generations to come in one s actions. It draws on the concept of sustainable citizenship that expands the responsibilities of citizens outside the political domain and includes more roles of the individual. The role of the individual as a professional is highlighted. This shows that through the act of social entrepreneurship, the dynamic between the private and professional domain are redefined. Social entrepreneurs thereby challenge commercial world values for competition and financial success and encourage community relationships, restoration of ecosystems and normalization of Hawai ian language and cultural practices. Through the practice of social entrepreneurship, a reciprocal dynamic between social, environmental and individual well- being is established.