Native Hawaiian activism facts for kids

Native Hawaiian activism is all about people from Hawaiʻi standing up for their rights, land, and culture. For a long time, Native Hawaiians have worked hard to protect what's important to them. This article shares some of the big moments when they made their voices heard.

Standing Up for Hawaiʻi

The Kūʻē Petitions: A Big "No" to Annexation

Imagine a time when people in Hawaiʻi were worried their country might be taken over by another. That's what happened in the late 1800s. From 1897 to 1898, many Hawaiian citizens signed special papers called the Kūʻē Petitions. These petitions were like a giant "no" to the United States wanting to take over the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Groups like the Hui Aloha ʻĀina worked tirelessly. Their members traveled all over the islands, walking, riding horses, and even using boats, to collect signatures. They gathered more than 21,000 signatures! These important papers were then taken all the way to Washington, D.C., and shown to the U.S. Senate. Because of these petitions, members of Congress decided not to sign a treaty to annex Hawaiʻi at that time. It showed the power of people working together!

Kalama Valley: Fighting for Homes

In the 1970s, a place called Kalama Valley on the island of Oʻahu became a symbol of resistance. The land was owned by Bishop Estate, which used the money from its land to help fund schools. The Estate decided to develop the land, meaning many families living there, often pig farmers and others with Hawaiian roots, were told they had to leave. These families were often poor and lived a simple, community-focused life, different from the growing suburban areas.

When the Estate announced that over 50 people would be evicted, tensions grew. An Estate manager even said that the "Hawaiian lifestyle should be illegal." This made many people upset. Activists like Larry Kamakawiwoʻole, Pete Thompson, and "Soli" Niheu formed a group called the Kokua Kalama Committee (KKC). They started protesting the evictions and the destruction of homes by bulldozers.

The land was planned for new development projects, often linked to powerful companies known as the Big Five. While the Estate said the profits would help Native Hawaiian education, people like George Santos argued strongly for the right of local and native people to keep their land. He warned that rich people from the mainland U.S. were pushing out Hawaiians. Even though many activists were arrested and the demolitions went ahead, this movement was very important. It's seen as the start of a new wave of Hawaiian activism and showed how future protests would be organized.

Kahoʻolawe: Protecting a Sacred Island

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. government took control of the island of Kahoʻolawe. They used it for military training and bombing practice. This meant the island, which is sacred to Hawaiians, was constantly being bombed.

In 1976, a group called Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana, including brave people like George Helm and Walter Ritte, started going to the island peacefully. Their goal was to stop the bombing and protect the island. Their actions brought attention to the issue and eventually led to the bombing stopping.

Waiāhole-Waikāne: A Victory for Residents

The Waiāhole-Waikāne struggle is one of the most successful examples of Native Hawaiian resistance. This movement was about stopping the eviction of residents to build a large apartment complex on Oʻahu.

Protesters did many things to raise awareness, including blocking a major highway, which caused a lot of traffic. They also held many marches and protests across the island, demanding an end to the evictions and asking for long-term leases for their homes.

Eventually, the state government listened to the protesters. Governor Ben Cayetano stepped in and granted many residents 55-year leases, allowing them to stay on their land for a long time. This was a big win for the community and showed that organized protests could make a difference. Music also played a big part in this movement, helping to connect people and keep the spirit of resistance strong through Hawaiian culture.

Hilo Airport: Standing Up for Land

The Hilo Airport protest was a smaller event, but it showed that Native Hawaiians would resist even smaller actions that affected their land. About 50 people gathered at the airport, using traditional music and occupying space to disrupt normal airport activities. They were protesting the expansion of Hilo Airport onto indigenous land without asking the Native Hawaiian people or their organizations first. Even though the protest was short, it proved that any disrespect to their sovereignty would be met with resistance.

Mākua Valley: Defending Ancestral Homes

The Mākua Valley on Oʻahu also saw many protests. This area was home to Native Hawaiians who had lived there for 50 years or more, but they faced threats of eviction. These threats led to sit-ins and camp-ins, where people stayed on the land to protest. About 16 protesters were arrested.

While protests started in the 1960s, major events happened in 1983 and 1996. The mass eviction in January 1996 was particularly notable because Governor Ben Cayetano tried to stop the media from reporting on it, even threatening to arrest reporters. This showed how determined the government was to carry out the evictions, but also how determined the Native Hawaiians were to resist.

Haleakalā and Mauna Kea: Protecting Sacred Mountains

Today, a big ongoing movement involves the sacred mountains of Haleakalā and Mauna Kea. Protesters have stood against astronomers and the U.S. government who want to build a giant telescope called the Thirty Meter Telescope on these mountains.

When six protesters were arrested, it caused even more outrage. People felt that their freedom of speech and Native Hawaiian voices were being silenced. For example, when one protester, Samuel Kaleikoa Kaʻeo, spoke in Hawaiian during his trial, he faced an additional charge from the judge. This struggle to protect their homelands and sacred sites is still happening. The telescope project has been delayed, but the fight continues as Native Hawaiians work to preserve their culture and land.