Meet the native Hawaiians fighting U.S. occupation | AJ+
Summary
TLDRThe video explores the Native Hawaiian sovereignty movement, focusing on the village of Refuge of Waimanalo, led by Bumpy Kanahele. Established after an occupation protesting the U.S. overthrow of Hawaii in 1893, the village represents efforts to reclaim native culture and independence. Despite modern struggles with basic needs like power and water, the community holds onto their identity and sovereignty. The video highlights the broader movement to restore native Hawaiian traditions and sovereignty while emphasizing the ongoing pain and impact of U.S. occupation on the islands.
Takeaways
- 🌺 The video explores a side of Hawaii often unseen by tourists, highlighting the working-class and native communities far from luxury hotels and shops.
- 🗣️ Locals in Hawaii argue that the islands are still occupied by the US and have been for 124 years, with a strong push for Hawaiian sovereignty.
- 🏞️ The video focuses on Waimanalo, a village established by the Nation of Hawaii, a sovereignty group advocating for independence.
- 📜 The US formally apologized in 1993 for its role in the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, but many native Hawaiians feel their sovereignty has never been relinquished.
- 🏝️ Bumpy Kanahele, leader of the Nation of Hawaii, and his group occupied a beach for over a year in the 1990s, leading to a 55-year lease on 45 acres of land for their village.
- 🌿 The sovereignty movement is tied to cultural revival, with native Hawaiians reclaiming traditions, including language, dance, and traditional farming techniques.
- 💧 The village is off the grid, with limited electricity and challenges like shared power and ongoing efforts to secure water from nearby mountains.
- 📚 Despite the movement's influence, practical issues remain. Residents of the sovereignty village, such as 20-year-old Philipo, attend school outside of the village due to state laws.
- 🌍 Bumpy views his village as a model for Hawaiian self-determination, but the struggle for independence and recognition remains ongoing.
- 🇺🇸 Some native Hawaiians express a desire to educate Americans about Hawaii’s history, though there's recognition that the US is dealing with its own internal issues.
Q & A
What is the significance of Waimānalo in the sovereignty movement?
-Waimānalo is a stronghold of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. It is home to a village called Refuge of Waimānalo, established by a sovereignty group called the Nation of Hawaii, where locals actively promote native Hawaiian rights and self-determination.
How did the Nation of Hawaii obtain the land for the village?
-The Nation of Hawaii secured 45 acres of land after occupying a popular beach for over a year. In the 1990s, the state of Hawaii granted them a 55-year lease as part of a deal where the group ended their occupation.
What was the role of the US in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy?
-In 1893, the US Naval forces supported American sugar plantation owners in overthrowing Hawaii's Queen. The provisional government that followed ceded Hawaii’s sovereignty to the US, which then embarked on a campaign to suppress native Hawaiian culture.
How do native Hawaiians describe what happened in 1893?
-Many native Hawaiians, including members of the sovereignty movement, describe the events of 1893 as 'genocide,' referring to the systematic destruction of their culture and way of life.
What was the significance of the 1993 US apology to Hawaii?
-The 1993 US apology acknowledged the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and admitted that native Hawaiians had never relinquished their sovereignty. This provided a legal and moral foundation for ongoing sovereignty movements.
What cultural changes have occurred in Hawaii alongside the sovereignty movement?
-As part of the sovereignty movement, native Hawaiians have reclaimed traditions that were once suppressed. These include teaching the Hawaiian language, practicing traditional dance, getting tattoos using ancient techniques, and promoting traditional farming and food-making.
How does Bumpy Kanahele view the sovereignty village?
-Bumpy Kanahele, the leader of the Nation of Hawaii, views the sovereignty village as a model for self-determination, aiming for eventual independence. The village remains partially off the grid, and they are working on becoming fully self-sustaining.
What challenges does the sovereignty village face in terms of infrastructure?
-The village is partially off the grid, with limited access to electricity and water. Residents share power from 200-amp boxes, which limits their ability to use appliances like stoves or blow dryers simultaneously. They are also working on securing a water supply from the mountains.
What impact has the sovereignty movement had on broader Hawaiian society?
-The sovereignty movement has had a significant impact, including the revival of the Hawaiian language and the establishment of native Hawaiian agencies that promote health, wellness, and education for native communities.
What message does Bumpy Kanahele have for Americans?
-Bumpy Kanahele is hesitant to directly address Americans, noting that the US is currently facing its own internal struggles. However, he stresses that Hawaii’s own struggles with the US are not yet resolved, and there is still much to settle.
Outlines
🌺 A Glimpse into the Native Sovereignty Movement
This paragraph introduces the less-seen side of Hawaii, far from the tourist attractions, where the native sovereignty movement remains strong. Local Hawaiians claim that their land has been occupied by the US for over a century and express a desire for eventual independence. The narrator visits the village of Waimanalo, established by the Nation of Hawaii, a group advocating for native sovereignty. This segment emphasizes the deep-rooted cultural and political movement striving for Hawaiian independence and the challenges they continue to face.
🌊 Reclaiming Hawaii's Sovereignty: A Story of Occupation and Resistance
This part focuses on the history of Hawaii's illegal annexation. In 1893, US forces helped American sugar plantation owners overthrow Hawaii's queen, leading to the suppression of native culture. The leader of the Nation of Hawaii, Bumpy Kanahele, discusses his group’s efforts to reclaim sovereignty, and how a pivotal moment occurred when they occupied a popular beach for over a year. This led to a 55-year lease on land, promised to be part of a future sovereign Hawaiian nation. Native Hawaiians have since reclaimed cultural practices, including language, dance, and traditional agriculture.
🌍 The Ongoing Fight for Independence and Cultural Preservation
The third paragraph highlights the continuing struggle native Hawaiians face to assert their rights and maintain their culture. It touches upon the psychological toll of military occupation and the collective trauma experienced by many. During a gathering in Honolulu, the pain of past injustices remains strong, but so does the resolve to reclaim their sovereignty. Activists and musicians stress the importance of standing up for their rights, emphasizing that Hawaiian sovereignty was stolen and must be restored.
🏞 Living Off the Grid in Sovereign Hawaii
This section describes life in Waimanalo Village, which is partly off the grid. Despite limited resources like electricity and water, the community continues to persevere in their quest for independence. The village runs on limited power, and efforts are being made to secure water from the mountains. Leaders like Bumpy and his nephew Brandon emphasize their identity as Hawaiians exercising their sovereign rights, despite lacking the formal political or legal backgrounds of typical activists.
🎓 Growing Up in Sovereignty: A Young Resident’s Perspective
The fifth paragraph introduces 20-year-old Philipo, who grew up in the sovereignty movement. Although he attended school outside the village, he views the community as his home, referring to it as 'sovereignty.' For him and others, the movement is more than just a symbol—it has real, tangible impacts on their lives. He acknowledges the importance of individuals who continue to fight for their rights, as their actions have led to improvements in education, health, and Hawaiian cultural preservation.
📢 A Message to America: Hawaii's Struggle Continues
In this final paragraph, Bumpy reflects on Hawaii’s ongoing struggle for sovereignty and how it relates to the broader American political landscape. He expresses uncertainty about engaging with Americans who are preoccupied with their own conflicts, but asserts that Hawaii’s fight with the US is far from over. Bumpy emphasizes the importance of continuing the dialogue and struggle for recognition and sovereignty, and closes with a call to action for viewers to engage with and reflect on the history and future of Hawaii.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Sovereignty Movement
💡Occupation
💡Overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani
💡Cultural Reclamation
💡Genocide
💡Refuge of Waimānalo
💡Makapuʻu Beach Occupation
💡Apology Resolution (1993)
💡Self-determination
💡Hawaiian Language and Traditions
Highlights
Hawaii's working-class, native community expresses frustration with the U.S. occupation, ongoing for 124 years.
The village of Waimanalo, a stronghold of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, symbolizes the push for independence.
The Nation of Hawaii, a sovereignty group, leads the establishment of the village 'Refuge of Waimanalo' with a population of about 80.
In the 1990s, the state of Hawaii granted the Nation of Hawaii a 45-acre plot of land after a 15-month beach occupation.
Bumpy Kanahele, leader of the Nation of Hawaii, discusses efforts to print their own passports and offer citizenship.
Many native Hawaiians see the 1893 overthrow of their monarchy by U.S. forces as an act of genocide, which they believe continues today in a passive form.
In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state, but the U.S. formally apologized for the illegal overthrow in 1993.
The U.S. apology acknowledged that native Hawaiians never relinquished their sovereignty, a key argument for the modern sovereignty movement.
Bumpy Kanahele views his village as a model for Hawaiian self-determination, with hopes that it will be part of a future sovereign Hawaiian nation.
The resurgence of Hawaiian culture includes the revival of traditional languages, dance, tattoos, farming, and food-making.
Although cultural shifts are taking place, native Hawaiians stress that Hawaii remains occupied illegally by the U.S.
Bumpy's village operates off-grid with limited power and is currently working on securing running water from nearby mountains.
Younger generations, like 20-year-old Filipe, have grown up in the sovereignty village and refer to it as 'sovereignty,' reflecting a strong identity with the movement.
Sovereignty movements have had real impacts, such as the recognition of Hawaiian as a foreign language and the creation of native Hawaiian health and wellness agencies.
Bumpy's message to Americans: Native Hawaiians still have unresolved issues with the U.S., but he refrains from addressing America's internal struggles, stating 'we’ve been there.'
Transcripts
this is the Hawaii most visitors never
see an hour from the luxury hotels and
shops in the farthest Corner away from
Honolulu it's the Hawaiian Hawaii
working class and proudly native where
locals will tell you Hawaii is occupied
by the US that it has been for 124 years
and that it'll one day be free we came
here to see the native sovereignty
movement in action
[Music]
we are driving through W Manalo which is
a stronghold of the sovereignty movement
here in Hawaii and we're headed to a
village in the Hills that was
established by a sovereignty group
called the nation of Hawaii the village
is called Refuge of w Manalo with a
population of roughly 80 the state
handed the group 45 acres of land in the
9s after it occupied a popular Beach for
over a year bumpy kah heli is the
group's leader and head of the village
do you have your own passport here in
the nation of Hawaii we have have things
ready to print out uh for the passports
can I apply for when they are Banning
Muslims in the US we thinking the
citizenship applications now so any of
you disg granted Americans want to come
on by come to Hawaii come visit us in
aahu and we'll be more than happy to
accommodate you you got to learn about
us our history and for native Hawaiians
it's a painful history in 1893 armed US
Naval forces helped American sugar
plantation owners overthrow Hawaii's
Queen the provisional government that
was set up after seeded Hawaii
sovereignty to the US then it embarked
on a campaign to squash native culture
what's one word you would use to
describe what happened here in
1893 genocide that was their intent to
make life hard for us in such a way
would cause our own
destruction and that's what happened
it's still happening it's more passive
like genocide in
Paradise it's made official at the White
House President Eisenhower congratulates
the new Congressional representatives of
Hawaii adding the 50th and southernmost
States Hawaii officially became
America's 50th state in 1959 in 1993 the
US formally apologized for its
involvement in the illegal overthrow of
The Sovereign Hawaiian Kingdom 100 years
after the fact that's where the story of
how bumpy wrangled these Lush Foothills
begins in the that apology resolution
the US admitted that native Hawaiians
had never relinquished their sovereignty
armed with that fact bumpy and 300
others occupied makapuu Beach they set
up tents and blocked the area for 15
months Hawaii's governor asked bumpy to
end the occupation in exchange for a
55-year lease on this land part of the
agreement was that if and when a
sovereign Hawaiian nation is established
this land would become part of it
along with the renewed fight for
independence came a cultural shift
throughout Hawaii native Hawaiians began
reclaiming Traditions that were once
actively suppressed that meant teaching
youth language and dance getting
traditional tattoos using ancient
techniques and fostering traditional
farming and food making but in reality
not much has changed everyone we talked
to during our week there repeatedly
stressed that Hawaii continues to be
occupied illegally military conflict
gave us our
complex he
is posttraumatic
syndrome 124 years have gone but we are
still here standing
strong at a gathering of musicians and
activists in Honolulu the inherited pain
was palpable you all come from very deep
Earth crime has been committed still
being committed that is part of our
struggle to maintain rights but more
importantly what are those rights rooted
in and those rights are rooted in a
country that had its
sovereignty and recognition stolen um by
the United
States suar bar they wanted to soak up
the
L bumpy sees his village as a model for
self-determination but for now it's
still partially on the ground grid The
Village runs off 200 amp boxes with
houses sharing power nobody can like
have a hot stove going you know like one
of those hot plates or like a um blow
dryer they got to watch all of that it's
like everybody's in the same house cuz
you guys are off the grid yeah so what
does it mean for running water we're
currently working on getting water from
the mountains Brandon is Bumpy's nephew
and one of the village leaders we're not
politicians we're not lawyers we're not
like you know these highly schooled
individuals we're just Hawaiian
exercising our rights over
here 20-year-old philipo was born and
raised here yeah going to schol I had to
leave here had to go school had to get
an ed education cuz that's the the
required law but I could have been home
school but I rather go out make friends
when people ask you where do you live
what do you say people ask me where I
live I tell them I live in P Walo or we
just called it sovereignty you call this
place sovereignty yeah for some native
Hawaiians on the outside sovereignty
movements like bumpy are Beyond symbolic
they have a real impact overall you need
those type of people if we don't shake
up things Hawaiian language would have
never been approved to be taught as a
foreign language we wouldn't have a
native Hawaiian agencies to provide us
with better health and wellness and
nutrition education so we fought for a
lot to receive a lot what's your message
to Americans in the United States who
might not know much about Hawaii's
history or what you're doing here I
don't know if I want to talk to the
people of America they they like
battling with each other right now right
and so all I can say is we've been there
you know we've been there America and we
still have a lot to settle with the
United States it's not done hey guys
it's Dina be sure to check out the last
video in this series where I take you
back to the studio and reflect on what
I've seen and learned in my week here in
Hawaii and let us know what you think
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