The truth spoken by a true Hawaiian Wahine Heroine. Meet Haunani Kay Trask

Summary

Hawaiian academic and activist Haunani-Kay Trask delivers a powerful speech addressing the historical and ongoing impact of white imperialism and racism on Native Hawaiians. She recounts the colonization of Hawaii, the suppression of Hawaiian culture, and the marginalization of Native Hawaiians in their own land. Trask also discusses the challenges she faced when speaking out against a white student's ignorance, highlighting the university's response and the broader implications for academic freedom and the fight against institutional racism.

Takeaways

• 🏝️ The speaker, Honey Cake Trask, identifies as a Native Hawaiian and discusses the historical and ongoing impact of white colonialism on her people.
• 📜 The script recounts the arrival of foreigners in Hawaii in 1778 and the subsequent introduction of diseases that led to a significant decline in the native population.
• ⛪️ In 1820, missionaries arrived with the goal of converting Native Hawaiians and taking control of their lands, contributing to cultural and societal changes.
• 🗽 The annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898 is described as an act of aggression that disregarded the wishes of the Hawaiian people.
• 🏫 The script criticizes the University of Hawaii for perpetuating white hegemony and for its lack of Native Hawaiian representation among its faculty.
• 📢 Trask responds to a student's complaint about the use of the term 'Haole' by explaining its historical context and the privilege of white people in Hawaii.
• 💬 The speaker addresses accusations of racism and defends her right to express her views on the treatment of Native Hawaiians by white settlers.
• 🏛️ The university's response to Trask's public statements is criticized as an infringement on academic freedom and an attempt to silence a Native Hawaiian voice.
• 🗳️ The Faculty Senate's decision to investigate Trask is seen as an overstep and an example of the university's failure to protect free speech and academic freedom.
• 🌐 The script highlights the broader issue of white privilege and racism not only in Hawaii but also within the United States and its colonial history.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the transcript?

The speaker is Haunani-Kay Trask, a Native Hawaiian scholar and activist.

What is Haunani-Kay Trask's heritage?

Trask is a descendant of the Pele lineage through her mother and the Kohaku, McCully lineage through her father.

What does Trask discuss as the beginning of the story she tells?

Trask begins her story with the genocide of the native Hawaiian people and the arrival of foreigners who brought diseases and exploitative ideologies.

What role do missionaries play in Trask's narrative?

In Trask's narrative, missionaries are portrayed as aggressive agents of cultural and religious imperialism who contributed to the dispossession and conversion of the Hawaiian people.

What historical event does Trask reference when discussing the overthrow of the Hawaiian government?

Trask references the 1893 invasion and occupation of Hawaii by American marines, which led to the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.

What does Trask argue is the impact of American colonialism on the Hawaiian people?

Trask argues that American colonialism has led to a decline in the Hawaiian population, ongoing land dispossession, and the destruction of Hawaiian culture and self-determination.

What is the controversy surrounding Joey Carter mentioned in the transcript?

Joey Carter, a white male student, wrote a letter to the student newspaper complaining about what he perceived as racist language used against white people, particularly the term 'haole'. Trask responded by educating him on the historical context and meaning of the term.

What was the reaction of the University of Hawaii to Trask's response to Joey Carter?

The University of Hawaii's reaction included an investigation into Trask's statements, with some faculty and administrators accusing her of racism and creating a hostile environment, despite her defense of academic freedom and the right to critique colonialism.

What does Trask suggest is the underlying fear of white people in Hawaii when confronted with discussions of racism and colonialism?

Trask suggests that white people in Hawaii fear discussions of racism and colonialism because they are aware of the historical violence and exploitation committed by whites against native peoples, and they fear the justified resentment and demands for justice from those they have oppressed.

How does Trask describe the situation at the University of Hawaii in terms of racial representation and power dynamics?

Trask describes the University of Hawaii as having a predominantly white faculty despite a diverse student body, indicating institutional racism. She argues that white voices are protected and amplified, while her critique of colonialism and racism is met with attempts to silence her.

Outlines

00:00

🏝️ Indigenous Struggle and Academic Freedom

The speaker, a Native Hawaiian, recounts the historical colonization and exploitation of Hawaii by foreign powers, leading to the dispossession of land and culture. They discuss the impact of American colonialism, the suppression of the Hawaiian language, and the ongoing struggle for self-determination. The speaker also addresses accusations of racism on campus, highlighting the irony of being accused by those who benefit from systems of power and privilege.

05:03

📜 Challenging White Hegemony and Racism

The speaker details a specific incident involving a white student's public complaint about the use of terms like 'Haole' and the speaker's response, which was to educate the student about the history of white dominance and its effects on indigenous peoples. The speaker argues against the student's plea for individual exemption from the privileges of white hegemony and describes the systemic racism that exists within the university and society at large.

10:04

🔍 Unfounded Accusations and the Quest for Truth

The narrative continues with the speaker's defense against accusations of promoting violence and racism, emphasizing their educational intent and the importance of understanding the historical context of white violence against indigenous peoples. The speaker criticizes the university's response, which they view as an attack on academic freedom and an attempt to silence dissenting voices, particularly those of indigenous faculty.

15:06

🌐 The Myth of Racial Harmony and White Fear

The speaker explores the myth of racial harmony in Hawaii, discussing how white residents' fears and resentments are rooted in their awareness of historical injustices. They argue that white people's fear of being held accountable for past violence leads to accusations of reverse racism and violence against them. The speaker calls out the hypocrisy of white administrators and faculty who condemn their speech while ignoring or excusing their own problematic statements.

20:06

🏛️ The University's Response and the Fight for Justice

In the final paragraph, the speaker discusses the university's investigation into their statements and the broader implications for academic freedom and the fight against white supremacy. They express gratitude for those who support open debate and challenge the university's handling of the situation, emphasizing the importance of truth and the right to critique oppressive systems.

Keywords

💡Genocide

Genocide refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the historical impact of foreign settlers on the native Hawaiian population, leading to a significant decrease in their numbers due to introduced diseases and subsequent cultural and political subjugation.

💡Cultural Imperialism

Cultural imperialism is the practice of promoting and imposing a culture, particularly Western culture, onto other societies. The video discusses how foreign settlers, particularly those from the United States, imposed their culture, values, and systems onto the native Hawaiians, leading to the erosion of traditional Hawaiian culture and the dominance of Western ideologies.

💡Hegemony

Hegemony in this context refers to the dominance of one group or culture over another, often through the use of power and influence. The video describes how white settlers established a hegemonic control over Hawaii, influencing the political, economic, and social structures to the detriment of the native Hawaiian population.

💡Racism

Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. The video discusses the systemic racism faced by the native Hawaiians at the hands of white settlers and institutions, which has contributed to their marginalization and the ongoing struggle for self-determination.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. The video touches upon the historical colonization of Hawaii by foreign powers, particularly the United States, which has had lasting effects on the native population's sovereignty and way of life.

💡Self-Determination

Self-determination is the right of a people to determine their own political status and control their own economic, social, and cultural development. The video highlights the struggle of native Hawaiians for self-determination, which has been impeded by colonial and neo-colonial forces that have sought to control and exploit their land and resources.

💡Institutional Racism

Institutional racism refers to the ways in which racial discrimination is embedded within the policies, practices, and structures of social, economic, and political institutions. The video discusses how the university system in Hawaii exemplifies institutional racism, with a predominantly white faculty and a lack of representation and voice for native Hawaiians.

💡Academic Freedom

Academic freedom is the belief that scholars have the right to freedom of inquiry, teaching, and research without interference or censorship. The video critiques the concept of academic freedom in the context of the university's response to the speaker's public statements, suggesting that it is selectively applied and used to silence voices that challenge the status quo.

💡Blood-Quantum

Blood-quantum is a concept used to determine Native American or indigenous ancestry based on the percentage of an individual's blood that can be traced back to a specific indigenous group. The video criticizes the use of blood-quantum as a means of legally classifying Native Hawaiians, arguing that it is a tool of colonial control that divides and diminishes the native population.

💡Neocolonialism

Neocolonialism is the practice of influencing and controlling a country or area in ways similar to colonialism, but without direct military or political control. The video implies that the continued dominance of Western culture, values, and institutions in Hawaii represents a form of neocolonialism, where native Hawaiians are subjected to foreign influence and control in their own land.

Highlights

Honey Cake Trask identifies as a Native Hawaiian and descendant of significant ancestral lines.

Trask recounts the historical colonization and exploitation of Hawaiians by foreigners, starting with the arrival of Captain Cook in 1778.

The introduction of diseases like syphilis, gonorrhea, and tuberculosis, which had a devastating impact on the Hawaiian population.

The missionaries' arrival in 1820 and their aggressive efforts to convert and dispossess Hawaiians of their lands.

By the 1880s, most Hawaiian lands were owned by white Americans, leading to a significant loss of sovereignty for Native Hawaiians.

The illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 by American marines and the subsequent annexation to the United States.

Cultural suppression post-annexation, including the closure of all Hawaiian language schools by 1900.

Trask discusses the ongoing issues of land dispossession, cultural destruction, and the lack of self-determination for Hawaiians.

The concept of 'Haole' is explained as a term used by Hawaiians to describe white foreigners, and its historical context is provided.

Trask addresses the accusation of racism against her by a white student, Joey Carter, and the subsequent university response.

The university's reaction, including calls for Trask's public reprimand and the initiation of an investigation into her statements.

Trask's defense of her right to critique white hegemony and the historical violence of white imperialism in Hawaii.

The role of academic freedom in the controversy and the university's handling of racial issues.

Trask's critique of the university's faculty composition, highlighting the underrepresentation of Native Hawaiians.

The broader implications of the controversy for Native Hawaiian rights and the struggle against colonialism.

Trask's call for a more nuanced understanding of racism, power dynamics, and the historical context of white violence against Native Hawaiians.

The conclusion of the investigation by the Dean of Students, which found no evidence of discrimination by Trask.

Trask's final remarks on the importance of public debate and the resistance to silencing voices that challenge the status quo.

Transcripts

Oh mo kako over my I am honey cake Trask

a descendant of the peel any line of

Maui through my mother and of the Kohaku

McCully a line of kawaii through my

father I grew up on the coal outside of

Oahu and I reside now in hey yeah one of

the ah who was surrounding cunning or

Hebei my people the Hawaiian people have

been in these islands since the time of

Papa and vodka or according to the

archaeologists for over 2,000 years

tonight I'm going to relate a story that

begins with the genocide of a native

people and ends with an attempt to

silence one of their survivors and

fiercest defenders namely myself it is a

story of white cultural and economic

imperialism in its broadest outlines and

of white hegemony and white racism on

this campus specifically it is a story

of the politics of academic freedom as

the politics of white racism let me tell

you now first how a white foreign world

that is the world of the Holly came to

occupy the world of the native that is

the world plans in 1778 a white

foreigner came to our land with a

pestilential ship load of other

foreigners they wanted women water food

and general recreation for which they

gave Hawaiians syphilis gonorrhea

tuberculosis and ideas of predatory

Christianity capitalism and

individualism 42 years later in 1820 a

different class of aggressive Holly

animated by the hatred of all things

dark and sexual brought easels chicken

pox and a virulent determination to

replace the Hawaiian world with the

holly world they were called

missionaries and they were bent on

conversion of my people and the

disposition of our lands and waters by

this time that is 18:20 three quarters

of a million Hawaiians were dead

directly the result of the coming of the

Holly conveniently for the missionaries

the Hawaiian universe had collapsed

under the impact of mass death the

Fertile field of conversion was littered

with the remnants of Holocaust a

holocaust created by Holly and

celebrated by Holly as the will of a

Christian God by the 1880s most of our

lands were owned by the same white

American foreigners who had convinced

our Chiefs that private property would

give our people everlasting physical

life in 1893 when Hawaiians were but 5%

of what they had been at contact and

when most of our arable lands were in

the hands of foreigners the American

marines invaded and occupied our country

overthrew and imprisoned our chiefly

leaders and forcibly took Hawaii in 1898

we were annexed to the United States

against the wishes of the Hawaiian

people by 1900 all Hawaiian language

schools were closed political and

economic life was dictated by the Holly

and American institutions overtook the

last vestiges of Hawaiian culture from

this point forward into the 20th century

Hawaiians became increasingly like other

native peoples conquered and

subordinated in their own homeland now

we suffer a declining population

continued land dispossession and ongoing

destruction of our cultural ways as a

nation and a people Hawaiians are no

longer self determining for Hawaiians

American colonialism has been a violent

process but for violence of mass death

the violence of American Mission izing

the violence of cultural destruction the

violence of the American military once

the United States annexed my homeland a

new kind of violence took place the

violence of educational colonialism

where foreign powers replaced Native

Hawaiian values where schools like the

University of Hawaii ridicule Hawaiian

culture and praised American culture and

where white men assumed the mantle of

authority deciding what is taught who

can teach even what can be said written

and published in colony Hawaii the

university stands atop the educational

pyramid of the state people of color

comprise over 70% of the student body

while the faculty are over 70% Holly for

Hawaiians the situation is worse 13

tenured Hawaiian faculty compared with

nearly 660 tenured college faculty

the situation is called institutional

racism enter into this white male

University a white male student named

Joey Carter lately come from the

American South where whites are not only

dominant but where white supremacist

organizations are on the rise

complaining in a public letter to the

student newspaper call ale mr. Carter

mistakenly says that words like quote

Holly dominated society and quote and

quote puppet Holly governments and quote

are racists that the word haole is like

the word that weights oppression

repression persecution and domination of

non-whites is quote supposin as opposed

to actual that he was chased and beaten

by locals because of his skin and eye

color and finally that people are

individuals as opposed to members of

historical groups who quote classify

themselves as they like clearly mr.

Carter was feeling uncomfortable in

Hawaii where white people do not have

the usual majority nor the unquestioned

ability to categorize others as they so

lovingly do on the american continent

quickly following on this letter came

dozens of replies in Kaleo including one

by myself in which mr. carter was

instructed about his place his history

and his role in hawaii educating mr.

Carter I explained that quote Holly is

in fact one of the few surviving

Hawaiian language descriptions in common

use in Hawaii I went on to say that

Carter's appeal to quote individual

exemption from the power and privilege

of white hegemony is itself a typical

American ploy to avoid responsibility

for an ugly and vicious history that

visited genocide on American Indians

slavery on Africans peonage on Asians

and dispossession of both lands and

self-government on Native Hawaiians I

informed mr. Carter that he is a direct

beneficiary as are all white people of

racism that is a system of power in

which one racially identified group

dominates and exploits another racially

identified group for the benefit of the

exploiting group in the United States

people of color do not have the power to

practice races

against white people the same is true in

Hawaii particularly in regard to Native

Hawaiians who are contrary to mr.

Carter's beliefs not free to classify

themselves but are legally classified by

the American government regarding flood

quantum Hawaiians are 50% of more

blood-quantum are Native those of less

blood-quantum

are not native finally I argued that the

hatred and fear people of color have of

white people is born of experience the

experience of white violence I closed my

statement by suggesting that if mr.

Carter did not like Hawaii our language

or our ways of doing things he could

leave since Hawaiians would certainly

benefit from one less Holi in our

homeland and I might say in response to

ken Kipnis that mr. Carter never was a

student in my class I have never met or

seen or spoken with mr. Carter my

article was published on September 19th

five days later on September 24th Larry

Loudon who refuses to debate with me

chair of the philosophy department and

himself a recently arrived Holly in

Hawaii wrote a letter to Vice President

Paul un demanding my public reprimand

for voicing such views and arguing that

I was an administrator and therefore a

spokesperson for the university his

request was followed by a philosophy

department resolution called quaintly a

statement on racism in a khadeem

alleging that my public replied to mr.

Carter was racist condoned quote

violence against a member of the

university community solely because of

his social identity and opinions end

quote and consequently betrayed a quote

most basic professional responsibility

and quote which they defined as a quote

special duty to protect and sustain the

fragile atmosphere

within which ideas can be assessed on

their merits and code specifically the

philosophy department alleged that my

invitation to Carter to leave Hawaii was

similar to a white professor declaring

black students unwelcome and proposing

that they return to Africa we have a

color problem here this resolution

was sent by Larry Loudon to

vice-president you and on October 15th

requesting that I be removed removed

from my position of alleged

administrative authority they need to

read the contract those people on

philosophy this resolution was

distributed widely to the press by Larry

Levine and others and was answered by

President Simone on November 2nd

assuring his good friend quote Larry and

quote that quote administrators may not

speak for the University of Hawaii

without appropriate consultation with

senior officers of the University and

quote does this sound familiar the

president ended his letter by saying

that his administration does not condone

creating called and unfriendly

intimidating a non-supportive

environment for faculty and students and

quoting on November third the faculty

union reaffirmed academic freedom at the

University thank God somebody did quote

for the expression of all points of view

regarding the racial issues recently

raised on the Manoa campus and the

darting fair and open debate about race

colonialism and any other related issues

in Hawaii the Union went on to reaffirm

that I was not an administrator on

November 8th president Simone announced

his intention to conduct an

investigation into my statements thus

violating all semblance of

confidentiality which is very concerned

about protecting regarding white male

sexual Harrisons

[Music]

Symone told the advertiser by phone from

Japan that he believed I was an

administrator he doesn't read the

contract either and that administrators

must accept quote the principle that

some things are better off not said

publicly in court I think it's clear

that Simone had made up his mind by this

point I mean I think that's clear to

everybody

while Simone conducted his investigation

the Faculty Senate began their own

triggered by the same philosophy

department resolution for the first time

in its history the Faculty Senate

another white male bastion decided to

investigate a fellow faculty member for

written public statements without

precedent and without procedures the

Faculty Senate moved ahead on the basis

of the philosophy department resolution

thus by the middle of November the

witch-hunt had begun in earnest and the

white male boy's club was hysterical

indeed white men led the charge with

people like Gary fuller of geography

comparing me to Hitler and Saddam

Hussein and Dick Miller of the last

school telling the Faculty Senate that

my thinking was similar to that which

led to the rise of Nazi Germany and

which resulted in the internment of

japanese-americans ken Kipnis my worthy

opponent told one of my faculty

supporters that the Hawaiian movement

was like the KKK and that I would have

to decide whether I wanted to be a

professor or a member of the Hawaiian

movement charges of impending violence

against white people serviced everywhere

with the most virulent being made by

Larry Loudon proclaiming that I was

quote giving hunting licenses and quote

to my students and other Hawaiians to

quote beat up on Howie's this is the

same Larry Loudon who talked a show and

news who i'm glad is here tonight that

my quote brand of radicalism did not

belong in a university while attacking a

rally in my defense as a form of

terrorism on the campus

despite numerous calls on my part and

out of my supporters for Loudon and

others who disagreed with me to come

forward and debate is this University or

not I was charged and condemned as a

racist the phenomenon known as

McCarthyism where individuals are

accused falsely and never given an

opportunity to confront or disprove

disprove their accusers began to

characterize the Catholic campus

atmosphere hate calls and hate mail

began appearing in Hawaiian studies

Kaleo ran a poll asking if students

thought I was a racist they didn't run a

poll asking if they thought Larry laden

was a racist stickers stickers began to

appear on campus attacking the person

personally and raising the specter of

white supremacist groups the Faculty

Senate proceeded as did al Simone both

determined to condemn me without once

speaking with me indeed most of my

accusers had never read or thought

seriously about my statements they would

content to read what the philosophy

department had said and of course this

is where the problem begins the

philosophy department like Joey Carter

is ignorant of scholarly and novelistic

studies and portrayals of racism

especially by those by black Americans

and by Africans thinking that racism is

a matter of color and not of history and

power the philosophy department

intentionally misread my statements

which Larry Laden intentionally and

viciously recast saying that I was

justifying violence against mr. Carter

but I never justified violence against

mr. Carter I justified our right as

Native Hawaiians to resent Hollies who

come here and complain about my land

and my culture and my history that's

what I said

I explained the long history of white

violence against people of color

precisely to educate mr. Carter since

the philosophy department wasn't doing

that about his place and his history it

is white people and not people of color

who have a history of violence against

others it is muhuali who stole my land

took our government destroyed our

nationhood and suppressed our culture it

is white people who created laws to

divide Alliance by blood-quantum

it is white people who created

institutions or into our ways of life it

is white people who brought capitalism

to away in other words it is white

people who have exploited and oppressed

Hawaiians for their own benefit and the

least people like mr. Carter could do is

be a little more understanding of that

history

like most Holly mr. Carter did not know

or want to learn any of this but if I

did not argue for violence against the

Holly then why did the philosophy

department say that I did the answer I

believe lies in the fears and

resentments of Holly themselves here in

Hawaii Holly have grown very accustomed

to the myth of racial harmony put out by

the politicians and the tourist industry

they live in predominantly white or

Asian neighborhoods and if they know

anything at all about Hawaiians it is

that we have a funny unpronounceable

language we appear we appear on

television as activists or other

lawbreakers trying to stop development

and and we have a deep wound called the

overthrow when the all-white American

government took our sovereignty yes

Holly and Hawaii are very nervous

because they know wrongs were committed

in their names and for their benefit so

when an operative native woman educates

one of their own about his white history

and his obligations to natives their

fears and their angers spill over into

crazy accusations

that if we examine reflect back on their

own sick history of violence as France

phenom and Malcolm X and Angela Davis

and in googy and a host of other black

people have taught us dark-skinned and

dark people are the classic bogeyman of

the Holly white people know that over

all over the world people of color have

been brutally and unjust unjustly

treated by white imperialism they know

our grievances are real

so they imagine how much more violent we

would be to them then they have been to

us because we have a real history of

grievances this is why every demand for

respect and recognition of dignity on

our part is read always as a sign of

violence this is why white people so

fear black people in the United States

despite the fact that it's white people

who have a history of violence against

black people and not the other way

around white violence has a long history

and a sick history in the world in the

Americas in the Pacific in Hawaii in

Hawaii white power and white racism are

alive and well on this campus where else

but in a colony what a native woman be

investigated by three committees for

exercising her right as a native and a

citizen to publicly criticize a white

man where else but in a colony would

wake administrators talk babble about

quote responsible speech do they mean

the responsible speech of Larry Loudon

defending certain forms of sexual

harassment in a student publication

called voices do they mean the

responsible speech of Ian Reed another

white man arguing the mental inferiority

of women in the same student magazine do

they mean the responsible speech of Dick

Miller accusing me publicly in the

Faculty Senate of creating an atmosphere

similar to the one that leads to Nazi

Germany and the internment of the

Japanese mr. Miller doesn't know his

history white people white people made

not

to germany white people intern Japanese

not Hawaiians thank you very much in the

long history of Hawaii

it is white people who have a violence

against Hawaiians Filipinos Japanese

alright why is their speech responsible

and my speech is not responsible speech

in other words as it is defined by white

men creates the parameters of academic

freedom white men can say all the manner

of dangerous violent and false things in

fact absolute lies and they are

protected their speech is protected but

I have told the truth I've told the

truth I'm willing to debate the truth of

what I said but nobody wants to debate

the truth they just want me to shut up

all right I've got two minutes so I have

to skip part of this but I want to end I

know I know I think this should be this

should be one hour

I want to say something about mr.

Carter's response he wrote a public

statement and he should be responsible

for his statements instead of running

away and relying on the philosophy

department but now I want to quote from

because it's very important you know the

climate the whole thing is my climate I

create climate you know I make rain snow

thunder lightning I create a climate of

racial intimidation at the scribble of

my pen notice how powerful Hawaiian

women are right let me say what Tom

guessing has just concluded in his

investigation which I assume is not

confidential since I was the one who was

attacked but I don't have to wait for

the Office of Information practices and

Kaleo release the confidential

information I'm gonna release it right

here publicly Tom get things found the

Dean of Students quote I have found no

evidence that dr. Trask who has never

met or spoken with mr. Carter

discriminated against him in regard to

his race or color I have found

considerable evidence that hostile

environment in regard to race or color

exists at the University of Illinois

this condition existed prior to mr.

Carter's college

and dr. trusts responds it is very

dangerous for all of us on this campus

who prize public debate and thank God

margitta Ronnie and did this because

there were so many cowards who would not

co-sponsor this to be because they are

terrified of the truth thank God much he

did this who by the way is a person of

color and customer Ron the fact is that

we are living in dangerous times where

is our president I submit to you that he

is protecting white male power thank

[Applause]