Meet the native Hawaiians fighting U.S. occupation | AJ+

AJ+

3 Mar 201706:26

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

00:00

🌺 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.

05:01

🌊 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

The sovereignty movement refers to the ongoing efforts by native Hawaiians to regain political and cultural independence from the United States. In the video, this movement is central to the narrative, with communities like the Nation of Hawaii striving for self-determination. Bumpy's village is one such example, where a group has reclaimed land and attempts to live independently while promoting Hawaiian traditions.

💡Occupation

In the context of the video, 'occupation' refers to the perception that the U.S. has illegally taken control of Hawaii since the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. The term is used to describe the continuing U.S. presence in Hawaii, which some locals view as an act of colonialism. This concept is crucial as it frames the historical and political struggle of native Hawaiians seeking to restore their sovereignty.

💡Overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani

The overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893 marks the moment when the U.S. government, alongside American sugar planters, removed Hawaii’s last monarch from power. This event is a foundational moment in Hawaii’s history of colonization, leading to the annexation of Hawaii by the U.S. and is central to the native Hawaiian grievances mentioned in the video.

💡Cultural Reclamation

Cultural reclamation refers to the revival of native Hawaiian traditions that were suppressed after the U.S. took control. Examples from the video include teaching youth the Hawaiian language and traditional practices like tattooing, farming, and food-making. This is an important aspect of the sovereignty movement, as it strengthens the identity and resilience of the Hawaiian people.

💡Genocide

In the video, one of the sovereignty movement leaders describes the U.S. actions against native Hawaiians as a form of 'genocide.' This refers to the systematic suppression of Hawaiian culture and identity, which aimed to erase the native population’s way of life. The term is used to illustrate the severity of the historical and ongoing impact of U.S. colonization on the Hawaiian people.

💡Refuge of Waimānalo

The Refuge of Waimānalo is a village established by the Nation of Hawaii, where a small population of native Hawaiians lives on land granted to them after an occupation of a beach in the 1990s. This village represents a model for Hawaiian self-determination and independence, as its residents strive to live off-grid and maintain their cultural practices.

💡Makapuʻu Beach Occupation

The occupation of Makapuʻu Beach in the 1990s was a protest by native Hawaiians led by Bumpy Kanahele, demanding recognition of Hawaiian sovereignty. It lasted for 15 months and led to the state of Hawaii granting the Nation of Hawaii a 55-year lease on 45 acres of land. This event is highlighted in the video as a pivotal moment in the modern sovereignty movement.

💡Apology Resolution (1993)

The Apology Resolution, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1993, formally acknowledged the U.S.'s role in the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. While it did not grant any legal remedy, the resolution is a significant moment in U.S.-Hawaiian relations and serves as a key piece of evidence for activists asserting that Hawaiians never relinquished their sovereignty.

💡Self-determination

Self-determination in the context of the video refers to the right of native Hawaiians to govern themselves and make decisions independent of U.S. rule. Bumpy Kanahele's village in Waimānalo is presented as a small-scale example of this, where the residents live off the grid, sharing power and working towards autonomy in areas like water and governance.

💡Hawaiian Language and Traditions

The revival of the Hawaiian language and traditions, such as hula, tattooing, and farming, are seen as acts of resistance against U.S. colonialism in the video. Teaching these practices to the younger generation is a way for native Hawaiians to reclaim their identity and fight against the erasure of their culture that occurred after the U.S. takeover.

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.'