Anaiah Luani performs a hula dance for family and friends of Carole Hartley, who died in the August 8 fires in Lahaina, during a celebration of her life at Ukumehame Beach near Lahaina, Hawai‘i, on Aug. 28, 2023, on what would have been her 61st birthday.
A Call to Remembrance and Action for Hawaiian History Month
This September, we must acknowledge that the same greed that toppled the Hawaiian Kingdom has just destroyed Lāhainā and its people.
Aloha. A warm welcome and a fond farewell. An essence of being—with love, peace, compassion, and mutual respect. A way of living in harmony with the people and land around us with mercy, sympathy, grace, and kindness. Aloha to this September’s Hawaiian History Month.
This month my people are hurting. The deadliest wildfire in Hawai‘i’s history just devastated the town of Lāhainā on Maui, the historic town that served as the first capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. This was the deadliest wildfire in the United States in a century. At least 115 people have been killed. Hundreds are still missing and unaccounted for. The land search for survivors was completed on August 28, and survivors are no longer expected. The suffering is incomprehensible. Suffering that now stacks on top of the Hawaiian peoples’ continued suffering from the illegal occupation of their land.
‘Āina Momona, an organization dedicated to achieving environmental health and sustainability through social justice and the de-occupying of Hawaiian lands, recently shared a YouTube video titled “Pa‘a Ke Aupuni The Reel History of Hawai‘i”. This hour-long video is essential viewing for anyone with an interest in Hawai‘i, history, or humanity. Deepening my knowledge of the land from which my ancestors hail was a healing act.
The movement for Hawaiian sovereignty is part of a larger struggle for collective liberation.
The story of Hawai‘i is full of awe, brilliance, and pride. Early Hawaiians developed a sophisticated navigation system using the stars, currents, and winds to traverse the Pacific Ocean. They were experts in engineering and food production. By the mid-1800s, nearly 100% of Hawaiians could read and write, making Hawai‘i one of the most literate countries in the world. Hawai‘i became the first non-European country to join the Family of Nations which inspired other countries to secure their internationally recognized sovereignty. Hawaiians were so advanced that their ‘Iolani Palace was outfitted with electric lights in 1882, years before the White House would receive those amenities. Hula and Hawaiian music are important in communities around the world to this day.
Hawai‘i’s story is also a sad story of the horrors of capitalism and colonialism. One of a peaceful, sovereign nation overthrown by U.S. military-backed businessmen who were greedy for profit. So greedy that they formed a political party, spread fake news, illegally overthrew the Hawaiian government, defied the U.S. government, and declared themselves the new Hawaiian government without the approval of Hawaiians. To boost their profits in the sugar business, those businessmen colluded with the U.S. government to colonize Hawai‘i.
A recent conversation with my uncle Jonli reminded me that this history is not so far away. Four generations ago my ancestors lived through the overthrow. Just three generations back, my nana witnessed the passing of Queen Lili‘uokalani, Hawai‘i’s last monarch whose September 2 birthday inspired Hawaiian History Month. This history grounds me in the necessity of spreading the truth and learning from our elders. Indigenous peoples and our cultures depend on it.
This Hawaiian History month we must acknowledge that the same greed that toppled the Hawaiian Kingdom has just destroyed Lāhainā and its people. The dry conditions that set the stage for the wildfire was a direct result of “centuries of water diversion, greed, and land mismanagement by companies like West Maui Land Co.”, ‘Āina Momona recently wrote. Maui county has sued Hawaiian Electric Company for failing to de-energize their power lines after red flag warnings. Their electrified power lines were blown over by the winds that helped the wildfire spread at such a rapid pace. Human caused climate change played an undeniable role in creating the drought, dry conditions, and winds that fueled this wildfire. Climate scientists have been warning us that disasters like this will be more frequent and severe unless we make rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.
The government failed to adequately care for the people in the aftermath of the wildfire. Instead, emergency relief was successfully led and executed by Maui community members who stepped up in the state’s absence. Their strength, compassion, and mutual aid remind us that only we can keep us safe, that any hope for survival lies in the power of the people.
The movement for Hawaiian sovereignty is part of a larger struggle for collective liberation. Among many things, the Lāhainā tragedy is a plea for the revolutionary politics the struggle requires. Politics to move us beyond capitalism and into socialism. Beyond police, prisons, private property, and into freedom.
A socialism based on direct democracy where people can choose to live without monarchs, presidents, or rulers all together. Where everyone affected by a decision has the opportunity to have their say in making that decision.
A world where goods are produced according to need, not profit. Where land is returned to its original stewards so they can collectively care for it once again. A world guided by Indigenous values like generosity, cooperation, community, reciprocity, and aloha.
You can visit hawaiiponoi.info to learn more about Hawaiian History Month. To support the wildfire victims and the movement for Hawaiian sovereignty, please visit kaainamomona.org.
A better, happier, more liberated world is possible. Aloha.
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just four days to go in our Spring Campaign, we are not even halfway to our goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Aloha. A warm welcome and a fond farewell. An essence of being—with love, peace, compassion, and mutual respect. A way of living in harmony with the people and land around us with mercy, sympathy, grace, and kindness. Aloha to this September’s Hawaiian History Month.
This month my people are hurting. The deadliest wildfire in Hawai‘i’s history just devastated the town of Lāhainā on Maui, the historic town that served as the first capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. This was the deadliest wildfire in the United States in a century. At least 115 people have been killed. Hundreds are still missing and unaccounted for. The land search for survivors was completed on August 28, and survivors are no longer expected. The suffering is incomprehensible. Suffering that now stacks on top of the Hawaiian peoples’ continued suffering from the illegal occupation of their land.
‘Āina Momona, an organization dedicated to achieving environmental health and sustainability through social justice and the de-occupying of Hawaiian lands, recently shared a YouTube video titled “Pa‘a Ke Aupuni The Reel History of Hawai‘i”. This hour-long video is essential viewing for anyone with an interest in Hawai‘i, history, or humanity. Deepening my knowledge of the land from which my ancestors hail was a healing act.
The movement for Hawaiian sovereignty is part of a larger struggle for collective liberation.
The story of Hawai‘i is full of awe, brilliance, and pride. Early Hawaiians developed a sophisticated navigation system using the stars, currents, and winds to traverse the Pacific Ocean. They were experts in engineering and food production. By the mid-1800s, nearly 100% of Hawaiians could read and write, making Hawai‘i one of the most literate countries in the world. Hawai‘i became the first non-European country to join the Family of Nations which inspired other countries to secure their internationally recognized sovereignty. Hawaiians were so advanced that their ‘Iolani Palace was outfitted with electric lights in 1882, years before the White House would receive those amenities. Hula and Hawaiian music are important in communities around the world to this day.
Hawai‘i’s story is also a sad story of the horrors of capitalism and colonialism. One of a peaceful, sovereign nation overthrown by U.S. military-backed businessmen who were greedy for profit. So greedy that they formed a political party, spread fake news, illegally overthrew the Hawaiian government, defied the U.S. government, and declared themselves the new Hawaiian government without the approval of Hawaiians. To boost their profits in the sugar business, those businessmen colluded with the U.S. government to colonize Hawai‘i.
A recent conversation with my uncle Jonli reminded me that this history is not so far away. Four generations ago my ancestors lived through the overthrow. Just three generations back, my nana witnessed the passing of Queen Lili‘uokalani, Hawai‘i’s last monarch whose September 2 birthday inspired Hawaiian History Month. This history grounds me in the necessity of spreading the truth and learning from our elders. Indigenous peoples and our cultures depend on it.
This Hawaiian History month we must acknowledge that the same greed that toppled the Hawaiian Kingdom has just destroyed Lāhainā and its people. The dry conditions that set the stage for the wildfire was a direct result of “centuries of water diversion, greed, and land mismanagement by companies like West Maui Land Co.”, ‘Āina Momona recently wrote. Maui county has sued Hawaiian Electric Company for failing to de-energize their power lines after red flag warnings. Their electrified power lines were blown over by the winds that helped the wildfire spread at such a rapid pace. Human caused climate change played an undeniable role in creating the drought, dry conditions, and winds that fueled this wildfire. Climate scientists have been warning us that disasters like this will be more frequent and severe unless we make rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.
The government failed to adequately care for the people in the aftermath of the wildfire. Instead, emergency relief was successfully led and executed by Maui community members who stepped up in the state’s absence. Their strength, compassion, and mutual aid remind us that only we can keep us safe, that any hope for survival lies in the power of the people.
The movement for Hawaiian sovereignty is part of a larger struggle for collective liberation. Among many things, the Lāhainā tragedy is a plea for the revolutionary politics the struggle requires. Politics to move us beyond capitalism and into socialism. Beyond police, prisons, private property, and into freedom.
A socialism based on direct democracy where people can choose to live without monarchs, presidents, or rulers all together. Where everyone affected by a decision has the opportunity to have their say in making that decision.
A world where goods are produced according to need, not profit. Where land is returned to its original stewards so they can collectively care for it once again. A world guided by Indigenous values like generosity, cooperation, community, reciprocity, and aloha.
You can visit hawaiiponoi.info to learn more about Hawaiian History Month. To support the wildfire victims and the movement for Hawaiian sovereignty, please visit kaainamomona.org.
A better, happier, more liberated world is possible. Aloha.
Aloha. A warm welcome and a fond farewell. An essence of being—with love, peace, compassion, and mutual respect. A way of living in harmony with the people and land around us with mercy, sympathy, grace, and kindness. Aloha to this September’s Hawaiian History Month.
This month my people are hurting. The deadliest wildfire in Hawai‘i’s history just devastated the town of Lāhainā on Maui, the historic town that served as the first capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. This was the deadliest wildfire in the United States in a century. At least 115 people have been killed. Hundreds are still missing and unaccounted for. The land search for survivors was completed on August 28, and survivors are no longer expected. The suffering is incomprehensible. Suffering that now stacks on top of the Hawaiian peoples’ continued suffering from the illegal occupation of their land.
‘Āina Momona, an organization dedicated to achieving environmental health and sustainability through social justice and the de-occupying of Hawaiian lands, recently shared a YouTube video titled “Pa‘a Ke Aupuni The Reel History of Hawai‘i”. This hour-long video is essential viewing for anyone with an interest in Hawai‘i, history, or humanity. Deepening my knowledge of the land from which my ancestors hail was a healing act.
The movement for Hawaiian sovereignty is part of a larger struggle for collective liberation.
The story of Hawai‘i is full of awe, brilliance, and pride. Early Hawaiians developed a sophisticated navigation system using the stars, currents, and winds to traverse the Pacific Ocean. They were experts in engineering and food production. By the mid-1800s, nearly 100% of Hawaiians could read and write, making Hawai‘i one of the most literate countries in the world. Hawai‘i became the first non-European country to join the Family of Nations which inspired other countries to secure their internationally recognized sovereignty. Hawaiians were so advanced that their ‘Iolani Palace was outfitted with electric lights in 1882, years before the White House would receive those amenities. Hula and Hawaiian music are important in communities around the world to this day.
Hawai‘i’s story is also a sad story of the horrors of capitalism and colonialism. One of a peaceful, sovereign nation overthrown by U.S. military-backed businessmen who were greedy for profit. So greedy that they formed a political party, spread fake news, illegally overthrew the Hawaiian government, defied the U.S. government, and declared themselves the new Hawaiian government without the approval of Hawaiians. To boost their profits in the sugar business, those businessmen colluded with the U.S. government to colonize Hawai‘i.
A recent conversation with my uncle Jonli reminded me that this history is not so far away. Four generations ago my ancestors lived through the overthrow. Just three generations back, my nana witnessed the passing of Queen Lili‘uokalani, Hawai‘i’s last monarch whose September 2 birthday inspired Hawaiian History Month. This history grounds me in the necessity of spreading the truth and learning from our elders. Indigenous peoples and our cultures depend on it.
This Hawaiian History month we must acknowledge that the same greed that toppled the Hawaiian Kingdom has just destroyed Lāhainā and its people. The dry conditions that set the stage for the wildfire was a direct result of “centuries of water diversion, greed, and land mismanagement by companies like West Maui Land Co.”, ‘Āina Momona recently wrote. Maui county has sued Hawaiian Electric Company for failing to de-energize their power lines after red flag warnings. Their electrified power lines were blown over by the winds that helped the wildfire spread at such a rapid pace. Human caused climate change played an undeniable role in creating the drought, dry conditions, and winds that fueled this wildfire. Climate scientists have been warning us that disasters like this will be more frequent and severe unless we make rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.
The government failed to adequately care for the people in the aftermath of the wildfire. Instead, emergency relief was successfully led and executed by Maui community members who stepped up in the state’s absence. Their strength, compassion, and mutual aid remind us that only we can keep us safe, that any hope for survival lies in the power of the people.
The movement for Hawaiian sovereignty is part of a larger struggle for collective liberation. Among many things, the Lāhainā tragedy is a plea for the revolutionary politics the struggle requires. Politics to move us beyond capitalism and into socialism. Beyond police, prisons, private property, and into freedom.
A socialism based on direct democracy where people can choose to live without monarchs, presidents, or rulers all together. Where everyone affected by a decision has the opportunity to have their say in making that decision.
A world where goods are produced according to need, not profit. Where land is returned to its original stewards so they can collectively care for it once again. A world guided by Indigenous values like generosity, cooperation, community, reciprocity, and aloha.
You can visit hawaiiponoi.info to learn more about Hawaiian History Month. To support the wildfire victims and the movement for Hawaiian sovereignty, please visit kaainamomona.org.
A better, happier, more liberated world is possible. Aloha.