The Nation Rising
Who are we? Many are kanaka maoli… many are not; many have declared themselves as Hawaiian nationals or Hawaiian Kingdom subjects… many have not yet done so. But one thing we do have in common is the underlying Aloha ʻĀina for Hawaiʻi nei. He Hawaiʻi au (I am Hawaiʻi). ʻO mākou ʻo Hawaiʻi (We are Hawaiʻi).
The Hawaiian Kingdom was a highly educated society, whose subjects were akamai and engaged in matters of public affairs; espesially when it came to matters of Aloha ʻĀina and governance. The Kuʻe actions we are seeing today spring from our legacy, indeed, our kuleana of Aloha ʻĀina… to mālama Hawaiʻi and to kūʻē against harmful acts that endanger our people and our lands.
Often called “resistance”, it is really the desire to defend and preserve the deep-seated cultural values and love of country, solidified into a national consciousness and identity of Aloha ʻĀina.
Todayʻs manifestations: Mauna Kea, Haleakalā, Nā Wai ʻEha, Waimanalo, Kahuku… are the echos of Kalama Valley, Kahoʻolawe, Waiahole-Waikāne, Hilo Airport… back to the Kuʻe Petition, Aloha Aina rallies and other vigorous protests against annexation. This is not something new or frivolous, it is who we are.
The current resistance movement and the independence movement are not one and the same, but they are strongly related in Aloha ʻĀina… and fast approaching the point of merger…
We have clearly demonstrated that our love for our land compels us to oppose the continuation of unrestrained exploitation of our lands and resources… We have “put our foot down.” Now what are we going to do about it?
Remember that old finger rhyme? Here is the church, here is the steeple…? How does that apply to us?
Next Ke Aupuni Update – The Urgency of Presenting the Nation
Malama Pono,
Leon Siu
Hawaiian National
Tales of Hawai'i 