Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 05, 1 May 2003 — Living Nation celebrates history, unity [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Living Nation celebrates history, unity

Kūkākukā

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By Mel Kalahiki and Lynette Cruz Editor's note: Mel Kalahiki was a key organizer of the 1993 'Onipa'a commemoration and 100-hour vigil. Lynette Cruz is the executive director of the non-profit 'Ike 'Āina Native Hawaiian Land Trust. January 12-17 marked eommemorations of significant events in Hawai'i's history, from the invasion of U.S. marines on Jan. 16, 1893 to the 'Onipa'a march and rally 100 years later. On Jan. 12, Hawaiian leaders participated in a gathering at Mauna'ala to discuss unification and acknowledged Hawai'i's status as an independent nation-state. The dialogue continued Jan. 13-17 with marches, music, a mass demonstration at the State Capitol, speeches, prayers, an awa ceremony and general kūkākūkā. Hawaiians from neighbor islands joined in the efforts to recover our nation. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs deserves recognition for providing funds to cover basic costs of putting together the events: sound system, tents, refreshments for volunteers, airfare for neighbor islanders to

participate, website, program copies, etc. We would have been hard-pressed to pull off the week's events without that support. The Friends of 'Iolani Palaee, a co-sponsor, stepped forward to allow us access to the palaee for ceremony, use of the Coronation Pavilion, and regular access to the Kana'ina Building for planning the week's events as well as ongoing activities under the Living Nation umbrella. Finally, the members of the

Living Nation working group, including the organizations "Of Sacred Times and Sacred Places" and Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, wish to recognize volunteers from the Queen Emma Hawaiian Civic Club, the Royal Hawaiian Band, the Koani Foundation, the musical groups Sudden Rush and Big Island Conspiracy, and many others who were instrumental in making the events special. We were especially pleased with the participation of the

youth from Hālau Lōkahi, who reminded us all that mākua and kūpuna have the responsibility to train others to take up the banner of nationhood. The Living Nation has clearly articulated its focus on history as the basis for unification, reminding us why our ancestors signed the Kū'ē petitions. For the Living Nation, history is a directional, pointing the way to the future. A legacy was left to us in the words and actions of the queen, members of Hui Aloha 'Āina and Hui Kāli'āina: stand firm and defend the lāhui! At the time there was no doubt about what needed to be done, and they did it. At the time there was no doubt about what needed to be done, and they did it. How ean we do less? Our respect and our aloha for their work lives on. E 'onipa'a kākou ... let us stand firm for the nation that still lives. A procession winding from Mauna'ala through downtown to 'lolanl Palaee on Jan. 17 plctured at left was one of many actlvltles organized during a week-long celebratlon of the llvlng Hawalian natlon. Hawalians of all islands and all ages gathered together to celebrate their hlstory and to express their self-determlnatlon. ■

Tor the Living Nation , history is a directional, pointing the way to the future / ^'mod ■■r 1 * Together EdhU IMP 0 2 O