Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 6, 1 Iune 1994 — Overview of Hawaiian land oeeupaiion [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Overview of Hawaiian land oeeupaiion

by Moanike'ala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i For the past quarter of a century we Hawaiians have been forced to non-violent-ly occupy lands here, and have suffered arrest for these acts of peaceful civil disobedience. We concluded that no other ehoiee existed: occupy 'āina to draw attention to our dismal plight in order that this system recognize that change is in order! In the spirit and vision of Gandhi and Martin

Luther King, Jr., throughout history, acts of civil disobedienee have been taken to advance justice. The Kalama Valley struggle 1970, Waiāhole-Waikāne, the "illegal" occupation of Kaho'olawe, Hilo Airport Labor Day 1978, and other Hawaiian struggles have proven fruitful in educating Hawai'i's populaee and stimulating an awareness of the

need to resolve deep-seated problems in these islands. Those of us that founded the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana, and those arrested there should be especially proud that that

sacred 'āina has finally been returned to the Hawaiian people by the Navy. We, the original pioneers, were told we were "crazy." It was not "in" to be for "stop the bombing" in those days. When Unele Harry Mitchell for the first time played and sang his "Mele O Kaho'olawe" at Mākena Landing, Maui in those early days, we of the 'ohana had no idea his son Kimo Mitchell and George Helm would be martyrs to that 'āina.

Perhaps an apology is also owed us by the U.S. military for the desecration of our 'āina, and the senseless arrests on Kaho'olawe. All who love Hawai'i ean be proud of the accomplishments of the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana. Through the years there have been arrests of homeless Hawaiians at Sand Island, Kūkā'ilimoku Village, Waimānalo Beach Park and

elsewhere, whieh have advanced the recognition that something must be done to right the wrongs! Some recent steps taken to advance our cause are the return of Kaho'olawe, and the

halt of geothermal development at Wao Kele O Puna, but mueh more remains to be done. Most recently, more occupations: Bumpy Kanahele and 'Ohana Council have oeeupied Makapu'u. They were subsequently offered land in Waimānalo by DLNR, and remain at Makapu'u. Meantime the Beltrans at Mokulē'ia were arrested: later they returned to that beach. The Graces at Anahola, Kaua'i were again arrested and jailed (Miehael Grace's name remains on the DHHL waiting list). According to newspaper surveys, many feel Hawaiians

should not occupy the beach; these critics deny the reasons why beach occupations occur; these Hawaiians have no plaee else to go as they are tossed and turned in the tsunami of social change, landlessness and high rent. Where are the homes for these natives? Jails are not the answer! Trustee Samuel Kealoha and I recently went to kōkua a Hawaiian family of six being evicted by the poliee from their "home" for the past year, a campsite in a ditch under Nimitz Highway. The battery from their truck was stolen, and four tires slashed — impeding their move to

Wai'anae Beach away from impending arrest by poliee. On a positive note: in Kohala, Hawaiian families over a year ago occupied 'Upolu Point, 'āina the Coast Guard was finished using. On this coastline there is no makai land for Hawaiians, so ka po'e moved onto this 'āina, envisioning a cultural and educational center for this district. Consequently OHA is now finalizing a one-year lease agreement for this purpose. This will begin a process to transfer 'Upolu Point back into Hawaiian hands.

I feel this important precedent would never have occurred without the grassroots occupation, cooperation by these Hawaiian families and OHA working with the Coast Guard to effectuate this win-win solution! The state and military must begin to transfer large acreages of ceded lands to OHA for occupation and eeonomie development by our people. This will eventually become part of our sovereign Hawaiian nation. We must get on with healing our nation. Mālama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono.