Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 2004 — Labor Day Kū i ka Pono march draws thousands [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Labor Day Kū i ka Pono march draws thousands

By Derek Ferrar Thousands of Hawaiians and their supporters flooded Waikīkī again this Labor Day for the Kū i ka Pono (Stand for Justice) march in support of Hawaiian rights. Conch-blowers, spear carriers, chanters and Hawaiian flag bearers - some of them with their flags turned upside down to indicate distress - led the tide of marchers in red T-shirts down Kalākaua Avenue from Fort DeRussy to Kapi'olani Park. Crowd estimates ranged from 7,000 to as many as 18,000. About 5,000 attended a concert and rally at the Waikīkī Shell afterward. "I thought the march went very maika'i (well)," said Vicky Holt Takamine, president of the Hawaiian political-action group the 'īlio'ulaokalani Coalition, whieh See KŪ I KA PONO on page 14

KŪ I KA PONO from page 1

organized the march. "To me, it was a very informed crowd. I think people understand the issues, and they know we're in this for the long haul. It really feels good to see the lāhui (nation) eome out and be counted like this." The Sept. 6 march focused on three main issues: the repeal of Honolulu's mandatory-leasehold-conversion law, whieh strongly impacts the ali'i trusts, and the pending appeals of both the