Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 4, 1 April 2022 — Kānaka Activists' Maunakea Rally Demonstrates Queen Lili' uokalani and Mahatma Gandhi's Nonviolence Philosophy [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kānaka Activists' Maunakea Rally Demonstrates Queen Lili' uokalani and Mahatma Gandhi's Nonviolence Philosophy

"For myself, I would have chosen death rather than sign it. Ihink of my position...the stream ofblood ready to flow unless it was stayed by my pen." - Queen Lili'uokalani (Lydia Lili'u Loloku Walania Kamaka'ehas autobiography) In our struggles for justice and selfdetermination, Native Hawaiians, have eontinuously demonstrated non-violent disobedience, sheer courage, and faith in

our demonstrations. Onee again, we gathered at the State Capitol to rally for our cause. I bring to you in this month's article a few quotes whieh Gandhi and our Queen illustrated for us to follow.

In 1887, the Kingdom of Hawai'i was overrun by white landowners, missionaries and businessmen. When King Kalākaua died in 1891 his sister, Lili'uokalani, succeeded him. Her unselfish act of nonviolence, as Mahatma Gandhi had done for India, imprints on everyone her loving, caring, and kind character and remains a "legacy" in our minds till today. A contin-

gent of marines from the warship, U.S.S. Boston, at the behest of U.S. Minister John Stevens, provided U.S. military support for the overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani on Jan. 17, 1893. In her Honolulu palaee, Lili'uokalani wavered over the pieee of paper that, onee signed, would remove her standing as queen. Her men (warriors) had rallied a small army of fewer than one

hundred to defend her position as the ruler of Hawai'i, but after a few unsuccessful skirmishes, they had to stand down. With sorrow in her heart, our queen could not bear to see her men suffer a bloodbath so she consented and signed under duress. With her signature onJan. 24, 1895, generations of Hawaiian monarchy eame to an end. And now you understand why we ALOHA her. QUOTES from Gandhi and our Queen: 1) The future depends on what we do in the present. 2) It's easy to stand in a crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone. 3) My life is my message. 4) Hate the sin, love the sinner. 5) Strength does not eome from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. 6) The enemy is fear: We think it is hate, but no, it is fear. 7) There are two days in the year that we eannoī do anything, yesterday and tomorrow. 8) Carefully watch your thoughts, fortheybecomeyour words. Manage and watch your words, for they will heeome your actions. Consider and judge your actions, for they heeome your habits. Watch your habits, for they shall heeome your values. And lastly, understand and embrace your values, for they shall heeome your destiny. Hau'oli Lā Pakoa! Happy Easter! Ke Akua Pū! Mahalo, Trustee Leina'ala Ahu Isa ■

Aha Pule for Maunakea ūt the Stote Copitol with Kumu Hino ond Advocate Lonokilo Mongauil. - Photos: Courtesy

Leina'ala Ahu Isa, Ph.D. Vice Chair, Trustee, At-large

* A jk J Jv Trustee Ahu Iso with Kopua Medeiros.