(Honoring Kamehameha V, courtesy of Moanalua Gardens Foundation)
"Kamehameha V respected Hawaiian culture and encouraged the revival of ancient practices such as hula, despite criticism".
Kamehameha V (1830-1872) - Lyman Museum
(Hula , retrieved from GoHawaii.com)
Native Hawaiians have fought for their cultural freedom and heritage since the 1880s, resisting U.S. annexation and the suppression of their language. They revived hula—a vital expression of Hawaiian identity—and established the Merrie Monarch Festival to celebrate it.
(Meeting to Protest Against Annexation, courtesy of Medium).
Protests against annexation began in the late 19th century and have continued for more than a century. Native Hawaiians, alongside Indigenous allies, have used traditional songs, writings, and activism to resist cultural erasure. After the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the white-led provisional government pushed for U.S. annexation, further threatening Hawaiian identity.
( Protest Against TMT, retrieved from nytimes.com)
Today, this fight continues, seen in movements like the protests against construction on Mauna Kea, where Native Hawaiians defend their sacred land and cultural rights.
There is a saying, "Aʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi," which translates to "All knowledge is not taught in the same school." This emphasizes that knowledge comes from many sources and should be fought for and preserved.
(Hula Competition, courtesy of Moanalua Gardens Foundation)
“Language is the soul of a people. When a language dies, so too does a unique worldview and way of life.” - University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa