Native Stories

Halena Kapuni-Reynolds, a PhD student in American Studies, writing his dissertation on the history of Kaukaha and Hawaiian homesteading discusses his research and experience about Puhi Bay and the founding of the Keaukaha homestead community.

Before there were homes here today, it was farmland, and before that Hawaii Kai or originally named maunalua was known to be one of the largest fishponds and food producing areas on Oahu, sustaining the people. Today we will be discussing the Kalama Valley Protests in the 1970’s. High cost of living was hard on residents, like my grandparents , people had to leave Hawaii to afford a roof over their heads. In 1968, Kalama Valley was Re zoned from agricultural to urban land. The owners, Bishop Estate, gave permission to Kaiser to develop the land. Kaiser was an industrialist that developed along the south east coast of Oahu. Residents were told to leave before July 1970. In July 1970, Some refused to leave, and 3 were arrested. Today we have Mr John Wittek who was one of those 3. Those remaining were evicted and 32 people were arrested on May 11,1971 while standing their ground while bulldozers were standing ready.

Kenneth Gofigan Kuper is Assistant Professor of Political Science (specializing in Security Studies and International Relations) and Chamoru Studies at the University of Guam. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and a M.A. in Pacific Islands Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. His dissertation focused on the complexities of military presence and security in Guam through the concept of “sustainable insecurity.” His research interests include the role of islands in global politics, Indo-Pacific geopolitics, militarization of the Pacific Islands, decolonization, and the reconceptualization of security. He can be reached at [email protected]@minatatnga on Twitter

Matahi was born and lived most of his childhood in Papetoai, Moorea, Tahiti. He did part of his studies in Aotearoa and Hawai'i, which is when he realized how little he knew about his own heritage, and it pushed him to learn te reo, and to be more proactive about anything that has to do with our "nativeness".

He’s been a reporter for about 10 years, with RFO and then Tahiti Nui Television. Today he’s launching his own production company named 'ārere media ('ārere means messenger): the idea is to help communities, NGO's or individuals tell their own stories. stories of their ancestors and their land.

In 2009 Matahi helped with the foundation of our voyaging society, Fa'afaite i te Ao Mā'ohi, and had the privilege to be its president for 4 years, and to sail and be part of a wonderful family.

Email: [email protected] Instagram: @arere.media

SundayNovember 22, 20207AM HST

Pōkā is a native son of Hawai`i, and like others, was taught to love the U.S., enough to give his life in war. Like his male siblings, he volunteered in the active U.S. military service. While in that service, he came upon “Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen” in 1970. He took a new direction - a commitment to break from U.S. colonization and restore Hawaii’s independence. He returned to the study of law after military service, earning a Juris Doctorate in 1976. He returned to his Wai`anae community which elected him in 1968 to the State Constitutional Convention., opened his law office, and pursued his work for Hawaiian independence. He has been credited as the father of the modern Hawaiian Sovereignty movement, bringing challenges throughout the State and Federal courts in Hawaii, asserting the court’s lack of jurisdiction over Hawaiian nationals as well as over the territory of Hawaii. Using the courts and the criminal system, he introduced the hidden history of U.S. aggression into Hawai’i, the U.S. plotting in a collusion with principally U.S. businessmen, the snatching of Hawai`i and the numerous violations of domestic and international laws in that theft. His use of the courts as a public education platform spread this information throughout Hawaii. Today, many others have joined in this practice, challenging U.S. jurisdiction over Hawaiian nationals. Finding the judges too deeply engrained in protecting U.S. interest rather than principles, he expanded his activities into the political, media and international arena. He was elected O`ahu’s Trustee with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (1982 – 1986), constitutionally established by the people of Hawai`i four years previous. He wrote and lectured across Hawai`i of the history, of international legal principles of self-determination, of the evils of colonization and of Hawaiian nationhood. In 1983, he joined the World Council of Indigenous Peoples, elected its Vice President, and tasked to be the political spokesperson at international forums, including the United Nations various bodies. In the late 1980’s he played an instrumental role in the drafting of the U.N.’s Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples, selected as the Indigenous Expert to the International Labor Organization’s writing its Rights of Indigenous Peoples convention (ILO 169), and selected to address the General Assembly of the U.N. in 1991 where he was acknowledged as one of five pioneers in the development of indigenous peoples rights. The principle body of his work can be found at www.hawaiianperspectives.org. While in Hawai’i, Pōkā led his community’s mental health center integrating indigenous knowledge in treatment of mental illness, substance abuse, family services, and psycho-social programs, receiving honors and national recognition. He continues his practice of law, his radio and television shows, his writings and teachings, a bit of farming and Tai Chi Chuan. He is father of 3, g-father of 1, husband of 50 years to Puanani Burgess, and constant advocate of human rights and fundamental freedom for all.

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Manuia Maiti from Afareaitu, Mo’orea is a local young entrepreneur who exports Tahitian arts and crafts to counties around the world. She believes in the perpetuation of our Ma’ohi cultural goods and identity for the young and future generations. www.facebook.com/TahitiArtCrafts #TahitiArtCrafts #RimaiForASustainableLiving #artisanat #handicrafts #TheIslandsOfTahiti #OurPeople #UNSDGs #FightPoverty #ReduceInequalities #BringDecentWork #SustainCommunities #RuralCommunities #WeAreYoungPacificLeaders

Micky Huihui is a bandmember for Ookolah the Moc, a Hawaii Roots band. She received her BS in Hawaiian Studies and has worked for Hālau Kū Māna Public Charter School, a kīpuka (safe space) for community and place-based indigenous education and is the Executive Director at Hawaiʻi Peopleʻs Fund in 2016. She firmly believes that social justice in Hawaiʻi BEGINS with indigenous justice, and given Hawaiʻiʻs sordid political past and present, and as Kanaka Maoli are overrepresented in all the ways that typically plague native communities, she finds incredible relevance and passion in the work.

Songs playedRevolutionhttps://music.apple.com/us/album/vaults/297966063?i=297966152&ign-gact=3&ls=1

Rearrange Your Positivehttps://music.apple.com/us/album/rearrange-your-positive/304600086

IG @missmixxlove FB: Micky HuihuiFB & IG: @ooklahthemoc, @hawaiipeoplesfund

Daphne Littlebear who is from Tamaya, Santa Ana Pueblo and is a descendant of the Mvskoke, Yuchi and Shawnee Nations, where she resides. Music and dancing provides so much joy and healing to Daphne, she engages in many of the cultural dances of her communities.

Daphne is currently completing her doctoral degree at Arizona State University studying social justice education, education policy and Indigenous education. The current working title of her dissertation is, “Affirming the Educational Sovereignty of Santa Ana Pueblo: The Intersections Community Based Education, Western Schooling and Tribal Citizenship”.

Daphne is the research director at the American Indian Higher Education Consortium serving tribal colleges and universities. Daphne has had the opportunity to work in the education field for over ten years with various organizations, she believes, advocates and is a champion of educational sovereignty for Tribal Nations.

IG: @daphlilbearTwitter: @daphlilbearContact: [email protected]@asu.edu

Noerangi Teave is a tour guide on her home island of Rapa Nui, the owner of Kava Rapa Bar - Rapa Nui’s first Kava Bar, and she is proudly a Rapa Nui woman.Instagram- @kavarapabar#ModoKava#TeEstamosEsperando#IslaDePascua #Kava #KavaPolinesia #KavaBar #KavaRapaNui #HangaRoa #ExperienciasNuevas #ViajeMistico #BrebajeAncestral #RapaNui #ChileBar #BarSinAlcohol

Ahilapalapa Rands (Kanaka Maoli, Fijian,Sāmoan, Cook Island, Pākehā) is an independent curator and artist. She holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Auckland University of Technology and a Diploma in Te Reo Māori from Te Wananga o Raukawa in Ōtaki, Aotearoa. Rands is a founding member of New Zealand based art collective D.A.N.C.E. art club alongside Vaimaila Urale, Tuafale Tanoa’i aka Linda T, and Chris Fitzgerald and London based In*ter*is*land Collective alongside Lyall Hakaraia, Jo Walsh and Jessica Palalagi. She currently works as co-director of Moana Fresh art shop in Avondale, Tāmaki Makaurau alongside Vaimaila Urale.

Instagram- @ahilapalapa @moanafreshFacebook Page - @moanafresh

#moanafresh#aotearoa#hawaii#fiji#samoa#rarotonga