‘We are a lahui’: Native Hawaiian Convention opens with calls for unity

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The 25th Native Hawaiian Convention opened Tuesday with musicians from across the pae ʻāina as leaders from major Hawaiian organizations addressed ongoing lawsuits and threats to Native Hawaiian programs and entitlements.

Governor cites federal government as threat

Gov. Josh Green said the federal government does not understand $1 military land leases.

“If there is a threat from the outside, it is the federal government’s approach to the Hawaiian people,” Green said.

Green called for the return of Mākua Valley to the Hawaiian people and cited a milestone reported on the convention’s opening day — the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands awarding 477 Oʻahu leases.

“This is today’s front page — DHHL awards 477 Oʻahu leases — and as you know that is just the tip of the iceberg,” Green said.

LEARN MORE: Native Hawaiian Convention returns to Honolulu with workshops, marketplace

Organizations speak to threats and path forward

Leaders from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Papa Ola Lōkahi and Kamehameha Schools also addressed threats to their organizations and discussed moving forward.

Kamehameha Schools CEO Jack Wong said the litigation against the school goes beyond its Native Hawaiian admissions preference.

“The subject of our litigation is our preference for Native Hawaiians. That’s the topic, but it does go much broader than that when we think about the design of the attacks,” Wong said. “We have been under constant assault for decades and decades so we are neither surprised nor unprepared.”

Papa Ola Lōkahi CEO Sheri-Ann Daniels said the stakes involve the identity of Native Hawaiians as a people.

“What’s at stake is us continuing to be a lāhui — whether we agree or don’t agree — that we are kānaka and we are a lāhui,” Daniels said.

Display outside Blaisdell marks 133 years

Outside the Neal S. Blaisdell Center, the Hawaiian Council displayed 133 hae Hawaiʻi — Hawaiian flags — representing 133 years since what organizers described as the illegal occupation and organizers say it’s been a conversation starter.

“It makes me feel like, oh my gosh, wow — there are really people fighting for our culture,” said Kauʻi Joaquin, a Kamehameha Schools Maui student. “It really shows there are ʻōiwi leaders in our community.”

Student attendees from Kamehameha Schools Maui said the convention left them feeling more informed.

“Our community is very important. Our voices need to be heard and I think it’s important for us to build a foundation because we are the next generation,” Kayla Baptist, a Kamehameha Schools Maui student.

The Native Hawaiian Convention continues Wednesday. The Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition follows Thursday through Saturday.

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