The Hawaiian Renaissance and Sovereignty Movement
A Note from the Author: This article was written by someone learning about Hawaiian history with deep respect for the culture. While I've done my best to provide accurate information based on historical research and scholarship, please use this as a starting point for your own learning journey. For more nuanced and in-depth understanding, I encourage you to seek out books and resources authored by Native Hawaiian historians and cultural practitioners. Mahalo for your understanding!
After decades of cultural suppression and loss, the 1970s brought a remarkable awakening - the Hawaiian Renaissance. Native Hawaiians and their allies began reclaiming their language, culture, and history, sparking a movement that continues today. This cultural revival went hand-in-hand with a growing sovereignty movement demanding justice for the illegal overthrow and recognition of Hawaiian rights.
The Spark: Kahoʻolawe and Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana
The Hawaiian Renaissance is often traced to the fight to stop the U.S. Navy's bombing of the island of Kahoʻolawe, which had been used as a target range since World War II.
In 1976, the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (PKO) was formed, led by activists including George Helm and Kimo Mitchell. They:
- Occupied the island in protest
- Performed traditional ceremonies on sacred sites
- Raised awareness about the destruction of Hawaiian land
- Connected environmental protection to cultural preservation
- Inspired a generation of Hawaiian activists
Tragically, George Helm and Kimo Mitchell disappeared at sea in 1977 while attempting to reach Kahoʻolawe. Their sacrifice galvanized the movement, and their memory continues to inspire Hawaiian activism.
After decades of protest, the Navy stopped bombing in 1990, and Kahoʻolawe was returned to the State of Hawaiʻi in 2003 to be held in trust for a future sovereign Hawaiian nation.
The Hōkūleʻa: Reclaiming Voyaging Heritage
In 1975, the Polynesian Voyaging Society launched Hōkūleʻa, a traditional double-hulled voyaging canoe. In 1976, master navigator Mau Piailug from Micronesia guided Hōkūleʻa from Hawaiʻi to Tahiti using only traditional wayfinding - no modern instruments.
This successful voyage proved that ancient Polynesians had intentionally navigated across the Pacific, not stumbled upon islands by accident. It:
- Restored pride in Hawaiian and Polynesian heritage
- Revived traditional navigation knowledge
- Trained a new generation of navigators, including Nainoa Thompson
- Connected Hawaiians to their voyaging ancestors
- Became a powerful symbol of Hawaiian cultural revival
Hōkūleʻa has since sailed around the world, spreading the message of mālama honua (caring for our Earth).
Language Revival: ʻAha Pūnana Leo
By the 1980s, Hawaiian was critically endangered with fewer than 50 native-speaking children. In 1983, educators and activists founded ʻAha Pūnana Leo (Language Nest), Hawaiian language immersion preschools.
This revolutionary program:
- Immersed children in Hawaiian from an early age
- Created new Hawaiian speakers for the first time in generations
- Was technically illegal at first (Hawaiian couldn't be the language of instruction)
- Proved that Hawaiian could be revived as a living language
- Led to Hawaiian immersion K-12 schools (Kula Kaiapuni)
In 1986, Hawaiian became an official state language, and in 1987, Hawaiian immersion programs were legalized in public schools.
Today, over 2,000 students attend Hawaiian immersion schools, and Hawaiian is taught at universities. The language has come back from the brink of extinction.
Cultural Revival
The Renaissance brought renewed interest in all aspects of Hawaiian culture:
Hula:
- Traditional hula kahiko was revived and honored
- Hālau (hula schools) proliferated
- The Merrie Monarch Festival (started 1964) became a major cultural event
- Hula was recognized as a sophisticated art form, not tourist entertainment
Music:
- Hawaiian music experienced a renaissance with artists like Gabby Pahinui, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, and the Brothers Cazimero
- Traditional chanting (oli and mele) was preserved and taught
- Hawaiian language songs became popular again
Traditional Practices:
- Loʻi kalo (taro farming) was revived
- Traditional fishing and farming methods were practiced again
- Canoe building and paddling became popular
- Traditional healing (lāʻau lapaʻau) was preserved
- Cultural protocols and ceremonies were restored
Arts and Crafts:
- Kapa making, featherwork, and traditional crafts were revived
- Hawaiian quilting flourished
- Traditional tattoo (kākau) was practiced again
The Sovereignty Movement Emerges
As cultural pride grew, so did political consciousness. Hawaiians began questioning the legitimacy of the overthrow and demanding justice.
Key Events and Milestones:
1978 Constitutional Convention:
- Established the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to advocate for Native Hawaiian interests
- Made Hawaiian an official state language
- Protected traditional Hawaiian gathering and access rights
- Recognized Hawaiian cultural practices
1993 Apology Resolution:
On the 100th anniversary of the overthrow, the U.S. Congress passed and President Clinton signed Public Law 103-150, which:
- Acknowledged the illegal overthrow
- Apologized to Native Hawaiians
- Recognized that Hawaiians never relinquished sovereignty
- Admitted U.S. complicity in the overthrow
While symbolic, this official acknowledgment validated what Hawaiians had been saying for a century.
Different Visions of Sovereignty
The sovereignty movement is not monolithic. Different groups have different visions:
Independence/Restoration:
- Restore the Hawaiian Kingdom as an independent nation
- Complete separation from the United States
- Based on the continuity of the Kingdom under international law
- Groups: Hawaiian Kingdom Government, Reinstated Hawaiian Government
Nation-Within-a-Nation:
- Federal recognition similar to Native American tribes
- Self-governance within the U.S. framework
- Control over lands, resources, and cultural practices
- Supported by some as a practical path forward
Enhanced Self-Governance:
- Greater autonomy within the state system
- Expanded powers for OHA and Hawaiian institutions
- Protection of Hawaiian rights and resources
These different approaches sometimes create tension within the movement, but all share the goal of Hawaiian self-determination.
Contemporary Issues and Activism
The sovereignty movement continues to address ongoing injustices:
Land Issues:
- Ceded lands and their proper use
- Homestead lands (Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921)
- Sacred sites protection
- Development vs. preservation
Mauna Kea:
The fight to protect Mauna Kea from the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) became a major flashpoint. Kiaʻi (protectors) argued that:
- Mauna Kea is sacred
- Too many telescopes already exist on the mountain
- Hawaiians should control their sacred sites
- Development prioritizes science over Hawaiian spirituality
The 2019 protests brought international attention to Hawaiian sovereignty issues and demonstrated the strength of cultural commitment.
Water Rights:
- Protecting stream flows for taro farming and ecosystems
- Challenging corporate water diversions
- Restoring traditional water management
Burial Sites:
- Protecting iwi kūpuna (ancestral remains) from development
- Proper treatment of Hawaiian burials
- Cultural protocols for construction projects
Educational and Cultural Institutions
The Renaissance created institutions to preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian culture:
- Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani: College of Hawaiian Language at UH Hilo, offering degrees entirely in Hawaiian
- Kamehameha Schools: Serving Native Hawaiian students with cultural education
- Bishop Museum: Preserving Hawaiian artifacts and knowledge
- Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation: Cultural education and hula
- Papahana Kuaola: Land-based cultural education
- Countless hālau hula, loʻi kalo, and cultural programs
Challenges and Ongoing Work
Despite progress, significant challenges remain:
- Economic disparity: Native Hawaiians have higher rates of poverty and homelessness
- Health disparities: Higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions
- Education gaps: Lower graduation rates and educational achievement
- Incarceration: Disproportionate representation in the criminal justice system
- Land access: Many Hawaiians are landless in their homeland
- Cultural appropriation: Hawaiian culture is often commercialized and misrepresented
- Political division: Different sovereignty visions create internal conflict
The Next Generation
Young Hawaiians are carrying the movement forward with:
- Social media activism and education
- Environmental protection efforts
- Cultural practice and perpetuation
- Political engagement and organizing
- Art, music, and creative expression
- Academic research and scholarship
They're building on the foundation laid by the Renaissance generation while addressing contemporary challenges.
What You Can Do
If you care about Hawaiian culture and justice, you can:
- Learn the history: Understand what happened and why it matters
- Support Hawaiian businesses: Especially those owned by Native Hawaiians
- Respect the culture: Learn proper protocols and cultural practices
- Use Hawaiian correctly: Proper spelling, pronunciation, and context
- Support sovereignty efforts: Donate to or volunteer with Hawaiian organizations
- Amplify Hawaiian voices: Listen to and elevate Native Hawaiian perspectives
- Visit responsibly: Practice mālama ʻāina when visiting Hawaiʻi
- Advocate for justice: Support policies that benefit Native Hawaiians
Hope for the Future
The Hawaiian Renaissance proved that culture can be revived, language can be saved, and people can reclaim their identity. What seemed impossible in the 1970s - Hawaiian language immersion schools, traditional voyaging, widespread cultural practice - is now reality.
The sovereignty movement continues to evolve, seeking justice and self-determination. While the path forward is debated, the commitment to Hawaiian culture and rights is stronger than ever.
The story of Hawaiian history doesn't end with the overthrow or statehood. It continues with every child who learns Hawaiian, every person who practices hula, every activist who stands for justice, and every individual who honors Hawaiian culture.
E ola mau ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. E ola mau ka lāhui Hawaiʻi.
(May the Hawaiian language live forever. May the Hawaiian nation live forever.)
This is the final part of our Hawaiian History Series.
Read Part 1: Ancient Hawaiʻi - The Polynesian Voyagers
Read Part 2: The Ahupuaʻa System
Read Part 3: The Aliʻi - Hawaiian Royalty and Governance
Read Part 4: Kamehameha the Great - Unification of the Islands
Read Part 5: The Hawaiian Kingdom - Monarchy and Sovereignty