Six Days on Mauna Kea Taught Me Lessons in Resiliency, Diplomacy, & Sustainability — World, Take Notes.

Native Hawaiians have a famous, steadfast motto, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono,” which directly translates, “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” Really romantic, right? It’s more than romantic, then it is a way of life and a true North star for kanaka maoli (native people of Hawai‘i).

Ironically enough, this motto graces the Great Seal of the State of Hawai‘i that was created in 1959, the year Hawai‘i officially became the 50th state of the United States of America. Side note your history book hasn’t taught you, the Kingdom of Hawai‘i was illegally overthrown by thirteen U.S. businessmen, who betrayed Queen Lili‘iuokalani (our last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom), then was later annexed as a U.S. state. *Hint: the kanaka maoli did not want this and statehood was forced upon them.

This sparked decades of Native Hawaiians fighting U.S. colonialism, everything from indigenous access rights to water and culturally sacred places, to the demilitarization of native land, to sovereignty. This compounded by the fact that native populations continue to suffer, to this day, the affects of generational trauma — high levels of poverty, displacement, homelessness, severe to poor health conditions, lack of access to quality and proper education, high volumes of incarceration, and all topped off with institutionalized and systematic racism. Sound familiar?

Despite the heartbreaking history and statistics, as we speak, thousands of kanaka maoli continue to gather at Pu‘uhonua o Pu‘uhululu to peacefully block the access road to Mauna Kea to protect this culturally sacred mauna (mountain), a gathering I was lucky to be an active participant of.

There I stood, both in the blistering heat and the misty cold, in support of my lāhui (people). There, before my eyes, was a beautiful and striking display of unity, resistance, and resiliency against imperialism and an unwavering commitment to the survival and continuation of our culture. A moment I will never be able to relive again.

However through my own experience, I’ve learned how Native Hawaiians have exemplified resiliency, diplomacy, and sustainability on the mauna that we should all take notes on. Here are a few ways we could learn from the kanaka maoli’s heroic protection of sacred land.

Resiliency

It has been two weeks since the kanaka maoli have been on Mauna Kea. Since then, on day one 38 kūpuna (elders) formed a sit-in line and were arrested, day two our alakaʻi (leaders) chained themselves to cattle guards for over 11+ hours, and day three a hundred mana wahine (powerful women) formed an arm-linked chain. After watching their acts of resiliency on social media, thousands of Native Hawaiians immediately answered the kāhea (call) including myself.

As more indigenous protecters gathered on Mauna Kea, Governor Ige announced this peaceful gathering as “a state of emergency” and ordered a proclamation for the National Guard to forcibly remove individuals by any means necessary. Even after a potentially dangerous physical threat, the kanaka maoli stood steadfast and continued to gather — resiliency through risk.

Diplomacy

A week after Governor Ige issued arrests, issued a proclamation to have the National Guard to remove protectors, and vilified the kanaka maoli, he finally accepted the invite to visit Pu‘uhonua o Pu‘uhululu on Mauna Kea. However, what was truly powerful about this moment, was that despite Governor Ige’s failed attempts to dismantle the organized group, the kanaka maoli welcomed him with kapu aloha (acting first with love, respect, and emapthy). They gave him a traditional proceeding with chant protocols and exhanged hā (exchanging breath greeting) with the kūpuna — diplomacy despite contempt.

Sustainability

What was amazing to witness were the multiple free programs that were established on Mauna Kea. Free healthcare (Mauna Medics), free college education (Pu‘uhuluhulu Univrsity), and free childcare (kapūnana) — all established in 11 days. Even the kūpuna on the mauna were treated like royalty and some would say even better than if they were in a home care facility. Young kanaka maoli proactively took on jobs, whether it was a being a part of the kitchen staff, security, or road traffic control etc. Every single kanaka played an essential role. These programs were not only a testament to the Native Hawaiian’s commitment to sustaining a strong, thriving community, but also a testament to the longevity of the cause itself.

It is important to note, that these characteristics are not foregin to indigenous cultures. They were exemplifying these traits and concepts for centuries, long before colonization.

Mauna Kea has been transformative for me. Even though I’m thousands of miles away, my lāhui called and I answered. We stood in unity with an universal understanding that we all must protect the ‘āina (land) that was given to us because it is our kuleana (responsibility, right, and privilege).

If we could all look at systems, processes, and people with an indigenous lens and put into effect policies that support indigenous peoples and their rights, I think we would all leave a better world for generations to come.

Here’s a quote from Chenjenrai Kumanyika to reflect on, “Whatever social justice victories that have been won is not because of America, it’s despite of America. It’s resisting America. For people who want transformative change or want to give people equal rights, what you have to understand is that we trying to become something we’ve never been.”

Listen to full interview here on the Scene on Radio podcast.