By Kalaniakea Wilson, Ph.D.
The U.S. Marine invasion in 1893 initiated a state of war that subdued the Native Hawaiian government. For over a century, Hawaiians survived through policies of genocide. Here, I highlight cultural genocide.
On July 4, 1894, the Republic of Hawaii – the grandparent to the State of Hawaii – replaced the Native Hawaiian government resulting in an example of social and political genocide.
The compounded negative effects of physical, economic, social, and political, genocides are immeasurable. I’ll introduce cultural genocide policies that extinguished Hawaiian language and destroyed Hawaiian identity.
In 1896, the Republic of Hawaii passed Kanawai 57 prioritizing English schools to replace Hawaiian schools effectively banning Hawaiian language in public schools. My grandmother was spanked by the teacher in front of the students as an example to Hawaiian youth that if you speak Hawaiian, you will be tortured.
Hawaiian families across the archipelago experienced corporal punishment through physical torture, suspension, detention, and more to extinguish Hawaiian language.
In 1978, the constitutional convention established Hawaiian language as an official language of the State of Hawaii. After nearly 50 years, no Hawaiian language TV station, radio station or programming exists. Hawaiian language is not a course requirement for graduation in public schools while four years of English is required.
In 1906, the Department of Education required the “Programme for Patriotic Exercises in the Public Schools” curriculum to replace Hawaiian Kingdom consciousness for American consciousness. Hawaiian Kingdom national holiday celebrations ceased to exist. Since 2016 the legislature disapproved bills to reestablish La Hoihoi Ea and La Kuokoa as paid state holidays perpetuating centuries old cultural genocide policies.
Thank you, Governor Waihee for passing La Hae Hawaii or Hawaiian flag day on July 31, 1990, which opened the doorway to reestablish La Hoihoi Ea history presentations at Luakini Puukohola National Park.
Every year since 2014 I have provided presentations and a flag ceremony at noon flying only the Hawaiian flag. In 2026, I was directed by Paul Scolari NPS Superintendent, Kawai Domingo Park Ranger, and Pomai Brown ROOK I Moku o Kohala, to do my presentation outside on the grass, after the park closed. Hawaiians in positions of power assist to perpetuate policies of cultural genocide today suppressing Hawaiians seeking to remedy a century of genocide injustices.
The State of Hawaii continues to underfund Hawaiian education programs seeking to reverse cultural genocide policies in the Department of Education. In 2026, Hawaiian language immersion programs are not adequately supported and continue to be underfunded and unavailable as an option for Hawaiian youth at many public schools. The legislature is perpetuating the intention to destroy by not reversing these century-old genocidal policies.
When the legislature chooses to divert funds away from funding initiatives to reverse genocide policies, the legislature then becomes a sponsor that supports continued genocide policies that result in Hawaiian deaths.
Unknowingly, Hawaiians have been in a struggle for their survival and existence. Here is a kahea to unite and fight for our right to exist in our own homeland.
Dr. Kalaniakea Wilson is a scholar of Indigenous politics, Hawaiian Kingdom law, and genocide. He chooses not to use diacriticals. For more information contact: [email protected].
