For many who call Hawaiʻi home, Native politics can feel distant. The daily need to provide food and shelter for the ʻohana understandably takes priority over engagement in policy and governance. Yet we have an opportunity to shift that reality – to frame Native politics as essential to Native prosperity.
Prosperity, as defined here, is a thriving and flourishing condition, especially in financial terms. It aligns with a broader mission: to strengthen the Native Hawaiian economy, deepen relationships grounded in Hawaiian values, and organize our community into a unified economic, social, and political force.
Central to this is the development of a far more potent political voice.
Politics is both the art and science of governance and the sum of relationships in society shaped by power and authority. While the Native Hawaiian community has experienced a renaissance in language, culture, law, medicine, business, and the arts, political engagement remains an area where greater understanding is needed.
It is in politics that disenfranchisement and dispossession are most clearly revealed – and where remedies must be pursued.
The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 was a political act. The response, therefore, must also be political. We must never accept the consequences of that injustice, nor grow accustomed to dispossession. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.
Justice does not always mean returning to a former model of governance. It also means transforming historical pain into a driver for future prosperity. Governments rise and fall, but nations endure. The lāhui remains. The question is: what have we learned, and how do we move forward?
Queen Liliʻuokalani offers a profound example. She resisted injustice with courage and restraint, choosing a path that avoided bloodshed. Had she chosen otherwise many of us might not be here today. Because she stood down, we can stand up. For that, we owe her deep gratitude and a commitment to carry forward her legacy.
Her life reminds us that courage is a conscious decision to act despite risk. It is not the easy path, but it is the necessary one. Courage saves lives, inspires hope, and calls us to act for the good of others.
In her final years, the Queen urged us not to fear failure but to remain steadfast, discerning, and balanced – walking what she described as a “razor’s edge.” Her words challenge us to be courageous in times of uncertainty, clear in judgment, and committed for the long term, guided by aloha.
Political strength, however, requires more than inspiration – it requires organization. In governance, numbers matter. Majorities determine outcomes across county councils, the legislature, and the governor’s office. Understanding this reality is key to building influence.
In 2011, Act 195* was passed to help unify Native Hawaiians and establish a recognized political entity. Even if only a portion of the Hawaiian community engaged as a unified voice – albeit a voting bloc – their collective power would rival or exceed some of the largest political organizations in the state.
This is the potential of kūʻē: organized, disciplined, and purposeful advocacy. When exercised wisely, it becomes a force that can shape policy and improve conditions not only for Native Hawaiians, but for all who live in Hawaiʻi.
The path forward is clear: unity. He waiwai nui ka lōkahi – unity is our greatest treasure. If we stand together, engage politically, and act with intention, we can transform our collective strength into lasting prosperity for the lāhui and future generations.
Mālama for now.
*Act 195 officially recognized Native Hawaiians as Hawaiʻi’s only Indigenous people.
