Hawaiʻi Rising

77. Protecting Oceania: Pan-Pacific Organizing for Collective Self-Determination

An interview about Pan-Pacific solidarity with Jonathan Osorio and Tammy Tabe, two organizers of the 2024 Protecting Oceania conference.

During the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture held on Oʻahu in 2024, Protecting Oceania brought together Pasifika philosophers and grassroots organizers to forge new alliances, formations, strategies, and tactics rooted in their own worldviews, to determine how best to address those issues causing the most harm to Pacific peoples. Their hope is that the Protecting Oceania convening is only the beginning of setting a new agenda of collective self-determination for the Pacific in the 21st century.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

76. AF3IRM Hawaiʻi: "Land Back, Bodies Back"

An interview about transnational feminist organizing with Alani Santana and ʻIhilani Lasconia from the Hawaiʻi chapter of AF3IRM.

AF3IRM stands for the Association of Feminists Fighting Fascism, Imperialism, Refeudalization, and Marginalization. Founded in 1989, AF3IRM is a transnational feminist, anti-imperialist organization of women dedicated to the struggle for women’s liberation and the fight against oppression in all its forms. The Hawaiʻi Chapter was established in 2016 and amplifies the connections between the de-occupation of Hawaiʻi and women’s liberation, organizing under the call for “Land Back, Bodies Back!”

Instagram: @af3irmhawaii

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

Special - Remembering the Overthrow through the ʻOnipaʻa Peace March

Today, January 17, 2025, is the 132nd anniversary of the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Each year, Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi and the Queen's Court convene the ʻOnipaʻa Peace March and Rally to make sure the overthrow is never forgotten. In this podcast short, re-aired from an interview in 2022, Healani Sonoda-Pale shares about the history of the overthrow, its impact on Kānaka Maoli, and the importance of ʻOnipaʻa as an act of remembrance.

To learn more about the 2025 ʻOnipaʻa Peace March, visit kalahuihawaii.net/onipaapeacemarch. To listen to the full interview with Healani from 2022, see episode 34 in our feed.

Tag: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

Special - The 2025 ʻOnipaʻa Peace March and Rally

On Friday, January 17, 2025, thousands will gather in Honolulu for the annual ʻOnipaʻa Peace March and Rally, marching from the Mauna Ala Royal Mausoleum to ʻIolani Palace. The 2025 march marks the 132nd anniversary of the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the beginning of u.s. occupation. The annual event, convened by the Queenʻs Court and Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi, raises public awareness about the overthrow and occupation and calls the lāhui and allies to stand firm.

In today’s special episode, Kauwila Sheldon, a committee member of Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi, shares about the history and significance of the ʻOnipaʻa march and gives context and pointers for those who would like to participate. Learn more on the Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi website at www.kalahuihawaii.net/onipaapeacemarch. We hope to see you there!

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

75. Hoʻōla Hou Iā Kalauao: Creating Kīpuka in ʻEwa

A conversation about aloha ʻāina in the highly urbanized and militarized context of Kalauao with Anthony Deluze and Dani Espiritu from Hoʻōla Hou iā Kalauao.

Hoʻōla Hou iā Kalauao revives and brings life to Kalauao, an ahupuaʻa in the moku of ʻEwa on the island of Oʻahu. Their vision is a thriving and abundant ʻEwa moku beginning with the ahupuaʻa of Kalauao. Recognizing the negative impacts of urban development and militarization on both the ʻāina and kānaka of ʻEwa, the hui works to create and maintain kīpuka (places of calm, safety, and regeneration) where culture can thrive, food can be cultivated, and ʻāina and kānaka can heal and be restored. The hui is currently restoring māla and loʻi kalo at Kaʻōnohi, a small, organic farm and ʻili in Kalauao completely surrounded by development, which is their base of operations.

Website: hoolahouiakalauao.wordpress.com/

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

74. ʻEkolu Mea Nui: Empowering Youth to End Intergenerational Incarceration

A conversation about supporting and empowering youth and ʻohana affected by incarceration with Jamee Miller and Kalei K-aloha from ʻEkolu Mea Nui.

ʻEkolu Mea Nui is dedicated to addressing the overrepresentation of Native Hawaiians in Hawaiʻi’s carceral system and empowering those directly impacted by incarceration, particularly youth and families, to be leaders in the movement for transformative change. Through mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement, the hui aims to prevent intergenerational incarceration and break the cycle of harm within Hawaiʻi communities.

To learn more about the E Hoʻowaiwai Ē gala event, visit the ʻEkolu Mea Nui website at ekolumeanui.org/ehoowaiwaie.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

73. Hui Hoʻoniho: Building a Foundation through Uhau Humu Pōhaku

A conversation about uhau humu pōhaku (Hawaiian drystack masonry) and intergenerational knowledge transmission with Keʻalohi Wang and Kaimalu Cope from Hui Hoʻoniho.

Hui Hoʻoniho’s mission is to build a firm foundation to cultivate and strengthen community through the practice of uhau humu pōhaku, providing entry into exploring ʻike Hawaiʻi through a deeper sense of stewardship towards ʻāina and uhau humu pōhaku's connection to the agricultural, ecological, and cultural practices of Hawaiʻi. Through the restoration of these critical knowledge systems, the hui perpetuates intergenerational knowledge transmission for the benefit of current and future generations.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

72. Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action: Advocating for Regenerative Food Systems

An interview about regenerative food systems and progressive leadership development with Anne Frederick, Fern Holland, and Hina Kaʻōpua at the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA).

HAPA is a dynamic organization with a rich history of advocacy for environmental justice and public health in Hawaiʻi. Their roots lie in the fight for basic pesticide protections, a battle that saw them standing shoulder to shoulder with frontline communities, advocating for their right to a safe and healthy environment. HAPA’s intersectional programming recognizes that food systems issues in Hawaiʻi are interconnected with other social, economic and environmental justice issues, advancing social change in Hawaiʻi by building upon the successful foundations of those who came before and bringing it into the future.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

71. KAHEA: Gumming Up the Gears of Extractive Capitalism

A conversation about protecting ʻāina by analyzing and intervening in government processes with Shelley Muneoka, Marti Townsend, and Logan Narikawa from KAHEA: the Hawaiian Environmental Alliance.

KAHEA works to address the failure of government to protect Hawaiʻi communities and natural resources. Their members include Hawaiian cultural practitioners, aloha ‘āina advocates, and environmental conservationists. Mobilizing aloha ‘āina communities in ways that realize their collective strength, intelligence, and vision, the hui seeks to build networks of politically conscious folks across Hawai’i by providing cogent analyses of government and administrative processes involved in furthering extractive capitalism, settler colonialism, and white supremacy.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

70. Circular Hawaiʻi: Reestablishing Circularity in Maui's Economy

A conversation about circular economic practices on Maui with Nicole Huguenin, Lehua Simon, and Leo Nahe Smith from the Circular Hawaiʻi Collective.

Circular Hawaiʻi is a conduit and connector of dots in Maui’s circular economy, centering the reestablishment of indigenous models of circularity and incubating collaborative efforts to increase participation in circular-based economic practices. Circular Hawaiʻi is a collaborative effort between initiatives that emerged in 2022 to respond to the impact of the Covid pandemic. In the economic aftermath of the 2023 Maui wildfires, Circular Hawaiʻi seeks to support residents by informing them about the free, subsidized, and affordable local resources available to them.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii