An old Native Hawaiian saying, concerning
the white man's occupation of their lands, goes, "As we gazed at their
heaven, they stole our land from beneath our feet" (171). The Kanaka
Maoli, Native Hawaiian people, have been through a lot since 1778,
when the haole (white man) arrived. They have lost thousands of
their people due to diseases, lost nearly all their land, and even lost
a whole island for a time to the U.S. military, not to mention the fact
that they lost their freedom. In 1898, the U.S. made Hawaii a territory,
five years after overthrowing their government and Queen Lili'uokalani.
In addition to this, Native Hawaiians were never given a choice of independence
or form of government, which was a violation of international law (171).
Hawai'i is now one of the fifty Uni
ted
States, and a major vacation spot, hosting around six million tourists
per year. Through this all, the Kanaka Maoli are trying to survive,
and trying to live by their native culture. It is my opinion that, although
the Native Hawaiians have suffered greatly, they still have a little bit
of hope for the future of their people, and for their 'aina (land).
Only recently have the Native Hawaiians
had something to be hopeful for. In 1994, fifty-three years after the U.S.
military took it away, Kaho'o'lawe was returned to the people of Hawai'i.
This island was taken away from the natives by the government without their
consent or approval on December 8, 1941, one day after Pearl Harbor. It
was then used as a practice bombing site for the U.S. military. It was not
until forty years later that the Hawaiians were able to set foot on Kaho'o'lawe
again, and 
then
they were only allowed access for four days a month, ten months of the year.
Then, in 1992, President Bush removed the Navy from the island and called
for a restoration of Kaho'o'lawe. This led to a formal apology to the Native
Hawaiians by the U.S. government and the return of Kaho'o'lawe to the state
of Hawai'i (175). Journalist Christopher Merrill reports on the return of
this island to Hawai'i, "If this can happen to Kaho'o'lawe, there will be
other great ceremonies like it in the future" (176). The Kanaka Maoli have
a long way to go before their cause is reached, though. Tourism, pollution,
and industry have destroyed the Hawaiian ecosystems, including Kaho'o'lawe.
There are 27 species of birds on the endangered species list who live in
Hawai'i, one third of the birds on that list, even though the state makes
up just 0.2 percent of the total U.S. land mass (181). Industries, as well
as the U.S. military, have dumped pollution and hazardous waste all over
the Hawaiian Islands. This has led to 
Hawaii
having the most federal hazardous waste sites out of all fifty states. PCB's,
asbestos, pesticides, and nuclear wastes are just a few examples of pollution
in the waters of Hawai'i (174). Along with ecological destruction and pollution
of their homeland, Native Hawaiians are also living in poverty and homelessness.
This may be because less than fifty percent of Native Hawaiians finish high
school and only seven percent actually have college degrees. Also, around
22,000 natives are on waiting lists for land including hundreds of homeless
Hawaiians who live on the beach. Not only are they dropping out of school,
but Native Hawaiians also make up forty percent of the Hawai'i prison population.
This is high number considering Native Hawaiians only make up nineteen percent
of the state's population (172). Beyond all this pain and suffering, however,
is the spirit of the Kanaka Maoli and the hope for the future of
their people.
The Native Hawaiian people believe
that the future will be bright for them and their land, and in my opinion,
they are right. While the Hawaiian ecosystems may be in jeopardy, steps
are being made by the U.S. government to clean up the pollution in some
areas. Also, land is being given back to the Native Hawaiians and apologies
are being given by the government for the unlawful possession of their islands.
Kaho'o'lawe
is just the beginning, the Hawaiians believe, to what will be a long and
fulfilling future for their people on their 'aina. The following
statement by Winona LaDuke summarizes the Native Hawaiian cause and hope
for Kaho'o'lawe,
Native Hawaiian activists have a vision
for the future of this land. It includes a sacred location and healing
place for all Hawaiians and a natural marine and land reserve, where the
ecosystem can be restored. This land base creates a precedent for the
rest of Hawai'i, which they hope eventually to have under the jurisdiction
of a re-established Hawaiian nation. (176)
The Hawaiians not only hope for their freedom
and the future of their people, but also the restoration of their lands.
Hopefully, they will get their wish and be able to restore Hawaii to near
its original form. Now, more than ever, should the Hawaiians be hopeful
and celebrate their accomplishments through so much adversity. The Hawaiians,
in their actions and accomplishments, give hope to all native people in
their struggles for land and freedom.