In Hawaii, long-running encampment draws on native law for protection of protest
July 4th is also the anniversary of the establishment of the illegal Republic of Hawaii in 1894, which replaced the Kingdom’s monarchy following a coup the previous year. For many native Hawaiians, the term Occupy has deep significance as they consider their island occupied for more than a century and some prefer to call their movement (de)Occupy instead. Activists also claim the longest, continuous encampment in Honolulu and that’s largely due to a special law, the Law of the Splintered Paddle.
Laulani Teale is an artist, activist and cultural practitioner. from Ko'olaupoko, O'ahu. She’s been involved in the Hawaiian movement for over 20 years, and currently works with the De-Occupy Honolulu encampment and other Occupy efforts to build bridges between indigenous efforts and the Occupy movement.
Anchor Outro: That was artist, musician, activist and cultural practitioner Laulani Teale. From Ko'olaupoko, O'ahu, Teale has been involved in the Hawaiian movement for more than two decades, and currently works with the De-Occupy Honolulu, which has carried out the longest known continuous encampment, 242-straight days.
FSRN’s Larry Geller recorded the interview with Laulani Teale in Honolulu. Thanks to blackline.tv for providing sound from their interview with flimmaker Hena Ashraf and to Makana, for sharing his song, We Are Many.
Today’s program was edited and produced by Catherine Komp. Our technical production team at KPFA Berkeley is Rose Ketabchi and Jeannine Etter.
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