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Kihei “Soli” Niheu is a Hawaiian National who has been at the forefront of Hawaiian struggles for four decades. Learning much from the struggles of the sixties for Native American, Black, Chicano and other oppressed peoples, Soli began to question the state of his people. When he returned to Hawaiʻi after studying in San Jose, California, Soli became a spokesperson for his Ni‘ihau ‘ohana and involved himself in the antiwar protests and the struggles for ethnic studies on the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus. He was a founder of Kokua Hawai‘i, a group that was influential in organizing against the evictions of Kalama Valley residents, actions that many mark as the reemergence of Hawaiian activism. Soli then became a lead member of HULI (Hawaiians United for Liberation and Independence) and has consistently represented Ka Pae ʻĀina ʻo Hawaiʻi with the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific movement. A father and grandfather, “Papa Soli,” as he is affectionately known, continues to fight for his people. He is a founding member of Hui Pū, a diverse coalition of Hawaiians who organized to protect self-determination and oppose the model of federal recognition that Niheu and others believe is a sham of pseudo-sovereignty.
On Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians from Mo'olelo Aloha 'Aina on Vimeo.
Reference: http://moolelo.manainfo.com/activists/kihei-%E2%80%9Csoli%E2%80%9D-niheu/
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Public Statement on U.S. militarism & occupation Printed from: Punatalk Topic: Topic author: silverpenny10 "For Public Release concerning U.S. military training at Pohakuloa Read more at http://www.punaweb.org/forum/pop_printer_friendly.asp?TOPIC_ID=12051 ******************** — Kihei Soli Niheu: It is with deep sadness that I will not be able to attend memorial services for Kupuna Marion because of dialysis sessions. However, let me have the oportunity to express my Aloha for this wonderful and beautiful person. I was very fortunate to work along side of Marion for four decades starting with Ethnic Studies and the Peoples’ Committee. And I was even more fortunate to work with her in Wawamalu, Kalama Valley. For forty years, she was the Kumu and I was the Haumana. Until I can duplicate her experience and her knowledge, I will forever be a Haumana and I will continue to learn from others. It has been said, “Who can find a precious Woman, for her price is far above Rubies.” This was Marion. She was the Kumu of many in our struggles for Liberation and Independence. Her Manaʻo was not based on fairy tales or hearsay, but rather on cold hard facts of History. Who will replace this Wahine Koa Nui? Who will be willing to spend a Lifetime dedicated to what is Pono and not what is convient. Who will be willing to speak the truth? As long as the americans keep telling lies, Kupuna Marion kept telling the truth and for that reason I adore and love her and I will certainly continue to follow the path that she has paved for me. Mahalo Na Akua for allowing me opportunity for being a part of her Life. And to Colleen and Kathy. Mahalo Nui loa for sharing the lives of your Na Makua with us. Me Ke Aloha Pumehana, Aloha a hui hou Marion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GuBcsMTlJE Reference: http://marionkelly.wordpress.com/ ********************************* Facebook:
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Strong like the ʻaʻaliʻi in which no wind can knock it down
Ka Pae ‘Āina lost a great warrior, Papa Kīhei “Soli” Welokīheiakeaʻeloa Niheu, on November 30, 2012. His activism began upon returning from San Jose State responding to a call from his Niʻihau ‘ohana to prevent the sale of the island. He was amongst the core leadership of the Kōkua Kalama Valley struggle, acknowledged as the birthplace of the Hawaiian Renaissance. At almost every major Nā Kānaka Maoli struggle in the past 40 years, he played a major role; Niumalu-Nāwiliwil, Waiāhole-Waikāne, Protect Kahoʻolawe ‘Ohana, Pae ‘Ohana, critical support for Ethnic Studies and Center for Hawaiian Studies Programs; leadership in Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP); Most recently, he was involved in the struggle to protect Mauna Kea. Close to his heart was work done with Co-founder Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell on the convening of the Kōmike Tribunal (an International Tribunal convened to investigate the role of the US in the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy), Countless were the precious endeavors he dedicated his life to.
An international leader, he traveled throughout Moana Nui, stood side by side and was honored by leaders of the people such as Titewhai and Hone Harawira of Aotearoa and Oscar Temaru of Tahiti. Educated and articulate, he spoke for the rights of all Indigenous people. Irreverent and hilarious, he wielded his malo like an ironic sword, mooning leaders of occupying nations throughout the world. His staunch and unyielding belief in the historic right of Kānaka Maoli to independence and sovereignty made him loved by many, disagreed with by some, but respected by all.
“Welo kīhei a ke Aʻeloa”
Cloak fluttering in the Aʻeloa wind
Cherished by his ʻohana, Papa Kīhei is survived by children Kalaʻiokamalino-named after Tūtū Nui of Niʻihau, Kalamaokaʻāina-upholding the Kalama Valley struggle; Alohaʻāina Harawira, honoring Māori support of the Kahoʻolawe struggle; Kekahikoa, the first Warrior, and Kealiʻikauila-in honor of kūpuna who have come to pass. Grandsons, Iakona Welokīheiakeaʻeloa, Kapunaheleokapuʻuwai, Welokīheiakeʻaloa and granddaughter, Keaolani. Brothers, David Niheu and Luther “Hoppy” Niheu; and sister, Karen Gomes.
Please join us to honor this Kanaka Nui at noon January 5th at ʻIolani Palace, by the Ahu. Meaʻai for the ʻAha‘aina and traditional maoli attire is welcomed. Protocol will begin at noon followed by an overnight vigil till noon on January 6th.
Kanu (laying to rest) will be hosted at his ‘āina on Hawaiʻi Island, at his hale in Waimea, date to be announced.
“Ka whawhai tonu mātou, āke, ake, ake!”
We will continue the struggle, forever and ever and ever!
Māori Proverb
*Photo courtesy of Ed Greevy of Papa Kihei standing on a trailer, acting as lookout at the Kalama Valley occupation
HENRY WELOKIHEIAKEA‘ELOA NIHEU JR. / 1942-2012
Pioneer Hawaiian activist stood by Kalama Valley residents
By Star-Advertiser staff
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 23, 2012
A leader of a group that became a catalyst for social change during the emerging Hawaiian Renaissance in the early 1970s has died.
Henry "Papa Kihei" Welokiheiakea‘eloa Niheu Jr. died of complications associated with diabetes on Nov. 30 in Honolulu. He was 69.
"He was an independent fighter for indigenous rights in Hawaii and the Pacific and an early supporter of ethnic studies," said Ibrahim Aoude, chairman of the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawaii.
Political observers said Niheu, also known as "Soli," and other leaders of Kokua Hawaii (not to be confused with Jack Johnson's Kokua Hawaii Foundation) were at the vanguard of a social movement that empowered threatened ethnic communities and backed Native Hawaiian rights.
Kokua Hawaii supported the concept of "self-determination," empowering communities to determine their destinies, an idea that buoyed the concept of Native Hawaiian sovereignty.
Former Gov. John Waihee, who met Niheu while both worked in the federally funded Model Cities Program, said Kokua Hawaii became the training grounds for scores of volunteer community organizers.
"It wasn't an academic exercise," Waihee said. "They went into the community. That was the magic of it.
"The Hawaiian movement started back then with Kokua Hawaii."
Niheu became a symbol of the new island social consciousness, criticizing the destruction of ethnic communities for new housing developments. He helped form a group protesting the eviction of Hawaiian residents and farmers in Kalama Valley.
Some 32 people, including pig farmer George Santos and more than 14 Native Hawaiians, were arrested in Kalama Valley in 1971.
"They had the political conscience to stand up and say, ‘This is wrong,'" said Davianna McGregor, a University of Hawaii professor in ethnic studies and a leader of the Protect Kahoolawe Ohana.
Niheu used his skills in business administration to help organize Hawaiian music fundraising concerts at Andrews Amphitheatre and the Waikiki Shell to help evicted residents.
Kokua Hawaii helped to support resistance to other evictions in several ethnic communities, including Ota Camp, Waiahole-Waiakane, Hikina Lane in Kalihi, and Niumalu-Nawiliwili and Nukoli‘i on Kauai.
Kokua Hawaii brought a coalition of hundreds of community residents onto the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus in 1972 to lead a sit-in protest and back the continuation of an endangered ethnic studies program.
The program, now a department, teaches students about histories of Hawaiians and of ethnic immigrant plantation laborers, the precursor of the University of Hawaii's Center for Hawaiian Studies.
Retired university professor Haunani K. Trask said Niheu was the first to defend her when administrators wanted her removed in light of her political activity on behalf of Native Hawaiians.
She said Niheu's action helped to open the way for many politically active Hawaiians on university campuses.
"They may not know it, but they owe their current positions to Soli as much as anyone else," she said.
Niheu is survived by daughters Kala‘iokamalino, Kalamaoka‘aina, Aloha‘aina Harawira and Keali‘ikauila Hinewhare-Niheu; son Kekahikoa; brothers David and Luther "Hoppy"; sister Karen Gomes; and four grandchildren.
Services are at noon on Jan. 5 on the grounds of Iolani Palace. Traditional maoli attire.
Services at his house in Waimea on Hawaii island are to be announced.
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http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20121223_Pioneer_Hawaiian_activi...
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Strong like the ʻaʻaliʻi in which no wind can knock it down
Ka Pae ‘Āina lost a great warrior, Papa Kīhei “Soli” Welokīheiakeaʻeloa Niheu, on November 30, 2012. His activism began upon returning from San Jose State responding to a call from his Niʻihau ‘ohana to prevent the sale of the island. He was amongst the core leadership of the Kōkua Kalama Valley struggle, acknowledged as the birthplace of the Hawaiian Renaissance. At almost every major Nā Kānaka Maoli struggle in the past 40 years, he played a major role; Niumalu-Nāwiliwil, Waiāhole-Waikāne, Protect Kahoʻolawe ‘Ohana, Pae ‘Ohana, critical support for Ethnic Studies and Center for Hawaiian Studies Programs; leadership in Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP); Most recently, he was involved in the struggle to protect Mauna Kea. Close to his heart was work done with Co-founder Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell on the convening of the Kōmike Tribunal (an International Tribunal convened to investigate the role of the US in the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy), Countless were the precious endeavors he dedicated his life to.
An international leader, he traveled throughout Moana Nui, stood side by side and was honored by leaders of the people such as Titewhai and Hone Harawira of Aotearoa and Oscar Temaru of Tahiti. Educated and articulate, he spoke for the rights of all Indigenous people. Irreverent and hilarious, he wielded his malo like an ironic sword, mooning leaders of occupying nations throughout the world. His staunch and unyielding belief in the historic right of Kānaka Maoli to independence and sovereignty made him loved by many, disagreed with by some, but respected by all.
“Welo kīhei a ke Aʻeloa”
Cloak fluttering in the Aʻeloa wind
Cherished by his ʻohana, Papa Kīhei is survived by children Kalaʻiokamalino-named after Tūtū Nui of Niʻihau, Kalamaokaʻāina-upholding the Kalama Valley struggle; Alohaʻāina Harawira, honoring Māori support of the Kahoʻolawe struggle; Kekahikoa, the first Warrior, and Kealiʻikauila-in honor of kūpuna who have come to pass. Grandsons, Iakona Welokīheiakeaʻeloa, Kapunaheleokapuʻuwai, Welokīheiakeʻaloa and granddaughter, Keaolani. Brothers, David Niheu and Luther “Hoppy” Niheu; and sister, Karen Gomes.
Please join us to honor this Kanaka Nui at noon January 5th at ʻIolani Palace, by the Ahu. Meaʻai for the ʻAha‘aina and traditional maoli attire is welcomed. Protocol will begin at noon followed by an overnight vigil till noon on January 6th.
Kanu (laying to rest) will be hosted at his ‘āina on Hawaiʻi Island, at his hale in Waimea, date to be announced.
“Ka whawhai tonu mātou, āke, ake, ake!”
We will continue the struggle, forever and ever and ever!
Māori Proverb
*Photo courtesy of Ed Greevy of Papa Kihei standing on a trailer, acting as lookout at the Kalama Valley occupation
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from Tony Castanha:
Kihei Soli Niheu - Celebration of life
decades. Arrested over twenty times, he was a Pacific contemporary of
Russell Means in the struggle for Kanaka Maoli rights, freedom and
independence. His incredible determination and spirit will live on in
all those he influenced.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 2:16 PM, LC <palolo@hawaii.rr.com> wrote:
> I picked this up from facebook on a page created for Soli:
>
> Aloha no kakou for your aloha. The ʻOhana of Papa Kihei Soli Niheu will
> continue to keep you folks posted about the details on his fb page.
> We are looking forward to seeing ALL of you at his celebration of life at
> ʻIolani Palace on Saturday, January 5th 2013.
> KUʻE KANAKA MAOLI!!!!
>
> Will post more details as I get them.
>
> lc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29zQGhnKQck A Tribute To All Our Loved Ones Who Have Passed....
from his family:
Anikaaro Harawira
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