In `olelo Hawai`i, the mother tongue of these islands, “wai” is water, “waiwai” means values or wealth, and “kanawai” is the law. It is no coincidences that, in an island community like ours, both wealth and the law were, and continue to be, defined by fresh water….

-From Ola I Ka Wai: Legal Primer for Water use and Land Management in Hawai`i

Beautiful Hawai`i nei and its constant struggle for land and power is all tied to water. Whether it be connected to Hydropower project…

               What is white Hegemony?  White Hegemony is power and control because of a strong military. How does the UH systems have a play in this situation? University of Hawaii had a big part in dehumanizing Hawaiian people like Dr. Haunani Trask because of the knowledge she beholds on the government of U.S.A.  In other words what would the UH system be like without America behind them supporting every mistake that they created for the dehumanization of the Hawaiians? Operation…

“The greatest weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed”- Steven Biko

What does racism mean? Well race is a physical characteristic that are different and therefore, the ism is a behavior or action that is belonging to a certain class of people that have the power to control the other race. Do we have racism in Hawaii? Yes in a matter of fact, we do have racism in Hawaii with the haoles or tourist. The aggression comes from a certain fear. F=false, E=evidence,…

“The greatest weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed”- Steven Biko

What does racism mean? Well race is a physical characteristic that are different and therefore, the ism is a behavior or action that is belonging to a certain class of people that have the power to control the other race. Do we have racism in Hawaii? Yes in a matter of fact, we do have racism in Hawaii with the haoles or tourist. The aggression comes from a certain fear. F=false, E=evidence, A=appearing,…

so everybody I tink dat dis a plus fo all us, fo see dat OHA no longah funding dis so called kana'iolowalu. I am one happy kanaka. jus because dat kana'iolowalu has nuttin maika'i fo giv to us kanakas. tink about it, da stuff is all bullshit. trying fo get owa people hand in hand wit da fake state and all its MINIONS. so why da fuk would we want to go dea fo, really. $595,000 is how much dey giving da toilet pepa roll commission dey last check. wtf foa. dat 500k plus shud go back to us…

I have lived in Kahului most my life, so listening to the words water rights kind of threw me off track when i first moved out to Kahakuloa a few years ago.  We (roommates and i) were fortunate enough to have a rent a house where the water rights were already set forth, our landlord was smart enough to buy the water rights when he bought all his land.  But a few months into living out there we noticed an abonded house at the top of a hill, come to find out its our landlords friend who owns…

“History is writing by the winners” –Malcolm X

               What is the purpose of the myth? The purpose of the myth is to empower the person who is telling the story. Only the person who won in history is benefiting from the situation. This is a cover up to for the winner’s mistakes. Like America, they do an amazing job at manipulating the situation to become stated as a myth and later imprinted into the new generations brains. For instance Columbus Day, why does America praise a…

New technology is shaking things up in style photography. Philippa Warr speaks to legendary photographer Nick Knight about the radical shifts taking place.…

Historical Background





The cage crinoline, the major fashion innovation for women in the1850s. During Romantic period, women used to wear Layers of petticoat, sometimes they are use up to six Layers of petticoat. The increasing width of womens skirts had led to the use of more and more stiffened petticoat. …

First, a little about racism as understood through critical race theory, so everyone knows where I'm coming from. Racism is not only about race, it is about power and historic structures of inequality based on race. So for example, my grandfather studied to be an electrician in Hawai'i. But because more skilled jobs in the 1950s were often reserved for ex-military men, who were haole, my grandfather was unable to find work in Hawai'i employed in the work for which he was trained. THAT…

I am Hawaiian/Filipino/German/Irish, so Hapa, but anything could be contested since I was adopted in the 80’s with poor records and raised “American” by Caucasian Americans (as a white American). What I do know is that I undoubtedly carry an ancestry on my skin that has always set me apart from my Caucasian western communities. And what’s felt different in my heart all my life, I’m finally finding connection to in my Hawaiian roots. I do not take this lightly.…

It is to my understanding, that GMO's are another way for man to be messing with mother nature.  Everytime someone tries to ?improve? things by interrupting the flow of things.....they end up creating more havoc which often ends in a disaster.  Modifying genes and feeding it to the people will generate concerns  down the road.  However, there is reason for concern TODAY! After learning about the chemicals being used for these GMO's, here on our ʻ āina, I feel the importance of bringing…

  The Kamehameha Schools owned and run by the Trustees of the Bishop estates is one of the major land owners in the state of Hawaii, its holdings are estimated at 9 billion dollars. The original will and codicil of Bernice Bishop was a well intentioned and heart felt need to help her people succeed in education and the ever changing issues confronting her people of modern day Hawaii. In the thirteenth codicil she gave the bulk of her estate into the hands of her trustees to open and maintain…

So scary....so many shark attacks.....so common these days.  I feel worrisome to take my keiki to what was once our playground - the ocean.  Did we upset the universe?  Did we disrupt the order of all things natural?  YES....we sure did!  WE....as in mankind.  WE...as in the caretakers of this Earth.  WE....as in you and me.  The numerous shark attacks are messages to notify us that something has gone wrong.  It is all a snowball effect.  Diverting the water from the streams, and removing it…

I have been raised and taught to be a good Catholic girl. I was brought up in the Catholic faith. I attended St. Ann’s Catholic school K-8th grade then onto Sacred Hearts Academy for high school. Both sides of my families were staunch practicing Catholics. Our religious beliefs were involved in our entire decision making. We attended church every Sunday and that included all church holidays. Of course we also had church in school. I grew up experiencing that my Catholic religion went hand…

I remember growing up in a small town on the windward side of `Oahu called Kaneohe. There were only three private schools in Kaneohe at that time. Then, like today you needed to enroll into their school system by taking a test. This memory has stuck with me from the age of five years old until today.

I was told by my Mother that I needed to meet with a teacher from the school and that I would be tested on my abilities. I remember taking a short test in a workbook and then…

I was able to take part in an informative lecture today presented by Kiope Raymond representing Kilakila O Haleakala. He shed light on this very controversial topic of the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope already in the process of being constructed at the summit of Haleakala.

Interesting enough this project is bringing a mere $300 million into the United States of America and $2 million every year for 10 years into Hawaii's economy. It is also a concern by many who support the…

Hawaiian for me is a state of being. Until now, I never really gave it much thought as to what that meant to me and who I am as a Kanaka Maoli. I’ve been raised and understand that both of my parents are part Hawaiian and in this day and age that is a remarkable thing to be. I know that I am proud to be of Hawaiian ancestry and both sides of my Ohana have done extensive genealogy to find out exactly where their lineage derives from.

Now, with the knowledge and understanding that…

Kamehameha Schools' mission is to fulfill Pauahi's desire to create educational opportunities in perpetuity to improve the capability and well-being of people of Hawaiian ancestry.Kamehameha Schools is a dynamic and nurturing learning community committed to educational excellence. We assist people of Hawaiian ancestry to achieve their highest potential as "good and industrious men and women."

Kamehameha Schools should contribute to the development of all Hawaiian…

I had the pleasure of watching Dr. Manulani Aluli Meyer and I was truly intrigued by her thoughts and teachings.

She has a simple way of looking at the life we live here in Hawai`i nei. She shared several inspirational ideas that were very thought provoking for me. She simply gave a few examples of understanding living life by

Mana'o i'o - Faith

Mana'o lana - Hope and

Aloha - Love.

If we take the time to ho'olona-hear and not just ho'olohe-listen we would…