Maoliworld
Ke Ao Maoli
starting up a Native Hawaiian advocacy group in New York
Yesterday, we were able to get a handful of us who were available in the afternoon to go and show our kanaka maoli presence in NYC. We went to the National Museum of the American Indian in NYC (which is near Battery Park/the Statue of Liberty) to take pictures with Hawaiian flags. I chose that location because it is pretty much the only symbol of native presence I know of in NYC (someone please let me know if there are others).
It dawned on us later that we also should have went to the UN - that's where many protests are held. They also have all the flags from every country in the world. We could have got arrested and tried to include the Hawaiian flag up there. Haha. That would have made for a good pic!
Anyway, I also asked kanaka maoli who couldn't make it (it was LAST MINUTE kine, after all) to take pics of themselves in red and/or with the flag in solidarity.
But this is just a step in the direction we want to go. I am so determined that just because I'm going to school in NYC doesn't mean I have to put a PAUSE to advocacy work for Native Hawaiians. Right? In fact, it makes for very good practice in community organizing.
So, we are planning to start up some film screenings - hopefully we can get space at NYU - and educational type stuff. In addition, we are starting up a website and hopefully a social network like maoliworld where Hawaiians can connect in NY.
What I found most difficult living here is that Hawaiians are virtually invisible to each other... unless we have online communities to connect. So --- this is our attempt to solve that and bridge that divide.
Anyway, that's my mana'o for now.
It dawned on us later that we also should have went to the UN - that's where many protests are held. They also have all the flags from every country in the world. We could have got arrested and tried to include the Hawaiian flag up there. Haha. That would have made for a good pic!
Anyway, I also asked kanaka maoli who couldn't make it (it was LAST MINUTE kine, after all) to take pics of themselves in red and/or with the flag in solidarity.
But this is just a step in the direction we want to go. I am so determined that just because I'm going to school in NYC doesn't mean I have to put a PAUSE to advocacy work for Native Hawaiians. Right? In fact, it makes for very good practice in community organizing.
So, we are planning to start up some film screenings - hopefully we can get space at NYU - and educational type stuff. In addition, we are starting up a website and hopefully a social network like maoliworld where Hawaiians can connect in NY.
What I found most difficult living here is that Hawaiians are virtually invisible to each other... unless we have online communities to connect. So --- this is our attempt to solve that and bridge that divide.
Anyway, that's my mana'o for now.
Views: 21
Comment
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Comment by Ku'ulani Miyashiro on February 28, 2009 at 3:15pm
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mahalo nui ia 'oukou 'apau!
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Comment by Namaka'eha on February 27, 2009 at 8:15pm
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Mahalo NYC. This is our calling, our KULEANA to do our part. To all the po'e across the sea and here in HAWAII'I NEI, mahalo for your kokua! IMUA!
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Comment by Meliss on February 26, 2009 at 9:48pm
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Maika'i New York. All is good. You go find the Hawaiians and unite. We all over the place. It is nice to hear what you been doing so far away from home. May ke Akua bless you and your ohana.
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Comment by Kai Landow on February 26, 2009 at 12:28pm
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Aloha ka kou
There is already a NYC Hawaiian advocate. The Hawaiian Embassy and I am working to do the same things as you. I would be happy to join our efforts to improve the Native Hawaiian interests here in America. I have just returned from the Supreme Court where I heard the oral arguments and because of this case everything has changed. A lot can be accomplished with actions here in New York. please contact me, I need your help
917.626.2244
Kai Landow
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P.S. I found on American Fact Finder.com that there are 6,400 Native Hawaiians living in New York, according to the Census! So there is hope we can do some major work!
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