Thursday, July 18 Update: Hundreds of Astronomers Denounce Arrest of Native Hawaiians Protesting Thirty Meter Telescope
Friday, July 19 Update: The resources below are from a pinned post attached to several live feeds from Mauna Kea.
ORGS TO SUPPORT:
KAHEA’s Aloha ‘Āina Support Fund, which prioritizes frontline logistical support for non-violent direct actions taken to protect Mauna Kea from further industrial development now: https://org.salsalabs.com/…/don…/aloha-aina-support-fund
HULI! https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/huli/ or http://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/hulinvda
BAIL FUND: http://hawaiicommunitybailfund.org/
Maunakea tees from http://www.hifinest.com. with 100% of proceeds to go to HULI for frontline efforts of Maunakea PROTECTORS.
Dear Readers,
This is urgent. I appeal to my national and international readership on behalf of Mauna Kea.
In the spirit of solidarity and signal boosting for the Kia’i (Protectors) of Mauna Kea on Hawai’i Island, I want to share several resources for those who want to learn more and/or help from afar. The protection of Mauna Kea is a deeply emotional, cultural, spiritual, long-term justice struggle for the Kanaka Maoli (native Hawaiians). The struggle to protect this mountain from desecration and environmental destruction has been going on for decades. Decades.
I’m not posting ’cause this is a hot, new issue about to go viral on social media. This is not a new cause for me. As an ally, I’ve been peripherally involved in supporting the protection of Mauna Kea for at least sixteen years. (However my story is not important, except to me.)
Right now, our focus should be solely on the Kia’i and what we can do to assist them, and the Mauna, the sacred mountain. Here is footage of some of the arrests of thirty or so elders today.
VIDEO: Kupuna Arrested, Saddle Road Closed – Mauna Kea Update
I’ll paraphrase what one of the Kia’i said on camera today: Mauna Kea is the piko, the center, right now. What happens there matters, more than you can know. Here are some things you can do and learn, which would be helpful.
Resources and Things You Can Do
First, Kapu Aloha. Learn what you can about Kapu Aloha and do your best to stay within that during your activism. Here’s a “101” video from ʻŌiwi TV that will inspire you. As a settler-colonist ally used to entitled and confrontational action (Berkeley-style), I have to say this is one of the most difficult things I’ve had to continue to learn. And I’m not “there” yet. But Kapu Aloha is essential and it is demanded in the sacred struggle to protect the sacred Mauna. How you do something matters as well as what you do.
Here is something more about Kapu Aloha, via Hawai’i Public Radio.
Learn what the issues are. KAHEA-the Hawaiian Environmental Alliance has several pages of important background. You could start here, with Sacred Summits.
Donate to a Legal Defense Fund. As I mentioned above, this morning about 30 or so kupuna (elders) were arrested by police. More arrests are sure to follow. Give to the Mauna Kea Legal Defense Fund which is operated by KAHEA–the Hawaiian Environmental Alliance, an excellent group.
Understand that Hawai’i has a law against desecration, including that which causes public outrage. Pay special attention to (2) below:
§711-1107 Desecration. (1) A person commits the offense of desecration if the person intentionally desecrates:
(a) Any public monument or structure;
(b) A place of worship or burial; or
(c) In a public place the national flag or any other object of veneration by a substantial segment of the public.
(2) “Desecrate” means defacing, damaging, polluting, or otherwise physically mistreating in a way that the defendant knows will outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover the defendant’s action.
(3) Any person convicted of committing the offense of desecration shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than one year, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. [L 1972, c 9, pt of §1; gen ch 1993; am L 2002, c 198, §1]
Offer Prayers. This blog, HE WAHĪ PAʻAKAI: A PACKAGE OF SALT by Emalani Case, has twelve prayers you can say for Mauna Kea and its protectors. Prayers really help.
Do Lots of Other Things. Emalani Case’s blog also has a post which describes thirty things you can do to be helpful even if you can’t go to Pu’uhuluhulu and the Mauna Kea access road to stand with the others who are standing there now.
For example, #21 says: “Educate yourself and educate others. Learn about colonialism and settler colonialism so that you can recognize their tactics and call them out.” This is very important for those of us who are allies, but not Kanaka. We need to call ourselves out, whenever possible. It’s not easy. I’ve got over sixteen years worth of mistakes to learn from.
Follow Emalani Case’s Blog. And go ahead, read both the entries above. Seriously. You’ll learn so much.
Learn the historical, political, and land use facts of Hawai’i, which provides the context of the struggle re: The Hawaiian Kingdom Blog. You could start with this one pertaining to the destruction of Mauna Kea’s summit which has already taken place.
KAHEA also has a timeline of legal actions pertaining to Mauna Kea, since 2011.
Watch Mauna Kea: Temple Under Seige —for free. This is a documentary about an earlier struggle to prevent desecration on the Mauna.
Learn the words to the chorus of this song, at least: Kū Haʻaheo E Kuʻu Hawaiʻi by Kumu (teacher) Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu. Go to http://kanaeokana.net/portfolio-items/ku-haaheo-e-kuu-hawaii/
Use social media to stay up to date. Right now, the situation is changing moment by moment, day by day. You might want to check out some of the Facebook groups, like this one.
Wear the message that Mauna Kea is sacred. Here’s one link.
Finally, help me Signal Boost! Share any or all of the links above–or even this blog. “Likes” and shares will help get the word out. We need to get the info out and active. Let’s help each other to reach a mass tipping point in stopping the desecration that is so deeply hurtful to na Kanaka Maoli.
I will add more to this post as I find more links. For now, I hope this gets you started. Thank you so much for your interest and your help.
Protect Sacred Mauna Kea
Lady Of The Lake 