E HUI ANA NA MOKU: ‘Aina Protectors United – Oahu

E HUI ANA NA MOKU: ‘Aina Protectors United

A rally and march taking place on June 12th, at ‘Iolani Palace in Downtown Honolulu.

We hope through this event to continue to build relationships and express alliances regarding issues that are impacting the management and use of land and natural resources in Hawai’i. At the forefront of these issues is the regulation of pesticide use on our agricultural lands and the impact on our rural communities, as we prepare for a series of upcoming, history making court proceedings.

In 2014, the islands of Hawai’i, Kaua’i and Maui County all separately passed local bills to regulate the pesticide heavy agricultural practices of the chemical company owned GMO seed industry. The industry fought back and Federal Judges attempted to invalidate each county’s will to govern their own agricultural practices, leading to continued harm occurring on all of the islands of Hawai’i. Corporate power and influence has negated the most fundamental of our democratic rights, as well as the unique principals of the Hawai’i state constitution. The 5 separate appeals are being heard together in Honolulu, on Wednesday June 15th, and the rulings on these cases will have significant impact not only on our own food sovereignty, but also on similar legislation that has been passed across the continent.

We believe that we must bring greater awareness to the political, social, legal and spiritual significance of this event, and its inevitable effect on the future of the Hawaiian Islands for generations to come.
The name of this event comes from a line in the chant E Iho Ana (Adapted from Hawaiian Antiquities by David Malo):
“E iho ana o luna
E pi`i ana o lalo
E HUI ANA NA MOKU
E ku ana ka paia”

*The high will be brought low
The low will be lifted up
The islands will be united
The walls shall stand upright*

We hope this event will strengthen and unite the numerous efforts across the islands to protect our resources, both natural and cultural.

We are dedicated to awareness, education, and activation on ALL of the environmental and social justice issues affecting Hawai’i’s sacred sites, cultural landscapes, agricultural land, water, and ocean. We have a full day of activities, speakers and entertainment planned incuding education on many topics relevant to the lāhui including not only the court cases, but other issues like Ho’opili, the Rail fiasco, The Maui Water Theft Bill and it’s affect on water rights on all islands, the housing crisis, The Queen’s Trust and more. We have planned an ahu ceremony uniting all of the islands, a group cultural walk honoring important Aloha ʻĀina figures of the past, complimentary T-shirts designed by Hawai’i’s Finest, a complimentary locally sourced meal, an interactive kalo pounding demonstration, live music and educational booths. It is also Kamaʻāina Sunday at ‘Iolani Palace which is offering free admission all day. Parking downtown is also free all day.

There are many ways to participate, including direct participation and representation of your organization as part of our hui, and booth space at the event is still available. We are still seeking entertainers, tents, and bull horns, a PA system, walkie talkies, security, organization help, volunteers for the day of, donation of airline miles for neighbor island leaders, greens and flowers for decoration etc.

There are many ways for you to help and varying levels of participation. The assaults on our land and natural resources are happening at an unprecedented rate, therefore we need to ORGANIZE in unprecedented fashion and raise a collective voice that can no longer be ignored.

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