Today, the Native Hawaiian community is at a historic crossroad. We are faced with an opportunity, being facilitated by Nai Aupuni, to reorganize our lahui (community of people) and take the first steps on the long road toward rebuilding the nation. At the same time we also face a separate question from the United States Department of Interior as to whether or not our lahui should pursue a federal rule, which would allow for federal recognition of our lahui if we so chose. These monumental decisions will not only impact us, but also our children and the future generations of Hawaiians, as well as the broader community in Hawaii.

Some Hawaiians refer to the example of our kupuna who formed the Hui Aloha Aina and Hui Kalaiaina, signed the kue petitions, and protested the treaty of annexation in 1897 as the political strategy we should follow today. Indeed, our kupuna’s activism at the end of the 19th century was a heroic feat in which nearly every Hawaiian adult signed the petitions opposing the United States’ annexation of Hawaii and were successful in stopping the treaty of annexation in the U.S. Senate.

However, while some use this historical act as a reason for Hawaiians to disengage from local, state and federal politics today, those who signed the kue petitions did not disengage from American politics after 1898. To the contrary, our kupuna who formed the Hui Aloha Aina and the Hui Kalaiaina, our same kupuna who signed the kue petitions, our same kupuna who protested annexation, also encouraged the lahui to engage.

They established the Home Rule Party and did the best they could to elect leaders within the government system that exercised power over Hawaii. They lobbied to become a state, for homestead lands, to improve the education system, for farms, roads and bridges. They opposed monopolies, burdensome taxes and limiting the right to a trial by jury. They sent the Hon. Robert Wilcox and then-Prince Kuhio Kalanianaole to Congress.

Hawaiians dominated early territorial politics, holding Hawaii legislative meetings in the Hawaiian language. They formed Hawaiian Civic Clubs, restored the Royal Order of Kamehameha, and substantially influenced the local Republican and Democratic parties, as well as the county governments, where they again had strong representation in each county and elected Hawaiian mayors for the City and County of Honolulu, including John Lane and John Wilson.

Hawaiians today indeed should follow in the footsteps of our kupuna who signed the kue petitions. But those footsteps did not end at the protest of annexation. Those footsteps continued into full participation in local politics where they continued to ensure the rights of our people were protected. For us to do anything less today, to not participate, or worse, to oppose other Hawaiians who choose to get involved and have their voices heard, would be contrary to the example given by our kupuna.

"Aole o kakou kuhina aku i koe, koe wale ae la no keia pono akea i haawi ia mai e Amerika ia oukou ka lahui, e hopu a paa, a na oukou e hooponopono no kakou no keia mua aku."

("There is no other option left, all that remains is this public benefit which was given by America to you the lahui, grab hold of it, it is up to you to make things right for all of us for the future.")

— Ka Moiwahine Liliuokalani, 1900