Making a just and equitable Hawai'i

I moved to Honolulu this past July with Wynn (spouse), Daniel (son), and Snowflake (dog). We are excited to be near family and to have a new life experience. While we had visited many times before to visit family, I never took the time to learn about this beautiful place or its people. We quickly learned it will take a lifetime to attend all the obon festivals; musubi abound everywhere; everyone seems to know what shoyu is — What a magical place! But why? I started to ask myself: Why are musubi so plentiful? Why do so many politicians have Japanese names? How did Japanese people come to have so much power on this land?

I am slowly learning what it means to be a Settler on the ‘āina. I am learning about the systemic injustices that exist in this place many call paradise. Do not be fooled: Beautiful beaches are not enough to eradicate oppression. Therefore, I invite you to join me in the Hawai’i People’s Fund (HPF) community.

As a member of this year’s Giving Project, I am one of 20 people seeking to radically transform the way we move money to movements for real change from the roots up. The Giving Project interweaves a cross-class, cross-race, gender-diverse, intergenerational collective that shares a vision for a just and equitable Hawaiʻi. We are supporting movements for social change by uplifting, advocating for, and raising at least $190,000 to support 32 amazing community partners who are combatting systems of oppression everyday.

How much might you give?

• $18.48 = For the year of the Great Māhele, the policy of King Kamemeha II intended to keep land with the Hawaiian people but instead gave non-Hawaiians legal access to the land
• 184.80 = For the acres and acres of land turned into plantations
• $1,893 = For the year 13 white American business men invaded the Hawaiian kingdom in order to protect the duty-free entry of their sugar to the U.S.
• $18,930 = For the acres and acres of land the grantees are revitalizing after plantations changed the ‘aina
• $37,860 = $18,930 x 2 = For the approximately 40,000 Kānaka Maoli who survived the diseases brought by early settlers in the late 1700’s through late 1800’s, down from the thriving population of 1,000,000 Kānaka on the islands before their “discovery”

Can't share funds right now? Give your time or talents to the individual organizations. Spread the campaign to your network.

Deadline: May 4 @ 9am

Learn more about HPF's Giving Project by listening to this podcast, follow HPF on IG @hawaiipeoplesfund, or check out the website. You can also see below for more information.

Why are you spending your time, money, and energy on this, Traci? As a Japanese Settler here, I am learning how Japanese people were originally brought here to work the land for the benefit of the white plantation owners. These workers suffered a great deal in horrible working conditions. Through hard work and organizing, they were given land rights and political power. However, this did not include Kānaka Maoli (Indigenous Hawaiian people), who continue to be denied access to land and power. No one is free until we are all free, and so I am working with HPF to tip the scales toward justice with the stubborn ounces of my weight.

Who are the grantees? Let me tell you about one of the amazing grantees. You can learn about all 32 grantees here.

• Pu’uhonua o Wailupe is a living sanctuary for the stewardship and protection of iwi kūpuna (burial sites), cultural sites, natural resources, and traditional Hawaiian rights and practices. Located in a predominantly settler community on East O’ahu, they aim to protect the unique history, cultural sites, and iwi kūpuna of Wailupe. The hui engages in educational outreach, non-violent direct action, community work days, and canvassing in the area.

Where does the money go? 100% of the funds raised will go to the grantees. It will be shared equally among them.