January 2020 was a busy month for Ka Lāhui Hawai’i Political Action Committee helping to plan, fund and organize the Onipa’a Peace March on January 17, 2020 and the Opening Day of the Hawai’i State Legislature “Hawai’i Rising Rally” on January 15, 2020. We even squeezed in a Navigating the Legislature that month on Maui despite helping to organize two big events that were attended by thousands of people.
On January 17, 2020 about 5,000 people from dozens of groups, schools, and organizations marched from Mauna’ala (the burial place of the Hawaiian Kingdom Monarch) to ‘Iolani Palace. Ka Lāhui along with Queen’s Court helped to plan and fundraise for this event commemorating the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy. Onipa’a shirt and kīhei sales went to benefit the Hawaiian focused charter school, Hālau Kū Māna, located in Makīkī. There was music, speeches, free food and educational booths on the Palace grounds at the end of the march.
Photo by Kai Markell
Photo by Maelani Lee
On the opening day of the Hawai’i State Legislature about 4,000 people converged on the Hawai’i State Capitol along with the Mauna Kea Kia’i leaders and kupuna to let the state decision makers know that Mauna Kea and other issues dealing with Aloha ‘Āina are important to us. Ka Lāhui Hawai’i Political Action Committee collaborated with many other organizations and groups to make this day happen. We helped to fund this event and gave out free Kanaka Vote shirts paid for by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and Ka Lāhui Hawai’i. There were speeches, classes, workshops, pa’i ‘ai, music by Maoli and Fiji, ‘Aha or Mauna Kea protocol three times in the rotunda and of course free food.
On January 11, 2020 Lāhui Hawai’i Political Action Committee held our first ever Navigating the Legislature workshop on Maui. It was well attended and held at and sponsored by Nā ‘Aikāne o Maui in Lahaina. Free food and educational materials were provided.
