Today is a solemn day for Native Hawaiians. Our hearts are heavy, as we reflect on the 130th anniversary of the overthrow of our kingdom, committed with the assistance of the United States, and the generational trauma that that injustice has inflicted upon our Lāhui (nation). We cannot turn back time, but we can and will continue to hold the United States accountable for its kuleana (responsibility) to make things pono (right) with our people.
The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) extends a warm mahalo (thanks) to President Biden and his White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders for developing a landmark national strategy to help move the needle forward on issues of justice and equity that have long faced our community. This comprehensive and detailed strategy demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensuring that Native Hawaiians are no longer invisible in Washington, D.C., and that our voices will be heard by federal officials with kuleana impacting our community and resources.