ALOHA ʻĀINA

"Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāīna i ka pono"

The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness

Hawai'iʻs Sovereignty and Survival in the Age of Empire
​by Keanu Sai

​A Legacy of Sovereignty. A Story of Survival.
This powerful chapter by Dr. David Keanu Sai traces the Hawaiian Kingdom’s extraordinary rise as a sovereign nation in an era of global empire. From the unification of the islands under King Kamehameha I to Hawaiʻi’s international recognition as a constitutional monarchy, the narrative challenges colonial myths and reveals a history of political brilliance, diplomatic mastery, and enduring legal status under international law. Despite illegal occupation and revisionist histories, the Hawaiian Kingdom’s story is one of resilience—its sovereignty remains alive in law and in the hearts of its people.

To preview Dr. Saiʻs abstract, click the link below to download

hawaii_sovereignty_and_survival__sai_.pdf
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Kaulana Nā Pua

Kaulana Nā Pua is a stirring Hawaiian patriotic song composed in 1893 by Ellen Kehoʻohiwaokalani Wright Prendergast in protest of the illegal overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani. It honors the steadfast loyalty of the Royal Hawaiian Band members who refused to support the provisional government, affirming allegiance to the Queen and the Hawaiian Kingdom. Among its most powerful lines, “Ua lawa mākou i ka pōhaku / I ka ʻai kamahaʻo o ka ʻāina” ("We are satisfied with the stones / The wondrous food of the land") speaks to the deep love and commitment to ʻāina (land) over material wealth. It declares that Hawaiians would rather survive on the gifts of their land than accept bribes or betray their sovereignty. The song remains a timeless anthem of resistance, dignity, and unwavering aloha for the homeland.