Kaho‘olawe - A Symbol of Indigenous Resistance

Tonight Puhipau and Joan Lander showed three short films documenting the early days of the Protect Kaho‘olawe Association cum ‘Ohana.  Recently digitized and remastered, these films feature clips of Kaho‘olawe Aloha ‘Āina concerts, rallies, protests, testimonies and classic George Helm falsetto.

• Kaho‘olawe Aloha ‘Āina, produced by Walter Ritte in 1976
• Kaho‘olawe Aloha ‘Āina – George Helm, produced by the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana in 1977
• RIMPAC ’82, produced by  Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina in 1982

The clips of George Jarrett Helm are so timely, considering how theProtect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana is currently preparing to address proposed legislation that alters the way Kaho‘olawe is managed. We will be sure to show these films to our ‘Ohana soon as they remind those who weren’t around in the 1970s how much vision and passion was in the early movement, and how much courage and smarts it took to do what they did.

You can find one, Kaho‘olawe Aloha ‘Āina: George Helm, on the Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina website right now.  The others will be posted soon, as will individual interviews captured by Puhipau and Joan.  Interviews with Noa Emmett Aluli, Ian Lind, Joyce Kainoa, Haunani-Kay Trask, Colette Machado, Puanani Burgess, Aunty Mae Helm, Harry Kūnihi Mitchell, Aunty Clara Kū, Jon Osorio and more.

And you will recognize some of the original footage seen in the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana-produced film Kaho‘olawe Aloha ‘Āina.

Mahalo to Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies for hosting thisDeep Waters film series, and to Pacific Islanders in Communications and others for sponsoring tonight’s program featuring the early works of Joan Lander and Puhipau.  Mahalo to Hawai‘i Peoples Fund for supporting the remastering of this priceless footage.

Puhipau & Joan..as always, mahalo piha for all you do to document our movements.

Aloha ‘Āina

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