You have watched the episode "Hawaiian Sovereignty" from the show Rise. You must write a movie review incorporating what you have learned in class thus far. This paper is not a summary of the film. Instead, it is an argumentative essay that utilizes the themes/terms from the course and the assigned readings to assess how the film fits within the larger framework of global issues and perspectives. Think of critical concepts:

Settler colonialism
The logic of elimination
Genocide
Sovereignty
Indigeneity
You may write about anything in the film and analyze how it relates to Indigenous sovereignty movements. How is the Native Hawaiian struggle indicative of the struggles of Indigenous Peoples worldwide? Think of this as a creative exercise to display what you have learned in the class. You can write about the effects of colonialism on Indigenous peoples or how we overlook specific acts of colonialism's violence, like poverty, homelessness, minimizing Indigenous religious beliefs, and the destruction of sacred landscapes. Also, think about how Indigenous Peoples are fighting for sovereignty and not equal rights/protections like other marginalized groups often are.

The exam is a movie review; create a thesis about the film (could be positive or negative) and back it up with information from the lectures/readings. Lastly, do not use outside sources.

Write an essay from the above prompt using lecture materials and readings. At the very minimum, your paper should be three pages long and have an introduction, body paragraphs in which you include your film analysis, and a concluding paragraph where you summarize your findings. Your paper must be in 12-point font, double-spaced, and have a title that grabs the reader’s attention. Try to utilize as many of your quotes from the readings as possible. In-quote citations are acceptable: (author name, page number).

link to episode: Rise episode 6-Hawaiian Sovereignty

Hawaii is known around the world as a paradise—an ideal location for exotic vacations in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. However, before 1778, it was a hierarchical, independent nation full of indigenous, self-sufficient, Native Hawaiians that dwelled in harmony with their families, their islands, and their culture. From the arrival of foreigners on the Hawaiian islands up until the present day, the Native Hawaiian culture and population has been largely suppressed and has struggled to survive, nearly becoming extinct. This is due to the integration of Western influences through missionary work, the spread of foreign diseases, the introduction of a capitalist economy, and the illegal annexation of Hawaii by the United States Government in 1898. Because of this, the native language has been almost completely lost, the native population has shrunk and has suffered higher rates of illness, poverty, and homelessness, and Hawaiians have had to constantly fight for the sovereignty of their culture. However, cultural revival is currently underway from a recent resurrection of Hawaii’s preservation and celebration of traditional practices.

Key Takeaways

The United States illegally annexed Hawaii, once a separate and sovereign nation, in 1886.

After annexation, Hawaiian cultural practices declined in observance due to Western rule and influence over their land.

Native Hawaiians lost their homes, health, resources, and people as capitalism, expensive healthcare, new laws, and foreign disease overwhelmed their land and culture.

Today, Native Hawaiians have become a minority population in Hawaii, are in the worst state of health out of all the residents of Hawaii, and still lack affordable housing.

Though Hawaiian culture has begun to slowly recover, the federal and state government must take further action to facilitate and improve living conditions for Native Hawaiians if their culture should ever regain the mass observance and recognition it once possessed.

+ Key Terms

Ali’i - The highest social class in Hawaii, composed of the highest ranking chiefs and royalty that ruled over their respective islands or portions of islands.1

Konohiki - A subset of chiefs or landlords who served under the ali’i class.2

Kamehameha I - First king of the Kingdom of Hawaii who united all of the islands into one island kingdom with the help of European weapons and military expertise.3

Queen Liliuokalani - The last monarchical ruler of Hawaii until she was dethroned by the U.S. government in 1893.4

Kuleana Act - The Kuleana Act established a legal system of land ownership, gave Native Hawaiians claim to the land they lived on and legalized the purchase of those lands by foreigners. The passing of this act caused many Hawaiians to lose their homes which has led to the massive amount of homeless Native Hawaiians in Hawaii today.5

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) - A public agency with the responsibility of improving the well-being of Native Hawaiians.6