Papers by Ha'ani San Nicolas
American Indian Culture and Research Journal, Apr 4, 2023
'i at Mānoa O n July 3, 2021, Kānaka Maoli, the Indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands, mourne... more 'i at Mānoa O n July 3, 2021, Kānaka Maoli, the Indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands, mourned the loss of Haunani-Kay Trask, one of the most influential figures in the contemporary Native Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Trask is a strong example of a mana wahine, the embodiment of female mana (supernatural or divine power, energy or authority) made evident through her dynamic roles as a scholar, activist, kumu (teacher), film director, author, creative writer, sister, friend, and more. She challenged the status quo of American occupation, colonialism, and imperialism by speaking out against the powers that be, vocalizing thoughts deemed too radical for the time, and giving life to a blooming consciousness of resistance. In what is likely her most recognized speech during the centennial of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i at 'Iolani Palace in 1993, Trask reminded her people, "We are not American. Say it in your heart. Say it when you sleep. We are not American. We will die as Hawaiians. We will never be Americans." 1 Though widely known for her political activism and her contributions to Kānaka Maoli nationalism and Indigenous sovereignty, Trask was an established poet and essayist, writing timeless pieces that continue to be celebrated today. During the Hawaiian renaissance, a period of cultural reclamation and language revitalization, she implored her lāhui (nation) to remember that Indigenous people cannot just Ha' åni Lucia Falo San Nicolas is a CHamoru and Samoan poet, scholar, educator, and activist from the Island of Guåhan. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Indigenous politics along with an advanced graduate certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. As a graduate assistant for the Department of Political Science, Ha' åni instructs undergraduate courses such as Introduction to Indigenous Politics and Hawai'i Politics.
Uploads
Papers by Ha'ani San Nicolas