Speeches & Testimony

Mr. Speaker,

As we commemorate Hawaiian History Month this September, I want to again express the pride and appreciation of my Hawai’i in the unique history, culture and contributions of the Native Hawaiian people.

Because of Hawaii’s geographic distance from the continental United States and the general lack of education nationally about Hawaiian history, many Americans remain unaware that there are over 700,000 now who identify in whole or in part as Native Hawaiian. Roughly half continue to reside in their homeland of Hawai‘i, and I am deeply humbled to join my Hawai’i Congressional delegation colleagues in our kuleana (responsibility) to represent them and their ‘ohana (family) everywhere in Congress.

The Native Hawaiians, also known as Kānaka Maoli, trace their origins to the extraordinary voyages from their ancestral homeland of Kahiki—today’s Tahiti and Marquesas—hundreds of years before the arrival of other recognized Pacific peoples in their homelands. By the time of first Western contact with Captain Cook in 1778, Native Hawaiians had developed a complete and vibrant culture with their own language, religion, values and sophisticated systems of governance, agriculture and navigation.

Yet, like so many other indigenous peoples, post-contact Native Hawaiians endured marginalization, suppression and loss of their traditions in their own homelands. While estimates vary, it is believed that there were more than 300,000 Native Hawaiians prior to the arrival of Captain Cook, but by 1920, that number had fallen to just under 24,000, on the verge of losing bedrock cultural practices such as hula, traditional chanting called oli and the Hawaiian language itself due to mass population loss and laws preventing the teaching of Hawaiian.

But beginning in the 1960s-70s, a cultural renaissance took hold. Kumu hula (master teachers in the art of hula) like George Na‘ope, who founded the Merrie Monarch Festival), worked tirelessly to preserve and revive ancient hula traditions. Language advocates like Larry Kimura launched ʻAha Pūnana Leo preschools to nurture a new generation of ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language) speakers. The Polynesian Voyaging Society, through the construction and voyages of the Hōkūle‘a, reawakened the ancient art of navigation and connected Native Hawaiians with their voyaging ancestors.

Today, Native Hawaiians continue to embody resilience and leadership. Their revival across all enriches not only Hawai‘i but also the entire nation, offering a living example of perseverance, identity and contribution. We see this in the half-century-now of traditional navigation of Nainoa Thompson, the first Hawaiian master navigator in 600 years, the music and cultural leadership of Keali‘i Reichel and Kumu Hula Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, the athletic achievements of Max Holloway and Akebono Taro, and the groundbreaking scientific work of Dr. Isabella Abbott, the world’s foremost expert on Pacific marine algae.

As we mark Hawaiian History Month, let us honor the Native Hawaiian people, recognize their unique history and culture, and recommit ourselves to ensuring that this heritage remains a living, thriving part of our shared American story.