HAWAIʻI FIRST

A state-wide model of governance rooted in Hawaiian values, prioritizing cultural and economic self-determination within the existing legal and commercial framework of both Hawaiʻi State and the United States.

Vision

A State of Hawai’i guided by Kanaka Maoli values, restoring dignity, prosperity, and stewardship to all who call Hawai‘i home.

Values

Shared Values Make Hawaiians Hawaiian

These values are deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the islands and the spiritual connection to land and community, emphasizing harmony, respect, and interconnectedness. They form the foundation of Hawaiian culture, guiding and serve as a reminder to honor the past, preserve the land, and nurture relationships with others to foster a sense of harmony and well-being. While these values can vary among individuals and families, they are widely recognized as the core principles of Hawaiian culture:

• Aloha (Love and Compassion)
• ‘Ohana (Family)
• Kuleana (Responsibility)
• Mālama ‘Āina (Caring for the Land)
• Pono (Righteousness and Balance)
• Ho’oponopono (Conflict Resolution)
• Mana (Spiritual Energy)

Mission

To transform Hawai‘i’s governance by embedding Kanaka Maoli cultural principles into state policy, reclaiming local control of land, resources, and economy, and empowering a new generation of leaders accountable to the people, not corporations or the military-industrial complex.

Strategic Pillars

1. Cultural & Social Sovereignty

• Institutionalize Hawaiian Values in education, healthcare, criminal justice, and welfare systems.
• Support Hawaiian language, hula, protocol, and traditional governance knowledge as civic foundations, not electives.

2. Land & Resource Stewardship

• Ban speculative real estate purchases by non-residents.
• Transition DLNR and state agencies into co-governance structures with Kanaka stewardship councils.
• Reverse the commodification of land, water, and sacred sites.

3. Recapitalization of the People

• Restore lands, housing, and capital access to dispossessed Hawaiians and working families.
• Create public banks and sovereign wealth funds for Native Hawaiian benefit and state resilience.
• Implement wealth taxes and land-value capture to fund equity initiatives.

4. Political Realignment (New Governance)

• Run new candidates under a “Hawai‘i First” slate, unaffiliated with traditional political parties.
• Advance a constitutional amendment to require public input rooted in Indigenous frameworks.
• Establish accountability councils with real power, and practice hoʻoponopono for community decision-making.

5. Demilitarization & De-Corporatization

• Audit and reduce the footprint of federal military operations.
• Require transparency, taxation, and local benefit agreements from corporations.
• Reclaim local control over tourism, shipping, and energy infrastructure.