I live in Hawai‘i—not as a native, but as a settler, a haole. That word carries a long history. It names an outsider, someone not from this land. In today’s Hawai‘i, being a haole means more than just being white or foreign—it means living with the legacy of arrival, privilege, and sometimes, harm.

This is an uncomfortable and unforgettable truth. But it’s one I believe all of us who are not Kānaka Maoli must learn to carry with courage and clarity.

Acknowledging the Past

The Hawaiian Kingdom was once a thriving, independent nation with a written constitution, international treaties, and a sovereign queen. In 1893, it was overthrown with the help of haole businessmen and U.S. Marines. The land, culture, and self-determination of the Hawaiian people were stolen—and much of that theft has never been returned.

Today, Kānaka Maoli are among the most displaced, over-policed, and underrepresented people in their own homeland. Hawaiian values are marketed to tourists while being ignored in government. Military bases sprawl across sacred sites. Luxury homes rise on ancestral lands. And corporations make billions while local families struggle to stay.

As a “haole,” I cannot claim innocence. But I can choose my allegiance…and not be silent.

Living as a Guest, Not an Owner

I did not grow up with aloha ‘āina, but I have learned to respect and practice it. I was not raised with the concept of kuleana, but I now see it as essential. These values—love of land, deep responsibility, righteous action—are not only Hawaiian values; they are values the world desperately needs.

Being a guest on this land means more than enjoying its beauty. It means standing up for the people who have cared for it for generations. It means challenging systems that keep them from their land, their language, their dignity. It means not trying to lead their movements or speak for them—but supporting their vision for a just, sustainable Hawai‘i.

Rejecting Settler Supremacy

It would be easy to stay quiet. Many haole do. But silence is complicity. Choosing to embrace Indigenous Hawaiian worldviews is not appropriation if it’s done with humility, consent, and in service of justice.

I do not want to take Hawaiian culture. I want to help dismantle the structures that have tried to erase it.

I do not want to “help” Hawaiians as if they need saving. I want to follow their lead, offer my labor, and share in the work of building a better future—for them, and for all of us who live here.

Standing With, Not In Front

There is no blueprint for how to be a perfect ally., but here’s what I’ve learned so far:

• Listen first. Speak second.
• Support Indigenous leadership in politics, education, and land governance.
• Give back time, money, skills, and space.
• Be accountable when I make mistakes.
• Organize other settlers to take responsibility for our role in colonization.

This is not charity. It’s justice. It’s not guilt—it’s kuleana. It’s not about centering myself. It’s about de-centering corporate and military power.

A Hawai‘i That Puts Hawai‘i First

I believe in a future where Hawai‘i remains a state, but is governed by Hawaiian values. A future with less military occupation and more land returned to local stewardship. A future where the descendants of this land are no longer dispossessed in their own homeland. A future where being a haole means being in right relationship—with humility, not dominance.

That’s why I stand with cultural sovereignty. Social sovereignty. Land back. Local governance. That’s why I say: Hawai‘i First—in Hawai‘i, for Hawaiians, and for the generations to come.