THE KAHEA

Our young people are inheriting a planet in peril. Hawaii, the most isolated island chain on the planet, lived sustainably for thousands of years until the U.S. Military illegally overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom government in 1893, forcing economic, social, cultural and environmental degradation that continues to cause much suffering for the land and its people. To add more pain to injury, the U.S. Military has been testing bombs in the Hawaiian Islands for more than 90 years contaminating the land and water with depleted uranium and toxic chemicals and continues to do so today. Under U.S. Military occupation Hawaii is #1 in houselessness in the nation per capita and the social, economic and environmental injustice is staggering.

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To help us understand this conflict, we present a narrative-documentary-visual film that will render a daring truth of militarization and environmental crime in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The Calling shows that deep within the Hawaiian culture are values, methodologies, science and technology that are designed to care for and protect the land, water and life. When bridged with earth-friendly modern science and technology there are viable solutions to the crises we are facing today, locally and globally.

 

Hawaii is at a tipping point. Continuing a destructive relationship with the land and water is not an option. Caring for the land, water and sacred places is key to the wellbeing and survival of humanity. The traditional Hawaiian culture focuses on the understanding that if you care for the land, it will care for you. As the most isolated island chain on the planet, Hawaii has the potential to be a model of sustainability for the world. However, it is of utmost importance for people to understand that the U.S. Military is the number one polluter in the Hawaiian islands and on the planet.

 

Before the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and its last reigning monarch Queen Lili`uokalani in 1898 by the U.S. military, sustainability wasn’t a part of the Hawaiian vocabulary; it was a way of life. The Hawaiian culture recognizes the land as chief. With the traditional system of the Ahupua’a, the land was divided naturally through watershed, so that it was able to effectively feed and provide for its people. The focus was on living in balance and preserving the land for the next seven generations. The Hawaiian kingdom was a neutral country and did not discriminate against people based on race. People were valued for their allegiance to Hawaii and were made up of Native Hawaiian as well as people from across the world who were referred to as Hawaiian Nationals. Aloha was a way of life that fostered intergenerational support, where knowledge was passed on through generations of elders guiding youth. However, the elders and leaders of this time are passing on and their knowledge and stories need to be passed on to ensure they younger generations have the guidance they’ll need to carry on. The Kingdom of Hawaii still exists and the people continue to stand for Hawaiian independence and sovereignty.

 

The United States has declared the Pacific as its focal point for military activities. RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercises) is the largest naval exercise in the world, with over 25,000 military personnel participating. Beginning in 1971 and taking place in Hawaiian waters, RIMPAC increases Hawaii’s dependence on a militarized economy, spending tax dollars for weapons, assault, vehicles, artilleries and technologies to use for domestic and international violence. It is part of the U.S. Navy’s effort to coordinate military exercises and weapons training with military forces of other nations to control the Pacific and Indian Ocean. RIMPAC brings over 25,000 military personnel to the islands at the time of the exercises.

 

Today, the US Military controls over 200,000 acres of Hawaiian land, and has become the 2nd largest industry in Hawaii next to tourism. Since 1941, the US Military has been testing weapons throughout the islands, contaminating the land, water and air with depleted uranium and other toxic chemicals.

 

Kaho’olawe is the piko (the center) of the islands, it’s where everything begins and ends. The sacred island was used by Kahuna (Hawaiian spiritual leaders) for ceremony. For over 50 years, the island was used by the U.S. Military as a bombing range for weapons testing and to this day, 28 years after the bombing has ceased, the majority of the island is still filled with unexploded ordinances and is almost void of vegetation. In our film, rarely seen archival footage is shown depicting Native Hawaiian activists swimming to the shore of the island in the darkness of the night and refusing to leave until the bombing is stopped.

 

Makua Valley, on Oahu is a sacred valley for the Hawaiian people where the U.S. Military has administered weapons for over 90 years. The bombing was stopped 15 years ago and after the military has nearly completed an environmental assessment, there is talk of beginning weapons testing once again. They have not cleaned up the toxic waste from previous testing and starting again would further contaminate the land, water and air with depleted uranium and other harmful chemicals. At Makua, we see children and families who continue to live on land filled with hazardous materials and we see archival footage of the bombing of the valley as men, women and children are attempting to go about their daily lives.

 

Pohakuloa, at the base of sacred mountain, Mauna Kea, is being used as a military bombing range that is 5 times the size of Kaho’olawe, contaminating the island with depleted uranium. In addition, residents of the area frequently hear the detonation of bombs.

 

Mauna Kea is where the threat to build a Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) has become a reality. On October 30th, 2018, the court gave permission to build TMT. People throughout the islands are mobilizing to protect the sacred mountain. Tension is in the air with the fear of another confrontation with the military. In past resistance to the telescope, Mauna Kea protectors were met with militarized law enforcement.

 

This film is instrumental in awakening the people locally and globally of the dangers and environmental destruction of the U.S. Military and the importance of honoring the original peoples of the land we live on.

 

This vicious cycle has infected the land and communities with a multitude of issues such as the threat of nuclear warfare, occupation, contamination of the land and water, the violation of indigenous rights, and social/economic disparity--issues that are interconnected and interdependent. Hawaii is #1 in homelessness per capita in the country and has the highest cost of living. This pattern of colonization shows up in communities across the globe. Money continues to go towards military spending versus social and ecological needs. However, where there are the greatest challenges, we find the greatest possibilities.

 

The Calling: Heal Ourselves, Heal Our Planet will highlight that the Hawaiian Kingdom still exists today as people are going to the international courts to be recognized once again and to take action against the U.S. occupation. The film will address the myriad of possibilities available to us as solutions such as Native Hawaiian land management and preservation (Ahupua’a system), Regenerative agriculture, organic farming and permaculture, Demilitarization, Hawaiian Independence, detoxification of the environment, affordable housing and more. According to scientists and elders the key solution to our planetary environmental crisis is in cultivating healthy non-contaminated soil, clean water to drink and fresh air to breathe.  

 

Across the Nation we are seeing youth rise up, lead and take action through various movements that protect land, life, culture and community. At Standing Rock the Native Youth exemplified this by organizing at Standing Rock and even running thousands of miles from North Dakota to DC, taking leadership to awaken humanity to treaty violations and the contamination of the water by the petrochemical industry. Throughout the continent, Black, Brown and Native young leaders have organized against police brutality and gun violence. Movements like Black Lives Matter have inspired youth of color to stand up against the militarization of police in their communities. We also saw the powerful youth of Florida, who spoke out against the freedom to bare firearms.

 

Through the triumphs and struggles of our main characters, three young women who journey across the islands in order to better understand the efforts to demilitarize Hawaii, the film offers an in depth perspective of how people are affected by institutionalized powers and become inspired to create positive change for the land and the people. Each individual has a personal calling and humanity has a collective calling; to heal ourselves and heal our planet.