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In the aftermath of the fires that ravaged Maui, the struggle to protect the Native Hawaiians’ land continues. Matt Laslo reports from Washington.
In the nation’s capital, when people hear “Maui”, they think resorts, not Native Hawaiians.
“They are very important voices,” says U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) while riding the tram under the US Capitol.
Sen. Hirono bemoans the perpetual struggle for Native voices to be heard — a struggle that pre-dates the deadly fire.
Before the tragic inferno, many Native Hawaiians were vocal critics of where their traditional sources of water were diverted, including to tourism and sugar plantations. And there was also a housing state of emergency Gov. Josh Green (D-HI) declared ahead of the fire.
It upended traditional reviews focused on the cultural and environmental impacts of development — issues Sen. Hirono knows all too well.
“I think that is a big challenge, but, nonetheless, the sentiment is definitely there. They don’t want developers swooping in and getting hold of the property and doing whatever it is they want to do. There are also issues such as water, so limiting factor in terms of developing that area.”
As the rebuilding of lives, homes and land continues, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) cautions patience.
“I think we have to take a deep breath and allow FEMA and the EPA to clean up the site, and then we need to let individual landowners have access to their own properties so they can get closure and collect whatever personal effects might still be there. And then individual property owners are going to make individual decisions.”
Sen. Schatz says public officials have no say in some of these deeply personal matters.
“I think, you can’t force people to stay for some, they want to rebuild and for others, they want to rebuild their lives somewhere else. And I’m not here to judge any individual family for what they may want to do,” Schatz says.
As for Sen. Hirono, she promises “there’s not going to be a free for all landgrab in Lahaina.”
“I do not have the answers, but I do know that you there should not be a rush to figuring out what Layina is going to look like.”
A celebration of Indigenous music and culture took place in Juneau, Alaska last week packed with three days of music and 25 different acts.
As Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports with help from KTOO’s Bostin Christopher, organizers say it’s the only global Indigenous music festival in the United States.
It all takes place in Juneau in Lingít Aaní, the Lingít homeland.
This is the second Áaw’k Rock Music Festival, now held every two years.
This year, it features 35 cultures from around the world.
Some the headliners are well known – Native American groups like Snotty Nose Rez Kids and Samantha Crain, a Choctaw Indie pop singer.
Stephen “Qacung” Blanchett (Yup’ik and African American), the creative director for the festival, says Áawk Rock has performances on multiple stages, as well as jam sessions.
“We’re not gonna have seats like the traditional seats, we’re gonna have places where people can just chill out. You might be able to, you know, hang out on a piece of like sea out or fur and just kind of lay out and relax or maybe even smudge with some sage. I’m imagining some organic, just amazing magic being made.”
Aaw’k Rock is co-sponsored by the Tlingit & Haida Tribes and the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council.
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