"Globalization is uprooting and scattering even these indigenous peoples. Their numbers are rapidly declining as dominant populations engulf and incorporate them. Their languages, customs, and traditions are disappearing at alarming rates."

It often surprises us how popular culture revels in what is close to or has become extinct. Kids are enthralled with dinosaurs, and we throw money at the Grey Wolf, seals, and whales. Yet, indigenous cultures are quickly going the way of the dinosaur, and most distressing to us is that the world thinks very little of or has become numb to the struggles of these people.  The greatest travesties of cultural massacre have long been inflicted upon the indigenous people of this world by larger, more aggressive nations that continue to muscle their ways into every square inch of indigenous lands. This has got to stop.

America is a nation of immigrants, and yet many Americans have completely lost touch with their roots. Ask an American what their ethnic background is, and more often than not, they will say, "American." Unless they are Native American, this couldn't be farther from the truth. Because of this, Americans tend to develop an insensitivity to ethnicity, fervently masking our sometimes obvious differences with political correctness and in doing so, inadvertently condemning an ethnic culture. We're sure most don't mean to do it. But it's long passed the time when we all truly need to become more aware of others around us who are not like us. That is the beginning of true tolerance.

There is a growing movement in American society that deeply concerns us, a movement that defines "color blind" as ethnic and cultural homogenization and absorption into a larger national identity. This movement seeks to discriminate against ethnic peoples by labeling them as racists whenever they demand that their cultures be respected. As the Genographic Project suggests, this is one way that cultures are effectively sentenced to extinction.

Halcyon Illuminations asks that after you become more aware of the cultural issues of the world that you also develop a sensitivity towards ethnic cultures then educate others through your understandings, passion and great compassion. Being able to authentically blur the lines between ethnicity and culture instead of veiling them behind eloquent words born of a habitual, limited acceptance will be the truest end of racism ~ when we can accept each other differences and all. Only then can we say that we have become truly "color blind."

Hawaii has long been a tropical getaway for tourists from around the world who are largely attracted by sun and surf and not necessarily because of a desire to discover its history. Much of Hawaiian tradition and culture went underground during the 1800's due to the strong presence of puritanical Protestant missionaries; a condition that would not be remedied until the 1970's. Hawaii's monarchy was overthrown in 1892 then illegally annexed. Hawaii not only has an indigenous culture but, for over a hundred years, a local culture that has always been diversely ethnic. These local ethnic groups have thrived in each others presence through a common tradition of respect for the boundaries of community. Today, high rates of relocation to Hawaii from the U.S. mainland, parts of Asia, and South America, overpopulation, and ridiculously high prices have been both driving locals and Hawaiians out of their places of birth and changed the cultural and social climate of the islands.

Then There Were None

Martha H. Noyes

Then There Were None, by award-winning Honolulu writer and artist Martha H. Noyes, is a personal and emotional account, in words and pictures, of the effect of Western contact on the Hawaiian population. Drawing from a variety of sources, Noyes chronicles the effects, from the arrival of Capt. Cook to the present, of disease, written language, the missionaries, landownership, the overthrow of the monarchy, and the suppression of hula and Hawaiian language, concluding with a look at present-day activism. Photographs vividly contrast tourist images with scenes from the real Hawai‘i and highlight the contrast between a culture rooted in cosmology and the material culture of those who made Hawai‘i their own.

Martha Noyes is an incredibly caring woman, so well respected and treasured by the Hawaiian community. We know this not only because her writings and illustrations are deeply moving testimonials to her love of the Hawaiian culture but because some of us have met her. If you read nothing else about the Hawaiian culture, read this book.

The Betrayal of Liliuokalani

Helena G. Allen

Contributed by readers at Amazon.com:

This is an excellent and well documented biography of Hawaii's last queen. Helena Allen tells the story of Liliuokalani and through her eyes we view the waning days of the Hawaiian monarchy and the oligarchy that would manipulate the media and congress to eventually affect the annexation of the kingdom to the US. Much of this story makes your blood boil. Yet beyond the political injustice, this is a story of a woman in conflict with her times, who manages to weather the storm with grace, dignity and aloha. It's a story that needs to be told and is a must-read for anyone interested in Hawaiian history.

This book provides a fascinating insight to the last days of the monarchy of Hawaii as seen through the eyes of its last queen and her hanai daughter. The book is well-documented and a must-read for anyone interested in Hawaiian history. I came away with a sense of awe that one who had been so mistreated could find forgiveness and practice aloha until her death.

Queen Liliuokalani was imprisoned in her own home after the American government, with the help of American businessmen, overthrew the monarchy and illegally annexed Hawaii. A powerful story by Helena G. Allen, a professor and lecturer in history and English in Redlands, California.

Hawaii's Story By Hawaii's Queen

Queen Lydia Liliuokalani

Possibly the most important work in Hawaiian literature, Hawai'i's Story is a poignant plea from Hawaii's queen to restore her people's kingdom.

Contributed by a reader at Amazon.com:

Hawai`i's Story by Hawai`i's Queen Lili`uokalani details an account of the heartache and tragedy of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy by the Committee of Safety (Missionary Party) in the late 1800s. Written in the Victorian style of the times by the queen herself, her account shows she was very well aware that she and her people were doomed. Lili`uokalani proves herself a very dignified and regal lady, every inch a queen. Highly recommended reading for the real facts of this tragic period of Hawaiian history.
 

And here is the proof in the pudding ~ Hawaii's story by the Queen herself. This is not a happy book. It was authored by Queen Liliuokalani and is a diary of sorts, written during the most unspeakably appalling time in Hawaiian history, the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. Yet, we believe that if we cannot learn from especially the most horrific times in our histories, we are most certainly doomed to repeat it. Most significantly, however, this is a book about compassion in the face of tribulation. We all can learn a great lesson here.

The Walking People

Paula Underwood

When this book came out in 1994, we were quick to read it, and it remains one of our favorites. Underwood documents the stories of her Oneida people ~ these are not tales written with the typical new ager in mind but rather, the oral histories of Iroquois people who retrace their tribal heritage from the beginning of time. You must read this beautiful book.

Defending Mother Earth

edited by Jace Weaver

From Publishers Weekly: This anthology of 11 essays is the result of an unusual conference of Native North American environmental activists held at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver in March 1995. It stands in stark contrast to other such collections, because it includes among its writers none of the more well-known non-Native American environmentalists. As such, it provides an enormously fascinating examination of the present environmental crisis from both academic and administrative perspectives from within the Native American community. Introduced by Russell Means, co-founder of the American Indian Movement, and edited by attorney Jace Weaver, this collection includes contributions from Margaret Sam-Cromarty, who fought the disastrous James Bay project in Canada; Phyllis Young, who fought the ESTI Coal Slurry Pipeline; and, Justine Smith, who opposes Exxon's massive Mole Lake project in Wisconsin. These authors write not only with passion but also with scholarly acumen and logic. This is an important and eloquent work that few books on ecology can match. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Noteworthy is the fact that most environmental commentaries on the state of the Earth do not often include the voices of indigenous peoples.  This insult is not quite put right with the publishing of this book, but at least the more cynical within the ranks of the general public will find it very difficult to say that Native Americans said nothing of the wasting of what was once their land. We loved the way this book challenges greedy corporate mindsets that insist on raping the land of her resources until there is no more. And who better to point this out than Native Americans.

The Tibetans refer to the Dalai Lama as 'Kundun', which means 'The Presence'. He was forced to escape from his native home, Tibet, when communist China invaded and enforced an oppressive regime upon the peaceful nation of Tibet. The Dalai Lama escaped to India in 1959 and has been living in exile in Dharamsala ever since.

You MUST see this movie. It is the true story of Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama. If you have only seen pictures of the Dalai Lama, you may have noticed that he is oftentimes smiling. After you watch this movie, you'll find yourself in utter awe that he still can. The true embodiment of compassion, he inspires us all to compassion, forgiveness, and happiness.

The Hawaiians: Reflecting Spirit

A new documentary film shot in state-of- the-art high definition digital format by local filmmaker Edgy Lee. The film offers important cultural insights into who the Hawaiians are as a people, their origins, historical challenges and current social conditions. Most importantly, the film points to the revival of spirit of a native people whose identity is intrinsically tied to their Hawaiian homeland.

As we often say, we are very visual people here at Halcyon Illuminations, so DVD's like this one really affect us deeply. This documentary is a masterpiece by Edgy Lee who is known for her no-nonsense but responsive approach to local Hawaii issues. As with most of the resources listed on this page, this film will rile you with its blunt truths, but don't let that stop you from watching it. It is absolutely necessary that you do.