Understanding "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono"

Part of my "Knowledge Worth Sharing" series

My Connection to the Islands

When I was between the ages of 10 and 15, I called Hawai'i home. My mom and I lived in a tiny studio apartment or sometimes rented a single room from someone else. We were separated from my step-dad and brother during this period, and money was often tight. But here's the thing about Hawaii that struck me even as a kid—nobody seemed to care about those details.

What mattered was your character, how you treated others, and your embodiment of what locals call the "spirit of Aloha." I quickly learned that Aloha means far more than just "hello" or "goodbye." It represents a way of life centered on mutual respect, love, and care for others regardless of their background or circumstances.

I'm on the very right. Middle school in Hawai'i are still some of my favorite memories.

Looking back, I realize those formative years shaped my worldview in profound ways. They also gave me a unique lens through which to understand Hawai'i's powerful state motto, which sadly most Americans know nothing about.

The Motto and Its Meaning

Hawaii's state motto is "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono." In English, this translates roughly to "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."

At school, this phrase was everywhere. We learned about its significance in Hawaiian history classes, which were standard curriculum (unlike in most mainland schools where Hawaiian history is barely a footnote, if mentioned at all).

The motto originated with King Kamehameha III, who spoke these words in 1843 after the Hawaiian Kingdom regained sovereignty following a brief occupation by the British. These words carried tremendous weight then—and they still do today, perhaps with even greater resonance given Hawaii's complex colonial history.

A History Most Americans Don't Know

It wasn't until I was about 13 that I began to truly understand the historical context of Hawaii's motto. I remember sitting in my history class, stunned as I learned about how Hawaii actually became a U.S. state. This wasn't the sanitized version often presented in mainland textbooks.

In 1893, a group of American businessmen, backed by U.S. military forces, overthrew Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hawaii's last sovereign monarch. This illegal coup d'état paved the way for eventual annexation in 1898 and statehood in 1959.

As a young woman of color living in Hawaii, these revelations hit differently. I began to see colonization not as some abstract historical concept but as something with ongoing consequences that shaped the very community I was part of.

Digital Archives of Hawi'i 70111/47DF

The Living Impact of History

The motto's emphasis on "pono" (righteousness, balance, proper action) stands in stark contrast to the historical injustices that have transformed Hawaii. Today, many Native Hawaiians continue to fight for sovereignty and the return of ancestral lands.

What many tourists and mainland Americans don't realize is that Hawaii has become increasingly unaffordable for locals. Outside investors have driven housing prices to astronomical levels, while the tourism-dependent economy offers mainly low-wage service jobs. The median home price in Hawaii now exceeds $1 million, putting homeownership out of reach for many who have lived there for generations.

I remember my mom struggling to afford our tiny living space, and that was decades ago. The situation has only worsened. Many Native Hawaiians and local families face food insecurity and housing instability in their ancestral homeland—a painful irony in a place marketed as "paradise."

Photo from Pu'uhonua o Pu'uhuluhulu

Understanding Sovereignty

As I've grown older and continued learning about colonization's impacts on indigenous communities worldwide, my appreciation for Hawaii's sovereignty movement has deepened. When Native Hawaiians and their allies speak of sovereignty, they're not just talking about political independence (though that is certainly part of it for some).

They're discussing cultural sovereignty—the right to perpetuate their language, traditions, and relationship with the land. They're advocating for economic sovereignty—the ability to implement sustainable systems that benefit local communities rather than outside investors. And they're fighting for environmental sovereignty—protecting sacred spaces and natural resources from exploitation and destruction.

The state motto, "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono," encapsulates all of these dimensions. The word "ea" itself has multiple meanings in Hawaiian: sovereignty, life, breath. This linguistic richness suggests that the life of the land, the sovereignty of the people, and the breath of the culture are interconnected—all sustained through pono.

What We Can Learn

I want to be crystal clear: I am not Hawaiian. My years living in Hawaii as a young person gave me a window into a rich culture and history, but I don't claim to speak for Native Hawaiians or appropriate their struggles as my own.

What I can share is what I've learned from my time there and why I believe these lessons matter for everyone:

• True aloha means loving and respecting others regardless of their circumstances or background.
• History is complex, and we must be willing to learn the uncomfortable truths about how our current systems came to be.
• Sovereignty isn't about division—it's about healing historical wounds and creating more just relationships with land and community.
• We can appreciate the beauty of a place while also acknowledging the struggles of its people.

As mainlanders, we often consume Hawaiian culture through superficial tourism that reduces a complex society to flower leis and luaus. We enjoy the beaches without understanding the battles being fought to protect them. We say "aloha" without embodying its deeper meanings.

But we can do better. We can learn. We can listen. We can support indigenous-led movements for land rights and cultural preservation. And we can remember that the life of the land—any land—is indeed perpetuated in righteousness.

A Final Thought

That tiny studio apartment where my mom and I lived is probably an expensive vacation rental now. The local grocery store where we carefully counted our change is likely replaced by a high-end boutique. But somewhere, the spirit of aloha and the principle of pono continue to guide those fighting for a more just Hawaii.

And that state motto? It's not just a historical relic or tourism slogan. It's a living challenge to all of us: to ensure that the life of the land—and the lives of those connected to it—are truly perpetuated in righteousness.

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Resources to Learn More

If you're interested in learning more about Hawai'i's history, sovereignty movements, and how to be a responsible visitor or ally, here are some valuable resources:

Books

• "Native Land and Foreign Desires" by Lilikalā Kame'eleihiwa
• "Nation Rising: Hawaiian Movements for Life, Land, and Sovereignty" edited by Noelani Goodyear-Ka'ōpua, Ikaika Hussey, and Erin Kahunawaikaʻala Wright
• "Dismembering Lāhui: A History of the Hawaiian Nation to 1887" by Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio
• "Aloha Betrayed: Native Hawaiian Resistance to American Colonialism" by Noenoe K. Silva

Organizations

• Office of Hawaiian Affairs - Advocating for Native Hawaiians
• Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement - Information on sovereignty efforts
• Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation - Protecting Hawaiian rights and lands

Documentaries

• "Act of War: The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation"
• "Mai Ka Piko Mai: From the Source"
• "Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege"

Digital Resources

• Kaniʻāina - Digital archive of Hawaiian language newspapers
• Awaiaulu - Hawaiian language and cultural revitalization
• Ulukau: Hawaiian Electronic Library

Ways to Support

• Purchase from Native Hawaiian-owned businesses
• Support land protection initiatives
• Learn basic Hawaiian language and cultural protocols before visiting
• Choose tourism options that benefit local communities
• Donate to organizations fighting for sovereignty and land rights
  

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Note: This blog post represents my personal experiences and ongoing learning journey. I welcome insights from Native Hawaiians and others with deeper connections to Hawaii to further this important conversation.