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Act of War
The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation Reviews Honolulu Advertiser 9/17/93 "Act of War - The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation" makes the case for Hawaiian sovereignty in scholarly and artful fashion, distilling archival photos and documents into a watchable one-hour video documentary airing tonight on Hawai'i Public Television. Like most examples of contemporary filmmaking, it makes no secret of its point of view. Publicity materials distributed with the tape include the secondary subtitle, "Hawaiian history through Hawaiian eyes." Interview subjects include scholars Haunani-Kay Trask, Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa and Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell -- none of them supporters of U.S. annexation of Hawai'i. Its producer-directors, Puhipau and Joan Lander, have made numerous films on Hawaiian cultural preservation and political sovereignty through their company, Na Maka o ka 'Aina ("The Eyes of the Land"). The video's view of history is open to criticism. Critics from various schools could argue that King Kalakaua played a larger role in the decimation of royal power, that queen Lili'uokalani played a more aggressive role in building tensions between the monarchical government and the annexationists, that life for the ancient Hawaiians was less than idyllic. Within its time constraints, however, this film does a good job of avoiding empty rhetoric, instead reciting the events of the Hawaiian kingdom's final days, a retelling backed by documents. And it broadens its appeal by declining to recommend a particular formula for sovereignty. "The target is to educate people about us," Puhipau said. "And we're teaching it as we're learning about it ourselves, because we didn't even know it." Trask, Kame'eleihiwa, Blaisdell andªhistorian Jon Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio provided the research for the project. Puhipau contends that most Americans, including native Hawaiians, may not understand the hostile nature of the overthrow. So the film includes provocative quotes from, among others, U.S. minister John Stevens: "Americanize the islands, assume control of the crown lands, and the result soon will be a civilization which will make the islands like southern California." Racism had a role in the push toward annexation, too; the film cites descriptions of the queen in Congress as "an arbitrary tyrant, half savage." This project may lack the hours of air time enjoyed by Ken Burns' now-classic "The Civil War," but it adapts its style effectively, using music and various video treatments of archival photos and documents. It adds re-enactments for effect and where archival photos are lacking, such as depictions of the landing of U.S. troops. "Act of War" has played quietly to private groups and premiered on KHET without fanfare earlier this summer. This month Puhipau will take it to a New York film market for international distribution; he also has blanketed universities with fliers. It is a potent educational tool for sovereignty proponents, many of whom see a precious opportunity to press their cause during this year's centennial observance of the monarchy's overthrow. -Vicki Viotti Booklist 9/1/94 Ages 16 - adult In 1893, in what native Hawaiians saw as an "act of war," the U.S. government claimed the Hawaiian Islands as U.S. territory. Using two native historians to document Hawai'i's rich history, this compelling documentary traces events leading up to the takeover, which began with the arrival of British explorers followed by North American missionaries. Relevant facts are presented in painstaking detail through readings, reenactments, vintage stills, and footage interspersed with knowing commentary. The usurpation of Hawai'i and the imprisonment and eventual pardon of Queen Lili'uokalani in 1896 are related in this artfully produced, albeit biased, documentary, which speaks to native Hawaiians, students and history buffs. - Sue-Ellen Beauregard School Library Journal May, 1994 Grades 9 and up "The government of Hawai'i has been stolen and offered to the United States by its thieves." This quote from over a century ago sums up the theme of this production. In a shocking move, white businessmen joined with so-called "Christian" missionary descendants and armed invaders from the United States to overthrow the Kingdom of Hawai'i in 1893, imprisoning the Queen for several years afterward. They set up a provisional government and compelled the Native Hawaiians to become Americans against their will. Despite being condemned as "an act of war" by President Grover Cleveland, the racist sentiment of the times was victorious over justice for the Native Hawaiians. Hawai'i became the first step in other annexations-Samoa, Philippines, and Puerto Rico-through which the United States became a global military power. Through archival photographs, political cartoons, costumed dramatic reenactments, and interviews with historians, Hawai'i's history is presented from the Native Hawaiian point of view. A variety of male and female voices speak the quotes and narration. A song, "Blue Hawai'i," accompanies scenes of Native Hawaiian protesters being arrested with contrasting shots of tourists on the beach. They were dispossessed of their language, land, and government by greedy businessmen and U.S. colonialism. Like their familiar volcanic eruptions, angry activists threaten to disrupt the beautiful islands as they clamor for their justifiable rights. At times the tone is almost shrill, but they have a good point to make. Suitable for social studies classes and public library collections. -Shirley Fetherolf Lakewood High School, OH Video Rating Guide Vol. 5, No. 3 Audience: college to adult It would take many columns to describe the merits of this outstanding documentary on the Hawaiian Islands. One can hardly imagine what a beautiful place the islands must have been before they were "civilized" by outsiders. "It was a simple life -- only four hours of the day were needed to provide food, and the rest of the time was devoted to leisure activities," one of the narrators, dressed in a native costume, begins. One hour later, the viewer has learned how the islands were invaded first by Captain James Cook of the British Navy, then by Protestant missionaries from New England who converted the islanders to Christianity, and later by traders and explorers from Europe and America and politicians who eventually claimed the land for the United States. You discover that the estimated 500,000 Hawaiians who lived on the islands when the first Europeans arrived were reduced to 130,000 in 1832 from diseases brought from other parts of the world. By 1892 only 40,000 native Hawaiians remained. You learn that King Kalakaua, an honorable and bright leader, gave the United States exclusive rights to "Pearl River Harbor," known to us today as Pearl Harbor. You learn about Hawai'i during the time of King Kalakaua, who died in the United States while on his way to Washington, D.C., to discuss the fate of his beloved home. His sister, Lili'uokalani, became queen of the islands and she could not understand how those who had converted her subjects to Christianity could show such un-Christian actions against her people. She could not understand "why these people want to travel 2,000 miles of sea to take over a little island in the Pacific when they have so much land here." The documentary ends with a promise from native Hawaiian descendants to show America and the rest of the world that they have rights and that Hawai'i should have a place among the family of nations. This documentary includes many shots of beautiful scenery that anyone who has visited Hawai'i knows is authentic. Many other still photos are used and interwoven with the story to add to the history and enjoyment. The music and computer animation are also an important part of this program and are so subtly used that you aren't concerned about what is photographed on-site and what is archival material. I compliment the Hawaiian consultants/writers Haunani-Kay Trask, Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa, Jon Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio, and Kekuni Blaisdell, professors at the University of Hawai'i - Manoa and narrators for this documentary. Their dedication and hard work will allow many teachers, students, and others the opportunity to know the history of the islands. You also feel empathy for the people and their leaders. The viewer will no doubt feel that the problems experienced by the natives were predominantly racist, and that is still an unresolved problem today. -Mary Lea Prentice The Ninth Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film and Video Festival May 17-29, 1994 Anyone acquainted with the works of Puhipau and Joan Lander will find many familiar themes in Act of War - The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation. The partners have produced a large body of work that both reclaims Native Hawaiian culture and history, and articulates the burgeoning sovereignty movement in the 50th state. Their works are informed by genuine empathy for a Native people whose way of life has been displaced by U.S. annexation and later, statehood. Nonetheless, Act of War, which chronicles the 1893 armed invasion of the kingdom of Hawai'i by U.S. troops, still startles in its depth and sweep of history. The video distills and refines over ten years of the artists' media work and activism. The result is a documentary so comprehensive and emotionally potent, it becomes a primer on the contemporary revisionist view of Hawaiian history. Through the voices of four narrators active in the Hawaiian sovereignty movement (Haunani-Kay Trask, Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa, Jon Osorio, and Kekuni Blaisdell), Hawaiian history and its gradual subjugation by foreigners is painstakingly re-enacted. Through archival photos, historical quotes and scholarly presentations, events related to the overthrow of the Hawaiian nation are shown in their true absurdist colors, underlying the role of American industrial interests. Finally, Act of War juxtaposes Hawaiian history with the current reality of a state overrun by tourism and development while its remaining Native population receive second-class treatment. Act of War speaks with the moral authority of Native Hawaiians who have struggled against the colonialism that, unfortunately, continues today. -Abraham Ferrer City Voice Wellington, Aotearoa (New Zealand) This week the United States celebrated its independence. In a way it is a bit of a joke, the nation that sought so hard to free itself of the shackles of England has not only been one of the major incarcerators of other peoples but also its own native people. The history of post Columbus America is a history of take take take. It is history written by the winners. It is a history where the native Americans were inevitably forgotten or treated in a lesser context. It is a history particularly relevant and to some extent synonymous to our own. Three excellent documentaries at the coming film festival look at how the indigenous people of America (for the sake of this article I'm calling native Hawaiians, Americans, though that in the context of the documentary is grossly disrespectful). In all three documentaries the reality is that the native people of the land had their land, their culture and their lives stripped from them. Act of War was made last year as a centennial anti-celebration of the United States annexation of Hawaiian islands in 1893. Though a bit ploddy in places the overall effect is fascinating. File photos of Hawaiians in the late 19th century could be photos of Maoris, the likeness is uncanny. Hawai'i is acknowledged as the homeland of the Maori people, yet we learn nothing about its history. This film gives a brief introduction. The Hawaiians too were "discovered" by Captain Cook. As with Columbus' discovery of America, within decades the native populations were virtually decimated by disease. As one native academic points out near the beginning of the film, Hawai'i before the European wasn't perfect but it was pretty close. This film is fascinating from two aspects, the parallels and genealogical proximity to our own Maori history and from the perspective that the US' subtle annexation of Hawai'i was really the just the beginning of what has turned into a history of stealing in the name of big business. Library Journal Vol. 119, No. 19 Nov. 15, 1994 The little-known 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy by a group of local white residents with the aid of the American government is the subject of this documentary. The highly developed native Hawaiian culture and society began experiencing a huge decline with the arrival of Europeans; subsequent Americanization and Christianity led to even greater deterioration. Attempts by Hawaiian rulers, notably King Kalakaua and his sister Queen Lili'uokalani, to reinvigorate the population were stymied by a group of annexationists with vested interests in the islands, seeking alignment with the United States. The question of American authority over native peoples is at the heart of this film. The overthrow serves as an example of how past wrongs have affected the current conditions of Hawaiians and is justification for the call for self-rule. The narrators, themselves native Hawaiians, make no secret about who is responsible for and the reasons behind the overthrow. The film makes excellent use of still photos, film footage, artwork, and reenactments, and the moment-by-moment accounts and quotes read from diaries, letters, and press reports add to the realism of this historical event. The film's engrossing story paints a very disturbing warning for its viewers. Highly recommended for school, academic, and public libraries. -Angela Lee Washington State University Library All VHS and DVD copies are U.S. standard except for PAL VHS | ||||||||
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