International Women's Day 2012

Save the date!

Macrch 8, 2012

Join us on International Women's Day (March 8th) for a special rally at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki where we will be featuring a special "fashion show." Please see the attached flier for more details!

To learn more about how Hyatt Hurts, you can visit www.HyattHurts.org

Check out the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/HyattHurts

IWNAM 2012 Hawaiʻi Report Back video

this year, we decided to use the medium of video to report back to the network. i created a video using interviews with local activists and images that represent the conditions that Hawaiʻi has been facing for several decades.

mahalo nui loa to interviewees:
Kat Brady
Kalamaokaʻaina Niheu
Seiji Yamada
Joe Estores
Leandra Wai
Fred Dodge

photo credits:
Amber McClure
Terri Kekoʻolani
Melisa Casumbal
Grace Caligtan
Calvin C. Rilveria
Kyle Kajihiro
Summer Mullins
Darlene Rodrigues
Leticia Flores
Ikaika Hussey
Google.com

music credits:
"The Beast" by the Fugees
"The Land" by Kalalea Kauhane ft. Paula Fuga
"King, Queen & Standing Army" by Liko Martin
"Visualize (Whirled Peas)" by AmenRaw and ZenChambers

special mahalo nui loa to our support organizations:
Hawaiʻi Peace & Justice
Mana Maoli
Pua Mohala i ka Pō

English Transcription/Spanish Translation of video by Leticia Flores:

English

Español

International Women’s Network Against Militarism 8th Meeting, Puerto Rico Hawai’i Report: DMZ 808 NOW 2012 Describe Militarism in Hawaii Pervasive, invasive, wrong, violent, not friendly, not of Hawai’i (Kat Brady, Justice Advocate, Hawai’i) Militarism, what it has done for us is its forcibly removed us, historically from a lot of our lands. It has removed us from healthy lifestyles, healthy living. Its caused massive depression, global dependence upon this world where we’re forced to choose between being completely depressed and disenfranchised or selling ourselves out for money and tourism. Or agreeing to go and kill other people, other indigenous folks throughout the world. (Kalamaoka’aina Niheu, Kauka and Kalo Farmer, Waiahole, Hawai’i) Living in Central Oʻahu, I would say that the military presence there is a daily thing. Helicopters are flying overhead, thereʻs stryker vehicles plowing the roads. At night you can hear the munitions from the ranges near by. I think its ironic that we donʻt even recognize it anymore or pay attention to it. (Seiji Yamada, MD, Hawai¢i) Right now, under our noses there’s a massive build up that is happening on this island. Massive. (Uncle Joe, retired Army colonel, Hawai¢i) One personal observation i have of the military is the loss of housing here. The military is subsidized, so their rent is subsidized, and we don’t get that benefit. The housing market has shrunk because of the influx of the military, which has increased, we’ve had the biggest build up since WWII. With the transformation of the army and the stryker brigade coming here. (Kat Brady, Justice Advocate, Hawai’i) 1996 was when they finalized the evictions of Makua. My ohana, my personal ohana, me, my kids and my husband was here. I was here longer, he was in and out, but my children and i spent a lot of time here. It was the most scariest time of my life. I went through so much enforcement, they came overdosed with man power, legal power, army weapon power. Its scary, it looked like the military was involved in that, although they couldn’t show face, but they said they were housing. I started to get “what is going on?” I leave the place and the infantry is coming down and they all stop and they turn the guns on me. I was in the car and i was a basket case and this happened several times, so when we finally got in with the negotiations for suing for a lawsuit and the lawsuit was about getting information on this valley, i was on it. (Leandra Wai, Mākua, Hawai’i) 2010 AFSC Hawai’i: No Room at the Inn… (Houseless Nativity Display) Why is demilitarization important? We have too much war and not enough peace. We need to do more diplomacy, make more friends. We need to be less dominant. The U.S. has to slow down, we’re too much of an empire. When people speak about defending the United States, they don’t mean the integrital United States, Hawai’i or Alaska. They mean the farflung empire with 700 or so bases.  (Dr. Fred Dodge, Nanakuli, Hawai’i) Around the military bases, there are huge and tremendous amounts of strip clubs, prostitution industry, human trafficking that are affecting our young women. I would definitely say its an intelligent estimation the amount of STDs, the amount of unwanted pregnancies, the amount of abuse that around that community that has risen up around the industry of the military is huge. There hasn’t been any studies that adequately show what the effects of the STDs, unwanted pregnancies among our young women around these bases globally. We need to have that research, but nobody wants to fund them because they’d be going up against the military. Those are real things that we are struggling with on a daily basis. (Kalamaokaʻaina Niheu) I would like to see our people working in jobs that are more positive for our community. (Kat Brady) The military is… monstrous, gigantic, terrifying, but most importantly replaceable, defeatable and imaginable to rise up against. (Kalamaoka’aina Niheu) SINCE THE LAST IWNAM MEETING… MALAMA KA’ENA PASSIONISTAS! UNDRESSING GLOBALIZATION & MILITARISM

Red Internacional de Mujeres Contra Militarismo 8th sesión Reporte de Hawaii: DMZ 808 Ahora 2012 Describe el Militarismo en Hawai’i Omnipresente, invasivo, incorrecto, violento, antipático, no de Hawai’i (Kat Brady, Promotora de Justicia, Hawai’i) Lo que el militarismo ha hecho por nosotros ha sido arrebatarnos de muchas de nuestras tierras. Nos ha arrebatado nuestros estilos de vida saludables. Ha causado depresión en las masas, dependencia global a este mundo en el que estamos forzados a escoger entre estar totalmente deprimidos y privados de nuestro derecho o vendernos por dinero y turismo. O aceptar ir a matar gente y otros nativos alrededor del mundo. Yo diría que la presencia militar se encuentra presente a diario cuando se vive en el área central de la isla de O’ahu. Helicópteros en el cielo y Strykers en las carreteras. En las noches puedes escuchar las municiones desde los campos de tiro que se encuentran cerca. Pienso en cuan irónico es que no lo reconozcamos y que tan siquiera le prestemos atención. (Seji Yamada, MD, Hawai’i) Ahora mismo, debajo de  nuestras propias narizes, hay una acumulación masiva ocurriendo en esta isla. Masiva. (Uncle Joe, Coronel retirado del Army, Hawai’i) Una observación que tengo sobre la milicia es acerca de la pérdida de vivienda. La milicia es subsidiada, así que su renta es subvencionado, y nosotros no tenemos ese beneficio. El mercado de vivienda ha disminuido por el flujo militar, que ha aumentado, hemos tenido la acumulación más grande desde WWII. Con la transformación del ejército y la brigada de Strykers que ha vendido. (Kat Brady, Promotora de Justicia, Hawai’i) Fué en 1996 cuando finalizaron las evicciones de Makua. Mi familia, mi familia cercana, mis niños y mi marido estaban aquí. Yo estuve aquí por más tiempo, el iba y venía, pero mis hijos y yo pasamos muchísimo tiempo aquí. Fue el tiempo más aterrorizante de mi vida. Pase por tanto, vinieron con una sobredosis de poder de macho, poder legar, armas de poder. Espantoso, pareciera como si la milicia estuviera involucrada en ello, auque no podian mostar la cara. Comenze a pensar “que esta pasando?”. Dejo el lugar y la infantería viene y comienza a apuntar armas hacia mí. Estaba en el vehículo  y me estaba volviendo loca y esto ocurrió en varias ocaciones.y cuando finalmente llegamos a las negociaciones para demander, yo fui parte de ello. (Leandra Wai, Mākua, Hawai’i) 2010 AFSC Hawai’i: No Room at the Inn… (Houseless Nativity Display) Por qué la desmilitarización es importante? Tenemos demasiada guerra y no suficiente paz. Necesitamos ser más diplomaticos, hacer mas amigos. Necesitamos ser menos dominante. Estados Unidos necesita calmarse, somos demasiado imperialista. Cuando la gente habla sobre defender a los Estados Unidos, no se refieren a Estados Unidos, Hawai’i y Alaska. Se refieren al extenso imperio de unas 700 bases o más. (Dr. Fred Dodge, Nanakuli, Hawai’i) Alrededor de las bases militares puedes encontrar tremendas cantidades de cabarets, prostitución, y tráfico de humanos que están afectando a nuestras jovenes. Puedo decir que es inteligente decir que la cantidad de enfermedades de transmisión sexual, la cantidad de embarazos no deseados, la cantidad de violencia doméstica alrededor de esas comunidades que se han levantado de esas industrias cerca de la milicia, es inmenso. No se han formulado ningunos estudios que demuestren adecuadamente los efectos de las enfermedades de transmisión sexual, y embarazos no deseados en nuestras jovenes globalmente. Necesitamos investigar, pero nadie quiere dar fondos para estos porque van en contra del militarismo. Estas son las cosas con la que lidiamos a diario. (Kalamaoka’aina Niheu) Quisiera ver a nuestra gente trabajando en empleos que fuesen mas positivos para nuestra comunidad. (Kat Brady) El militarismo es… Monstroso, gigantesco, espantoso, pero más importante reemplazable, lo podemos vencer y levantarnos ante él. (Kalamaoka’aina Niheu) DESDE LA ULTIMA REUNION IWNAM… MALAMA KA’ENA PASSIONISTAS! DESNUDANDO LA GLOBALIZACION Y EL MILITARISMO

No gasoducto!

On February 19, 2012, a Sunday, we got very little rest. After getting to Dominga's farm around 2am, we were still excited to wake up at 6:30 to leave for a rally in San Juan, Puerto Rico. That morning we had the most delicious breakfast of organic eggs, fruits, and fresh baked bread. We needed the energy!

The protest was attended by thousands of people against the building of a natural gas line line through the city. (The story can be read at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/us/puerto-ricos-plan-for-gas-pipeline-has-many-critics.html?pagewanted=all.)

Locals told us that although they supported green energy, they felt that this project was rushed, not well planned, and posed a health threat for the communities where the gas line was being built.

We hear ya Puerto Rico!

Even more impressive than the size of the protest and people's commitment to the cause, was their commitment to having fun while they were doing this work.

Thank you for the inspiration.

Day 1 - radio station or march?

February 19, 2012  [images will be added]

Day 1 and we have already separated.  While my Hawai‘i sisters were rising and dressing to march in solidarity with Puerto Ricans protesting their governor’s endorsement of an underwater pipeline to bring in more fossil fuel from the United States, I awoke from my first morning in Puerto Rico in the hills of Aibonito. 

Aibonito comes from an old Taino name, Hatibonito.  The drive is long and windy, like the road to Kahukūloa, but inland through the mountains, like the road to Big Bear.  It’s peppered with little villages along the way, and cold increases with the altitude, as if you’re going to Volcano.  It also has a river called Cojonesdos, which poetically translates to “home,” but literally means “testicles.”
Aibonito is where Ornellia Perez lives, and where I spent Saturday night.  Breakfast was 2 eggs laid by the neighbor’s hens, salad greens, toast with sunflower seed spread, orange-carrot juice, Puerto Rican coffee, and a view of the ocean.  Muy delicioso.
Ornellia had an opportunity to fill in for the regular host of radio talk show called Canto Libre, Freedom Song, and promote the conference in which I’ve come to Puerto Rico to participate.  Others were committed to march in old San Juan, but willing to call in to the show.  As the primary language is Spanish, I couldn’t really have a big role with the radio program, but thirteen years in Hawai‘i talk radio should’ve enabled me to kōkua some of the technical aspects, or help develop the program.
We drove an hour-and-a-half to Ponce (POHN-seh) in the south of La Isla Grande, the main island.  Ponce people are like Texans, claiming everything is bigger there, always trying to outdo non-Ponceians.  The welcome sign upon entering the township is 5 huge letters spread out across the road.
Ornellia had developed an outline for the 90 minute program, and we dove right in.
Ornellia introduced herself and the important work she does with women at Centro Mujer y Nueva Familia in Baranquitas where she works.  Immediately, the president of her board of directors called in to report on the march in which our IWNAM sisters were participating.  We also had call-in interviews with María Reinat-Pumarejo (Puerto Rico), Terri-Lee Keko‘olani (Hawai‘i) and Aida F. Santos-Maranan (Philippines).  All three were able to provide historical context to today’s movement, and their activities.
Ornellia did a beautiful job reviewing the materials from across the years with International Women's Network against Militarism.  We threw in a few songs by Korean singer Ahn Hea Kyong: Warrior, Uno and others.  And we closed with a beautiful poem by David Whyte, first in English and then translated to Spanish.  Following this call-in show, an elderly man called in to tell us to tell all the women that the work is so important, that everyone in his family has cancer.  He was crying. 

Here's the poem.

Sweet Darkness

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb tonight.

The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

You must learn one thing.
The world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone

that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.

~David Whyte

We made it!!

Mahalo nui to all of your support and love. We safely arrived at our first home in Puerto Rico. We are being graciously hosted by sister Dominga on her farm in Vega Baja. We have already been joined by sisters from South Korea, Phillipines, and Okinawa. We set to leave at 8 am tomorrow to join our hosts in our first adventure. On the way here it was easy to see signs of globalization throughout our ride into the country. KFC. Walgreens. CVS. Burger King. The "American Dream" has spread.

Morning in Mākua

“Rather than building up for war, we could be working toward peace,” Fred Dodge, MD, co-founder of Mālama Mākua.

Wanting to connect with ‘āina before leaving for Vieques, Eri, Elise and I had the opportunity to visit Mākua Valley.

Mākua once supported a thriving community. It is a traditional training ground for ‘olohe, masters of the warrior arts, and, because of the long stretch of sandy beach, it was a comfortable stopping off point for visitors destined for Kaena Point. There were terraces of dryland crops; uala, sweet potato, was probably the primary one.

When the U.S. entered World War II, the Army appropriated Mākua for live weapons training. The valley was assaulted from land, air and sea. Up through 1998, Mākua valley was used as a disposal site for unneeded ordnance and other hazardous materials. Only in 2004 did live weapons training end.

Due to the grassroots efforts to honor Mākua valley as a wahi pana, Mālama Mākua has emerged as the stewardship organization that serves as watchdog, monitor, liaison to the Army, and kahu 'aina. Training is more controlled, culturally significant sites are preserved and studied, and there’s a big endangered species conservation effort in place.

But it’s a never ending job for Mālama Mākua – they are disputing an incomplete environmental assessment of the marine resources, battling the Army’s renewed claim to the valley as a necessary training ground, while also negotiating for regular, cultural accesses.

Looking to Kaho‘olawe as a model, Mālama Mākua has in its arsenal some of the United States’ own laws: the Endangered Species Act, the Historic Preservation Act, the Environmental Policy Act, and, most importantly, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA). It is the latter that will assure access to the community to mark the opening and closing of Makahiki, and regular access to several culturally significant sites throughout the valley.

Upon arrival, our ho‘okupu to Mākua included wai from the punawai deep in Nu‘alolo ‘Āina, and pa‘akai from Hanapēpē. Fred and Leandra welcomed us. With us were a few kūpuna, a group of hiking grad students, and two of the three founders of Nā Wāhine o Kunia Honouliuli. We saw petroglyphs, terraces and waterways (sans the water). We learned about mauka conservation efforts and different historic uses of the areas we saw and visited. We felt the nurturing spirit of Mākua.

Mahalo iā Ko‘iahi, mahalo iā Kahanahāiki, mahalo iā Mākua!

(c) Kim Ku‘ulei Birnie

UPDATED! Support Hawaii Women to Represent at the 8th IWNAM meeting, Puerto Rico

Dear friends of Women’s Voices Women Speak, Third Path Movement for Reproductive Justice-O’ahu & Hawai‘i Peace Justice,

Please help our organizations send Elise, Eri and Terri to be Hawai‘i's delegation to attend the 8th International Women's Network Against Militarism (IWNAM) meeting entitled “Encuentro/Nets for Genuine Security.” This meeting will take place in Puerto Rico between February 19-24, 2012. We are participating because we believe that genuine security in Hawai‘i is about ending Hawai‘i's dependence on the war economy. We believe that genuine security lies in our communities creating sustainable, community-based alternatives that cultivate, instead of exploit, people and resources. Identifying, implementing, and advancing these local alternatives also needs a collaborative international effort. Our work seeks to raise awareness on the systemic issue of militarism that cuts across cultures and lands, and to build international solidarity that connects our struggles.

This past year our organizations collaborated on the Passionista Fashion Show: Undressing Globalization and Militarism, which was a part of Moana Nui 2011:Pacific Peoples, Lands and Economies, an alternative conference to APEC. On September 11, 2011, we organized a solidarity action to support Jeju Island communities’ resistance to the development of military facilities that would house Aegis missile systems, which are interconnected to the missile facilities at Barking Sands on Kaua‘i. Also, after the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, WVWS wrote a statement of solidarity with the IWNAM to demand that the U.S. and Japanese governments shift the spending of taxpayer monies from the upkeep of U.S. military facilities in Japan and other territories to helping victims of the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation poisoning. We also demanded the creation of employment opportunities that transcend militarism. 
 

Please help us raise money to pay for air fares for these Hawai‘i women to serve as delegates to the next IWNAM meeting, and to represent Hawai‘i in this effort for international solidarity. During this conference, attendees will have the opportunity to network with women from the Pacific, US, Caribbean and Asia. In addition, we will visit and talk to the community of Vieques, an island whose struggle to stop military weapons testing parallels Hawai‘i’s Kaho‘olawe. 
 

Following the return from the conference, delegates will hold a public presentation to share lessons learned at the conference and help facilitate our organizations to strategize and create a mission and vision for genuine security in Hawai‘i. To learn more about the 8th International Women’s Network Against Militarism meeting, visit http://www.genuinesecurity.org/projects/meeting.html. 
 

To donate:

• By Cash: Hand-deliver to Eri (808)542-0348
• By Check: Make checks out to "Collective for Equality Justice and Empowerment" and mail to Eri Oura 3161 Ala Ilima St. #809 Honolulu, Hawai’i 96818
• By Credit Card: Click on the Donate button below
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  (Please note that donations to this project are not eligible for tax write-offs as we are not sponsored by a non-profit.)
  
  

For more information about these organizations:
Women’s Voices Women Speak: http://wvws808.blogspot.com/
Hawai‘i Peace and Justice: http://hawaiipeaceandjustice.org/
International Women's Network Against Militarism: http://www.genuinesecurity.org/projects/meeting.html

The members of WVWS, Third Path Movement for Reproductive Justice-O’ahu, and HPJ would like to wish all of our supporters a happy new year! Mahalo nui loa!

UPDATE:
Big mahalo to those who have donated!

Kat Brady
Craig Howes
Nicki Garces
Brandy Nalani McDougall
Aiko Yamashiro
Monisha Das Gupta
Stephen Dinion
Patricia Koge
Darlene Rodrigues
Tricia Lee Tolentino
Nancy Aleck
Deja Ostrowski
Dina Shek
Hilary Chen
Christine Lipat & Tagi Qolouvaki
Vernadette Gonzales
Kim Compoc & Joy Enomoto