As the members of Protecting Oceania, representing the peoples of Hawaiʻi, Aotearoa, West Papua, Papua New Guinea, Kanaky, Vanuatu, Fiji, Rotuma, Solomon Islands, First Nation peoples of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands, and South Sea Islanders, Guåhan and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Pohnpei, Palau, Banaba, Kiribati, Niue, Tokelau, Marshall Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Liu Chiu and our allies,
We stand together, in order to fulfill our sacred duty to be good ancestors, and firmly oppose the militarization of our islands and oceans. Specifically, we oppose the upcoming 29th Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises that will be held from June 27th to August 1st in and around the Hawaiian Islands. These exercises threaten our sovereignties and our communities, human and other-than-human alike, here in Hawai’i, across Moananuiākea, and throughout the world.
We oppose the biennial desecration of our sacred oceanic spaces by the 29 countries who will be playing war games during RIMPAC: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.
We are especially shocked by those countries who claim that they oppose genocide and who have vehemently taken positions against Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people, specifically Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Indonesia, who contradict there positions by coming to Hawaiʻi to play together at war. We call upon these nations in particular to pull your militaries from joining in these exercises. We also demand that Indonesia, who is committing genocide in West Papua not only cease its participation in these exercises, but we demand a Free and Independent West Papua. We also demand that France remove its colonial occupation of Kanaky.
We oppose turning Hawaiʻi’s lands and waters into training grounds for imperial and genocidal regimes that will engage in ocean, ground, and amphibious assaults. We stand against the violence RIMPAC will bring to the islands as well as the imperial violence it has and will continue to promote and naturalize around the world.
We who love and value life oppose these exercises without equivocation and for the sake of every oppressed community in every corner of the earth. We stand committed to a free and liberated Oceania and the will remain steadfast in our commitment until these exercises cease to exist.
Mahalo,
Protecting Oceania Hui
Supporting Organizations
Hawaiʻi Peace & Justice
Pacific Theology College
Free West Papua Campaign
Pacific Network On Globalisation
Diverse Voices and Actions (DIVA) for Equality Fiji
Kaʻahahui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina (Hui Aloha ʻĀina)
Prutehi Litekyan/Save Ritidian
Our Common Wealth 670
Kanaeokana
Kaʻohewai
Hawaiʻi Unity and Liberation Institute
KAHEA
ʻĀina Momona
‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures
Hawaiʻi People’s Fund
Independent Guåhan
Te Pāti Māori
Hawaiʻi Alliance for Pacific Islanders
Jo-Jikum
Hoʻaka Mana
Black Pacific Alliance
Grassroots Global Justice Alliance
Micronesia Climate Change Alliance
Australian Association for Pacific Studies
Palauans for Liberation
Vā Moana Research Cluster at Auckland University of Technology
Pacific Islander and Asian American Ministries (PAAM) of the United Church of Christ
Gi Matan Guma’
Nihi Indigenous Media
Earth Water People
Anakbayan Hawaiʻi
Students Protesting Against Militarism (S.P.A.M.)
Jewish Voices for Peace Hawaiʻi
International Women’s Network Against Militarism
Hawaiʻi Okinawa Alliance
LAING Hawaiʻi
Valley Now, Wellington, NZ
Oceanic Refractions
Wisdom Circles Oceania
Uli Movement: Weaving Our Stories
Birthworkers of Color Collective
Supporting Individuals
Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Maui County Councilmember
Julian Aguon, International Human Rights Lawyer and Founder of Blue Ocean Law
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, MP For Te Tai Hauāuru and Te Pāti Maori Co-Leader
Dr. Jon Kamakawiwoʻole Osorio, Dean, Hawaiʻinuiākea School Of Hawaiian Knowledge, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa
Dr. Kamanamaikalani Beamer, Director Of Kamakakūokalani Center For Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa
Dr. Kahikina de Silva, Associate Professor, Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa
Dr. Emalani Case, Senior Lecturer in Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland
Dr. Katerina Teaiwa, Australia National University, School of Culture, History & Language; Vice-President, Australian Association for Pacific Studies
Dr. Melinda Mann, Senior Learning Designer and Lecturer for Cultural Competency within the Office of Indigenous Engagement, Central Queensland University
Kim Kruger, Lecturer and Researcher Moondani Balluk Academic Centre, Victoria University, AU
Dr. April K. Henderson, Senior Lecturer in Pacific Studies, Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington
Dr. Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio, Associate Professor of Indigenous and Native Hawaiian Politics, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa
Tēvita O. Kaʻili, PhD, Professor of Anthropology & Cultural Sustainability, Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts Brigham Young University – Hawaiʻi
Presley Keʻalaanuhea Ah Mook Sang, Kumu A’o, Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa
Johanna Kapōmaikaʻi Stone, Kumu A’o, Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa
Kalikoaloha Martin, Kumu A’o, Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa
Line-Noue Memea Kruse, Brigham Young University-Hawaiʻi
ʻUlise Funaki , Brigham Young University-Hawaiʻi
Dr. Dion Enari, Senior Lecturer, Auckland University Of Technology
Rev. Dr. Kaleo Patterson, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Wahiawa, Oahu, HI
Rev. Dr. Ha’aheo Guanson, Executive Director of Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center
Kealoha Pisciotta, Kai Palaoa
Mialisa Otis, Puʻuhonua O Wailupe
Richard Salvador, Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center
Kerri A. Inglis, Professor Of History, University Of Hawaiʻi, Hilo
Nawahineokalaʻi Lanzilotti, Founder/Director Pulse Oceania
Jaimey Hamilton Faris, University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa
Anga’aefonu Bain-Vete, Artist and Illustrator Fiji