What Is Hawaiian Sovereignty & Why It Matters When Visiting Hawaii

I admit the first time I visited Hawaii back in 2007, I had no idea that Hawaiian Sovereignty was even a movement. Let alone what it actually was and why it would matter to me as a tourist looking to throw my money around in paradise.

Like a lot of people visiting Hawaii for the first time, I pictured stunning beaches, lush mountains, and vibrant luaus with fire-eating warriors. Then I started seeing cars with bumper stickers that said things like “Proud to be Hawaiian” and "Aina Warrior."

A few days into the trip I visited Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau when a ceremony was going on. I half rushed over thinking I was missing out on a tourist show. I giant man put a hand on my shoulder and asked me very politely to be “Pono.” Which means to show deep respect.

I got the chance to watch a beautiful ceremony, that carried on away from Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau to a big black rock, that I would later understand is a sacred, ancestral heiau. Dimly aware that there was some indigenous culture still alive in Hawaii, I stayed respectful and kept my distance.

Now I’m not a sacred crystals, mystical oils, and aura reading kind of guy. Yet I could definitely feel something that I guess the Hawaiians would call mana in that moment. Over the years since I’ve tried to put my due diligence into understanding the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement, the living Hawaiian culture, and how to be pono in respecting the Aina.

What Is the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement?

Hawaiian sovereignty refers to the political and cultural movement seeking to restore self-determination to Native Hawaiians. Once upon a time, Hawaii was internationally recognized as a sovereign kingdom with its own monarch, constitution, and foreign embassies.

That changed in 1893 when a group of American businessmen and sugar plantation owners, backed by U.S. military presence, overthrew Queen Liliʻuokalani in a coup d'état. This allowed the United States to essentially annex Hawaii as a territory, and eventually a naval military base.

The Hōkūleʻa

Launched in 1975, the Hōkūleʻa holds profound significance in Hawaiian sovereignty. It’s a traditional Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe that made a successful voyage to Tahiti in 1976, guided by master navigator Mau Piailug, and Nainoa Thompson. This rekindled pride in Native Hawaiian identity, knowledge, and traditions.

Their journey proved that ancient Polynesians navigated vast ocean distances using only the stars, waves, and natural signs. Not only did they do so long before Western contact, but at a time when Western sailors still hadn’t even dreamed of exploring the deep seas.

As a cultural renaissance took root, Hōkūleʻa became more than a vessel. It was at the heart of the movement. Its journeys inspired generations to reclaim language, history, and self-determination, fueling the modern push for Hawaiian sovereignty and the recognition of indigenous rights.

Walter Ritte & the Kahoʻolawe Nine

Walter Ritte gained national attention in the 1970s as one of the "Kahoʻolawe Nine," who occupied the island of Kahoʻolawe to protest the U.S. military using the island as a bombing range.

Their daring time evading capture as a form a active protest sparked further debate about a broader movement for Hawaiian self-determination and environmental justice. Ritte’s advocacy helped link cultural preservation with political autonomy, and he continues to be a voice for food sovereignty, education reform, and the protection of sacred lands. Amplifying the call for Native Hawaiian empowerment and restoration of traditional practices.

A Century Old Apology

In 1993, on the 100th anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian government, the U.S. government formally acknowledged its role in a joint congressional resolution signed by President Bill Clinton.

However, that acknowledgment hasn't meant restitution. For many Native Hawaiians, sovereignty means more than just legal recognition. It’s also about land rights, cultural survival, and healing from historical trauma.

Why Hawaiian Sovereignty Matters for Travelers

If you’re coming to Hawaii for its beauty, it’s crucial to understand the weight that beauty carries. Much of what visitors enjoy like the beaches, mountains, and sacred valleys, are more than scenery to Native Hawaiians. They are living as ancestors, spiritually significant, and sometimes the last remnants of lands taken by force or legal manipulation.

As a traveler, learning about Hawaiian sovereignty is an act of respect. It helps you recognize whose homeland you’re visiting and why that matters. It shifts your experience from being a consumer of paradise to a conscious guest of the ‘Aina.

Hawaiian Heiaus What You Need to Know

A heiau is a traditional Hawaiian sacred temple or place of worship, that is deeply significant in Native Hawaiian culture. These sites were built by Native Hawaiians as early as the 13th century and served various spiritual purposes. Some carried agricultural blessings or were places to make offerings for health, war, or navigation.

Heiau range from modest stone platforms to large, intricate complexes, with the most sacred ones used by aliʻi (chiefs) and kahuna (priests) for major religious ceremonies.

How to Respectfully Visit a Hawaiian Heiau:

Some Hawaiian Heiau sites are open to the public and receive tourists, and some are private. A few even sit on what’s considered private property. So, don’t simply assume that because you see one listed on a map, that you can go tromping around taking pictures for Instagram.

Hawaiian culture is a living thing, and you should respect the heiaus just like you would expect someone to respect a church, synagogue, temple, or shrine of any other religion.

Be quiet and mindful as these are sacred spaces, not tourist attractions. Keep your voice low and move calmly and respectfully. Even if other people are being loud, and out of bounds, you should still keep your composure.

Stay on designated paths so as not to disturb the site. If you’re allowed a heiau pay mindful of the paths, trails, or steppingstones just like you would mind a velvet rope in a museum.

Don’t walk on or touch the stones as many heiau are considered kapu (forbidden) and disturbing them is both disrespectful and culturally harmful.

Don’t remove anything as everything is part of the sacred site. So, don’t take rocks, sand, or other natural items this is both culturally disrespectful and potentially illegal in many locations.

Dress modestly as a sign of respect. Avoid flashy or revealing clothing, just like how you wouldn’t want someone showing up in a string bikini at the Vatican, Wailing Wall, or a Zendo.

Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking at or near the site. This is both a sign of respect and also to prevent food waste from attracting pests to the sacred site.

Read and respect all signs carefully, as some heiau are closed to the public or have strict guidelines. Follow all posted instructions.

Take only photos if signs note that photography is allowed. Even if it is, be discreet and doesn’t pose in ways that trivialize the space.

When visiting a heiau in Hawaii, you're stepping into a living piece of Hawaiian spirituality and history. So, treat it with reverence the same way you would expect visitors to your sacred sites to be.

How You Can Be a Respectful Visitor

There are a lot of little things you can do to be a respectful visitor to Hawaii. This starts with educating yourself a little bit about the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the overthrow, and modern movements for sovereignty. There are a lot of little details that I couldn’t possibly cover in one article.

Supporting local shop by trying to buy things from Native Hawaiian-owned small businesses. Look over any souvenirs for signs indicating where they were made. That tiki mask might look cool, but that Made in China sticker on the back does very little to help support the local economy.

If you’re lucky enough to attend cultural events, recognize that they’re rooted in authenticity, not just performance. Be reverent and pay respect to the posted rules.

Listen more than you speak as locals and native Hawaiians have varied perspectives. Some want full independence, others advocate for federal recognition, and many are still processing generational trauma. The least we can do is listen with humility.

Inquire about local fishing rights if you plan to go fishing. Believe me there are a lot of fishing charters out there with very white faces who will tell you that fishing rights don’t matter. Yet there are definitely some sacred waters and places where the locals and native Hawaiians don’t want or appreciate you sport fishing.

Final Thoughts on Respecting Hawaiian Culture

Visiting Hawaii isn’t just about sun and surf, it’s also an opportunity to learn about a different culture and people, without having to get a passport. This is a civilization that’s done an impressive job of resisting colonization with strength and grace. Hawaiian sovereignty is not just a political issue; it's a call to honor culture, history, and people who are still very much alive.

These are people who once had to learn to live off what the land and sea provided. They cared for and cultivated the ‘Aina because it was all they had. They learned how to live in balance with the land, the same way everyone else in the world today is struggling to do. So, there are definitely some great lessons to be learned here about being good stewards and setting an example for your own kids about how to respect other cultures.