Ua pā i ka leo: The power of our Native voices to enact and inspire Indigenous resurgence
by Maya L. Kawailanaokeawaiki Saffery.
It was a warm, clear day at Kailua beach on October 16, 2013. On such a beautiful day, one would expect to see one of the most popular Oʻahu beaches covered with flowery beach towels and Tommy Bahama lounge chairs; the water full of ABC store boogie boards ridden ackwardly by sunscreen soaked foreigners; the outer reefs and small islets cluttered with countless schools of brightly-colored kayaks rented by the hour; and the sky distorted by the kites of surfers speeding through the waves and launching themselves into the air. Unfortunately, when residents and visitors think of Kailua today, these are the images that usually come to mind. They do not typically think of Kailua as a site of Hawaiian resurgence, but on that particular afternoon in October that is exactly what I was a part of.
