As a native Hawaiian, I have a negative association with the idea of “politics” because of the distress that the American federal and state government has caused for my people. The federal government ensures that native Hawaiians have limited autonomy and are completely subordinated to its jurisdiction. The state government is comprised of elected officials who are of other ethnic backgrounds and do not support native Hawaiian values or opinions. Under the United States government system, my people constantly struggle for these elected officials to acknowledge their opinions and for the rights to lands that our ancestors have cultivated for centuries. Although educated native Hawaiian advocates have led our people to some progress, there are
