Justice Through Aloha — Advancing Native Hawaiian Rights & Cultural Resilience
- gcordery3
- Aug 27
- 2 min read
Justice Through Aloha — Advancing Native Hawaiian Rights & Cultural Resilience
A 2025 Honolulu Civil Beat article highlights that more than 28,000 Native Hawaiian families are still on the waitlist for homestead lands—many waiting decades for the benefits promised under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920. This delay isn’t just a statistic—it’s a generational struggle for home, belonging, and stability. (Civilbeat.org)
Many kupuna pass away before ever receiving a homestead lease, leaving generations without the stability of land and homeownership. This is more than policy failure—it’s a breach of trust.
The Challenge
Long Waitlists
Thousands of Native Hawaiian families unable to access homestead land.
Blood Quantum Restrictions
Provisions of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act limit access and fragment families.
Cultural Erosion
Hawaiian language fluency among youth remains low, despite state recognition of Hawaiian as an official language (Hawaii DOE).
Historical Injustice
A legacy of broken promises and systemic neglect has left many Native Hawaiians without the resources they were guaranteed.
Gary Cordery’s Commitment
1. Hawaiian-Led Action Groups
Form diverse Hawaiian-led advisory groups with authority and measurable deadlines to guide cultural and land-based policy reform.
2. Reform the Hawaiian Homes Act
Re-examine blood quantum requirements.
Re-negotiate lease land terms and property rights to make the program more accessible.
3. Cultural Reconciliation
Acknowledge historic betrayals and foster reconciliation through policies rooted in transparency, justice, and respect.
4. Hawaiian Language & Education
Expand Hawaiian language instruction in schools, ensuring keiki can connect with heritage and identity from an early age.
5. Resource Equity
Redirect state resources to ensure equitable access for Native Hawaiian families in housing, education, and economic opportunity.
Why This Matters:
For Native Hawaiians: Upholds cultural and land rights long denied.
For Families: Provides generational stability through land and education.
For Hawai‘i: Strengthens the cultural fabric that defines the state’s identity.
Rooted in Aloha & Freedom
This housing plan aligns with the Aloha Freedom Coalition’s advocacy for policies that put local people first, protect property rights, and increase community self-reliance (AFC About Page).
Justice through aloha means honoring the past while building a fairer, more resilient future for all who call Hawai‘i home.
Putting People First
For Gary, every policy starts with people—not politics. That’s why conversations like these guide his priorities for Hawai‘i where families can live well and businesses can succeed. Share Your Story
Join Gary in Building a Future We Can Afford
Be part of a movement that’s fighting for to Lower the Cost of Living solutions across Hawai‘i.
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