This documentary gives a lot of insight to the historical events that happened to the Hawaiian Islands that many people are unaware of. Organized re-enactments, compilations of old photographs and cartoons, historic quotes and presentations by scholars tell the history of Hawaii through the eyes of the Hawaiian people.
I have Chinese and Hawaiian blood running through my veins and before I moved to Hawaii four years ago, I barely knew anything about the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, let alone how Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States. After having lived here for several years now, I've learned quite a bit of Hawaiian history even before watching this documentary.
The beginning of the film basically set the tone for the documentary as it began with beautiful scenery in Hawaii and calm, soothing island music playing in the background while people are simultaneously getting arrested and screaming “This is our land! No to annexation!” Queen Liliuokalani was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian islands. She felt her mission was to preserve the islands for their native residents. In 1898, Hawaii was illegally annexed to the United States and Queen Liliuokalani was forced to give up her throne. This film concluded with the message for our people to rise up and stand for our nation, to take back what was lost.
This was my first time watching Act of War and it really opened my eyes to how much the my people had to endure. This film gave just a glimpse of what life was like for my native Hawaiian ancestors before our nation was illegally annexed. They took care of the land and in return, the land provided everything they needed to survive.
It angered me to learn about how much was stripped from my people--our land, language and culture. My heart truly goes out for my native Hawaiian community especially after learning how many brothers and sisters we lost along the way. More people should be educated about the injustices that took place in Hawaii because it is extremely important and needs to be addressed. People don’t understand why there is so much anger stirring within the Hawaiian people and we have every right to be. I truly believe that justice will be served and what once was taken from us will be rightfully returned.
I have Chinese and Hawaiian blood running through my veins and before I moved to Hawaii four years ago, I barely knew anything about the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, let alone how Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States. After having lived here for several years now, I've learned quite a bit of Hawaiian history even before watching this documentary.
The beginning of the film basically set the tone for the documentary as it began with beautiful scenery in Hawaii and calm, soothing island music playing in the background while people are simultaneously getting arrested and screaming “This is our land! No to annexation!” Queen Liliuokalani was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian islands. She felt her mission was to preserve the islands for their native residents. In 1898, Hawaii was illegally annexed to the United States and Queen Liliuokalani was forced to give up her throne. This film concluded with the message for our people to rise up and stand for our nation, to take back what was lost.
This was my first time watching Act of War and it really opened my eyes to how much the my people had to endure. This film gave just a glimpse of what life was like for my native Hawaiian ancestors before our nation was illegally annexed. They took care of the land and in return, the land provided everything they needed to survive.
It angered me to learn about how much was stripped from my people--our land, language and culture. My heart truly goes out for my native Hawaiian community especially after learning how many brothers and sisters we lost along the way. More people should be educated about the injustices that took place in Hawaii because it is extremely important and needs to be addressed. People don’t understand why there is so much anger stirring within the Hawaiian people and we have every right to be. I truly believe that justice will be served and what once was taken from us will be rightfully returned.