Stories pertaining to the grassroots political and cultural campaign to gain sovereignty for Hawaiʻi. Generally, sovereignty groups focus on self-determination and self-governance, either for Hawaiʻi as an independent nation (in many proposals, for “Hawaiian nationals” descended from subjects of the Hawaiian Kingdom or declaring themselves as such by choice), or for people of whole or part native Hawaiian ancestry in an indigenous “nation to nation” relationship akin to tribal sovereignty with U.S. federal recognition of Native Hawaiians. Some groups also advocate some form of redress from the United States for the 1893 overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani, and for what is described as a prolonged military occupation beginning with the 1898 annexation. The movement generally views both the overthrow and annexation as illegal.
Sovereignty advocates have attributed problems plaguing native communities, including houselessness, poverty, economic marginalization and the erosion of native traditions, to the lack of native governance and political self-determination. They have pursued their agenda through educational initiatives and legislative actions. Along with protests throughout the islands, at the capitol itself as well as the places and locations held as sacred to Hawaiian culture, sovereignty activists have, in the past, challenged United States military forces and law.