The Kingdom of the Islands of Hawaii deserves independence.

I was not, by any stretch of the imagination, informed about the current sovereign pursuits of the Kingdom of Hawaii despite significant numbers of Hawaiian Nationals coming to our aid at Standing Rock. That is until I viewed the Wind and the Reckoning, a John Fusco film, produced and directed by David L. Cunningham , starring an all Hawaiian cast including several Indigenous Hawaiians.

The film tells the real life stories of Ko’olau’ and Pi’ ilani, an indigenous couple with one child fighting to stay together as a global pandemic (leprosy) and the disease of colonization bear down on them and all they represent. The small family is hunted by corporate henchmen intending to send anyone with signs of leprosy to involuntary quarantin. The Indigenous Hawaiians are forced to adapt to the presence of the United States and its corporate dominance which persist to this day. Ko’olau’ is well known for his years long resistance to this occupation of his Kingdom.

The film is a proper introduction to the complexities of all that is Hawaii, the Indigenous nation itself, the settlers, landowners, professionals and others who have made their homes in Hawaii since the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom in the late 1890s. It reminds us this is not ancient history as Hawaii was overthrown in the late 1890s but prior to this the Kingdom of Hawaii entered into treaties with some 40 other nations of the world and seeks to re-establish its international character.

Leon Kaulahao Siu, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands was at the first showing of the film (4.5.2022) to tell this story to special guests gathered at the Harmony Gold Theatre, Hollywood, CA. The honorable minister demonstrated how the Kingdom deserves its independence and dignity today. The Foreign Minister and other Hawaiian nationals requested they be welcomed in by the Indigenous of Los Angeles. This request was obliged by Charles Alvarez, Chairman of the Gabrielino Tongva Indian Tribe ( www.gabrielinotribe.org ), a state recognized tribe seeking federal recognition as distinct from Indigenous nationhood such as sought by the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Left to Right: Leon Kaulahao Siu - Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands, John Fusco, Chairman Alvarez Gabrielino Tongva, and Sonny SkyHawk

This is the latest work from John Fusco who has numerous films which have been commercial and grassroots successes including this non-exhaustive cross-section: Cross Roads, Young Guns I & II, Spirit, Hidalgo, Marco Polo, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Forbidden Kingdom, Dream Keeper and Thunder Heart. Fusco has worked with many Indigenous nations the world over and has done an excellent job of incorporating indigenous talent into various aspects of the industry.

The film is powerful and entertaining and reflects a continuing artistic commitment to platform the stories of those who have been ignored for too long.

May the Kingdom of Hawaii renegotiate it’s terms of oppression with these United States and finally be free, once again, forever. To learn more about the Lynmar Entertainment project, further releases & showings, stay tuned.

John Fusco’s Latest Film Centers Kingdom of Hawaii