HWST 107: Hawaiʻi: Center of the Pacific

Provides highlights of George Helm's active role in the movement to stop the military bombing of Kaho'olawe and to educate the people of Hawaii as to why Kaho'olawe has a sacred significance to Hawaiians.

Quite often we look at the Pacific region as a playground where exotic vacations in paradise can be taken. There is another side to the Pacific that is not often told about. Over the years the colonial powers of the world have "raped" this beautiful area. The natives are now frequently hidden on outer islands. In one case, in Hawaii, natives are relegated to a beach area where they cannot afford to pay the rent for land they once owned. The US is not alone in this action--it is duplicated by other countries across the Pacific. This videotape goes into little-known areas of the Pacific and shows what is really happening. It touches areas that have not been shown before, such as New Caledonia, and describes the policies of the French to drive the natives from their land.

1980 documentary - Sand Island, O'ahu - residents of self-sustaining shoreline fishing community near downtown Honolulu are given notices to vacate by State of Hawai'i - film follows 4 months of residents' attempts to resist eviction.