About us

ABOUT THE HAWAI‘I KUPUNA COUNCIL

⭐ ABOUT THE HAWAI‘I KUPUNA COUNCIL
A Cultural and Humanitarian Guiding Body of the Hawaiian Kingdom

The Hawai‘i Kupuna Council is a cultural, humanitarian, and advisory body grounded in the enduring continuity of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the wisdom of our kūpuna (elders). Established to uphold Indigenous values, protect Hawaiian Subjects, and maintain cultural integrity, the Kupuna Council serves as one of the highest expressions of traditional authority within the Kingdom framework in continuity.

Rooted in aloha, kuleana, and pono, the Council operates independently—free from foreign political influence—and provides guidance to ensure that decisions affecting Hawaiian people are aligned with ancestral teachings, cultural protocol, and Indigenous humanitarian principles.

The Hawai‘i Kupuna Council is:

Non-adversarial
Kupuna-guided
Humanitarian-focused
Culturally grounded
Founded on Kingdom continuity
Its kuleana is to protect the well-being, dignity, and cultural identity of Hawaiian Subjects, especially during the conditions of an ongoing occupation.

 
⭐ OUR ROLE & PURPOSE
The Council fulfills a number of essential cultural and humanitarian responsibilities:

✔ 1. Cultural Leadership
Kupuna provide insight rooted in Hawaiian law (kānāwai), ancestral knowledge, and customary practice. Their voice preserves the Nation’s dignity and continuity.

✔ 2. Humanitarian Protection
The Council evaluates situations in which Hawaiian Subjects experience harm, cultural injury, or distress, and provides guidance, recommendations, or humanitarian assessments.

✔ 3. Safeguarding Hawaiian Subjects
Kupuna uphold the cultural, emotional, spiritual, and humanitarian rights of Hawaiian Subjects—ensuring that their identity and dignity are respected.

✔ 4. Guidance to OHS and HKHT
The Kupuna Council advises and informs:

Office of Hawaiian Subjects (OHS)
Hawai‘i Kupuna Humanitarian Tribunal (HKHT)
Other Hawaiian Kingdom bodies operating in continuity
Its guidance shapes humanitarian reviews, cultural determinations, and appropriate pathways of pono.

 
⭐ AFFILIATION WITH THE HAWAI‘I KUPUNA HUMANITARIAN TRIBUNAL (HKHT)
The Hawai‘i Kupuna Humanitarian Tribunal (HKHT) is a non-adversarial, Kupuna-guided humanitarian tribunal formed to review matters involving:

cultural harm
humanitarian concerns
Indigenous dignity
the well-being of Hawaiian Subjects
The Kupuna Council sits at the heart of the Tribunal’s work.
Their role is not punitive.
Their role is restorative.

Kupuna:

provide cultural determinations
evaluate harm
assess humanitarian conditions
guide the direction of findings
ensure pono decision-making
lift the mauli (life-force) of those involved
In simple terms:
⭐ HKHT = the Tribunal body
⭐ Kupuna Council = the cultural authority that guides it
HKHT cannot exist without the direction and wisdom of the Kupuna Council.

 
⭐ WHAT IS A TRIBUNAL? (Hawaiian + Humanitarian Definition)
A tribunal is a body formed to examine, assess, and make determinations on matters brought before it.

In the Hawaiian Kingdom’s humanitarian and cultural context:

⭐ A Tribunal is a place of review, not punishment.
It is a forum for:

truth-telling
restoring balance
documenting harm
evaluating conditions that affect Hawaiian Subjects
providing guidance based on cultural standards and humanitarian care
Unlike Western courts, a Hawaiian Tribunal operates under:

kupuna wisdom
cultural protocol
kanaka worldviews
principles of pono and aloha
restorative pathways rather than adversarial ones
⭐ A Tribunal is NOT a criminal court.
⭐ It does NOT issue legal sentences.
⭐ It does NOT enforce state or foreign authority.
Instead, it:

documents harms
issues findings
makes humanitarian recommendations
stands as a cultural authority
protects Hawaiian Subjects through kupuna guidance
provides a mechanism of voice, dignity, and recognition
It exists to honor our ancestors, protect our people, and provide clarity during the conditions of occupation.

 
⭐ WHY THE KUPUNA COUNCIL MATTERS
In Hawaiian governance, Kupuna are the highest custodians of knowledge, ethics, and cultural balance.
Their role is to ensure:

Truth
Pono governance
Care for the lāhui
Integrity of decisions
Connection to ancestral law
Compassion during hardship
Cultural grounding in all matters
In modern humanitarian terms, they serve as:

cultural adjudicators
protectors of Indigenous rights
guides for humane and pono-based decisions
Their presence ensures that Hawaiian Kingdom governance continues not just legally, but spiritually and culturally.

 
⭐ OUR COMMITMENT
The Hawai‘i Kupuna Council commits to:

Preserving Hawaiian dignity
Protecting Hawaiian Subjects
Standing firm in cultural truth
Humble but resolute humanitarian service
Upholding ancestral wisdom
Ensuring pono outcomes
Speaking for those who are not heard
Guarding what is sacred
Under kupuna leadership, the Council and Tribunal form a space of healing, clarity, and truth—so that Hawaiian people may navigate these times with dignity and protection.