The Nation of Hawaii is a group of Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) in favor of Hawaiian independence from the United States. It is formed by proponents of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement in resistance to what sovereignty advocates consider the occupation of Hawai’i by the United States.[1] The group was formed following the severance of a previous organization, the Ohana Council.[2] It is headed by Dennis Pu‘uhonua "Bumpy" Kanahele,[3] who is the group's spokesperson and Head of State.[4]

Leadership

The Nation of Hawai'i is led by Dennis Pu‘uhonua "Bumpy" Kanahele, who previously was a leader in the Ohana Council. He is also the CEO of Aloha First, an organization dedicated to economic, social, and cultural education.

Kanahele made headlines again in 1995 when his group gave sanctuary to Nathan Brown, a Native Hawaiian activist who had refused to pay federal taxes in protest against the US presence in Hawaiʻi. Kanahele was arrested for interfering with U.S. marshals seeking to arrest a federal fugitive, convicted, and sentenced to eight months in federal prison, along with a probation period in which he was barred from the puʻuhonua and from participation in his sovereignty efforts.