Decolonization Series: Reclaiming the Holidays for Reflection and a Just Transition
By Lauren Ballesteros-Watanabe, Chapter Organizer | Reading time: 5 minutes
Narratives shape cultural beliefs and values, embedding themselves into our systems and becoming widely accepted truths. The narratives surrounding holidays in capitalist societies—often centered on consumerism and excess—are ripe for reexamination. Holidays like Columbus Day and Thanksgiving, steeped in false narratives rooted in the doctrine of discovery, carry painful legacies of genocide and exploitation that continue to impact communities today. These truths demand our acknowledgment and action.
This article is offered in the spirit of making decolonization a reality, beginning with ourselves this holiday season. By following the global Just Transition framework, which is rooted in Indigenous values, we can move toward place-based systems and economies that empower communities and prioritize sustainability. Realigning our holiday traditions with these principles means challenging the capitalist framework and embracing practices that reflect place-based values.
Here in Hawaiʻi, we are privileged to live within a culture rich in ancestral wisdom, where values like aloha ʻāina (love and respect for the land), ʻohana (family), and lōkahi (harmony) are alive and accessible. These values offer a meaningful contrast to the oversaturation of materialism and consumerism that defines the holiday season—practices that often lead to more waste than good. Let this season be an opportunity to resist harmful systems and build regenerative traditions. The following suggestions offer ways to embrace this season with intention, rooted in values that nurture our communities and the land.:
Stop The Bad: Commit to Actions that Resist Exploitative Practices
Listen to and Support Indigenous-led Efforts: Stand in solidarity with campaigns like those advocating for land sovereignty and cultural preservation. For instance, supporting Native Hawaiian movements that protect sacred lands from development aligns with the values of aloha āina.
Uphold Protections for Indigenous Communities: Advocate for policies that safeguard cultural and familial connections, such as the Indian Child Welfare Act, which prevents the harmful practice of removing Indigenous children from their communities.
Boycott Harmful Corporate Practices: Resist supporting large corporations that exploit workers and degrade the environment. Instead, prioritize shopping small and local to uplift community economies.
Build The Good: Amplify Sovereignty and Community Empowerment
Promote Food Sovereignty: Encourage local food systems through initiatives like community gardens, which reconnect people with the land and provide sustainable food sources. Native Hawaiian practices of loko i‘a (fishpond aquaculture) and ʻāina-based education exemplify these values.
Support Collaborative Community Spaces: Invest in spaces that foster cultural connection and entrepreneurship, such as co-working hubs designed for underrepresented communities.
Engage in Leadership Development: Participate in or support Indigenous-led training programs that empower leaders to advocate for systemic change. These initiatives help align governance with shared Indigenous values.
Change The Story: Share and Elevate Intersectional Narratives
Center Indigenous Truths: Replace colonized holiday narratives with stories that honor Indigenous perspectives. In Hawaiʻi, families talk-story year round but during the holidays especially, use it as an opportunity to share mo‘olelo (stories) that honor place, and celebrate resilience and community. For example, ʻĀina Momona offered a powerful post to honor Lā Kūakoʻa Hawaiian rather than recognizing the genocidal holiday that is “Thanksgiving.” On November 28, 1843, Great Britain and France signed a declaration formally recognizing the independence of the Hawaiian Nation. In 1844, the envoys returned to Belgium and the United States and gained formal recognition from both countries of Hawaiʻi’s independence. The Kingdom celebrated their sovereignty and independence on a day known as Lā Kūʻokoʻa (Independence Day) for the first time in 1843 on November 28 and continued to celebrate the success of this mission annually. The envoys stayed in America through 1844 and returned to Hawaiʻi on March 23, 1845. William Richards went directly to the King to inform him that Timoteo had fallen ill and died at sea on December 3, 1844, at the start of their journey home. Timoteo Haʻalilio is responsible for securing Hawaiʻi’s nationally recognized sovereignty on behalf of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and for this he is honored and commemorated in the hearts of Kānaka Maoli to this day. In the years that followed, Kānaka Maoli and Hawaiian nationals celebrated Lā Kūʻokoʻa with feasts, gatherings, and commemorative speeches. Coincidentally “Thanksgiving” and Lā Kūokoʻa fall on the same day offering a chance to continue gathering on November 28th however use it as a time to honor a Hawaiian Kingdom holiday that is alive today. Molokaʻi residents hold huge community gatherings on this day. Please read more at https://www.kaainamomona.org/post/la-kuokoa.
Uplift Ocean and Land Sovereignty: Highlight efforts like those of Native Hawaiian organizations working to restore coastal ecosystems and sustain traditional fishing practices.
Advance Digital Sovereignty: Support Indigenous-owned and operated accounts that facilitate storytelling, relationship building, and access to knowledge. What is really powerful about doing this is we are using social media as a tool to witness the breadth and depth of indigenous people’s experiences and narratives. (There are SO many great accounts, these are just a few not previously mentioned in previous blogs)
Native Hawaiian Accounts:
ʻĀina Momona (@ainamomona): A community organization dedicated to achieving environmental health & sustainability through social justice & de-occupying the Hawaiian lands.
Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp (@adamkeawe): An Indigenous researcher who shares mo‘olelo (stories) and in-depth historical context about Hawaiian culture. Honolulu Magazine
Chelei Kahalewai (@chelei_808): A Native Hawaiian from Oʻahu with over 600,000 followers on TikTok, she educates audiences about local traditions, hula dancing, and issues affecting the Hawaiian community. ABC News
Ka Alalā (@ka_alala): Managed by Maluhia States, this Instagram account focuses on authentic Hawaiian language usage and aims to revitalize traditional sounds of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Public Radio
Indigenous Accounts:
Txai Suruí (@txaisurui): A Paiter Suruí activist from Brazil, sharing insights into Indigenous rights and environmental issues. Together Band
Shina Novalinga (@shinanova): An Inuit throat singer who uses her platform to share her culture, experiences, and mental health journey. Firstname Basis
Indigenous Educators (@indigenouseducators): This account shares current events, information, memes, and details about events related to the Indigenous community. Firstname Basis
Decolonial Meme Queens (@decolonialmemequeens): An Instagram account aimed at an Indigenous audience, posting content that addresses the failures of Canada's relationship with Indigenous peoples. Broadview
Michelle Chubb (@indigenous_baddie): A beading artist turned social media star, she educates her audience on moccasins and encourages fellow Indigenous people to reconnect with their culture. Entertainment Tonight
Indi City (@indi_city): A fashion-focused account that blends Indigenous culture with contemporary designs, emphasizing that fashion is more than attire; it’s a narrative. Firstname Basis
A Tribe Called Red (@atribecalledred): A musical group adapting the music and culture of the contemporary pow wow, exemplifying the remixing of tradition at the heart of the current Indigenous resurgence. Wikipedia
Change The Rules: Decolonize Traditions and Practices
Redefine Holiday Celebrations: Shift away from consumer-driven traditions and embrace practices rooted in cultural and ecological sustainability. Crafting gifts from natural materials or sharing handmade items fosters deeper connections while reducing waste.
Engage in Mutual Aid: Organize or participate in community-based support systems to address unmet needs. Hawaiian values of kuleana (responsibility) encourage collective care and reciprocity.
Commit to Decolonizing Practices: Take moments to challenge colonial mindsets and promote Indigenous frameworks.
Indigenous, Black, and frontline communities are standing firm in our resolve to combat harmful false solutions to the climate crisis being advanced by the environmental justice movement, the fossil fuel industry, and neoliberals. False solutions do not combat the climate crisis, but instead kick the can down the road for future generations to deal with. Most egregiously, these false solutions are a form of Green Colonialism, which is anathema to true environmental justice. Environmental justice must center Indigenous rights, sovereignty, Land Back, Free Prior and Informed Consent, and justice on Indigenous lands.
We have witnessed as former allies have sacrificed our lands, communities, and future generations for a symbolic seat at the table, which is a loss for us all. False solutions are nothing more than Green Colonialism in action. We can only stop the climate crisis by tackling its root causes, by centering and following Indigenous leadership, and by implementing Indigenous solutions to put us in right relationship with ʻāina. By understanding Green Colonialism, we can reserve our advocacy and actions for work that moves forward an actual Just Transition rather than promoting false solutions. Most importantly, we can ensure we advance solutions to the climate crisis that uphold the principles of equity, justice, and respect for all communities and ecosystems. Honor the Earth is an Indigenous-led organization fighting to dismantle settler-colonialism, racial capitalism, white supremacy, and imperialism by helping our communities resist exploitation, withstand crises, and prepare future generations of leadership.
A Holiday of Connection and Reflection
Another bonus of holiday time is time off from work. Another offering during the hustle and bustle of holiday preparation may also be to take time to learn more about the history of where you live. Whether you are new to the place or have been there for generations; uncovering the true history of Hawaiʻi and the many powerful stories alive in these lands is always a good thing.
This past year, our staff embarked on a journey to deepen our understanding and connection to the places we call home. It was a beautiful experience, seeing these places through the eyes of those who care for them. We shared presentations about the moʻolelo of our communities, snapshots of what life was like during the Kingdom era, the names of the rains and winds that shape our homes, and so much more.
As advocates, we often focus on what needs to change "out there," constantly pulled by the urgency of our campaigns. We love the work, but it can be easy to lose sight of what it all means to us personally—what protecting home truly represents. When I took the time to research Makiki, I realized how much I still have to learn.
The legend goes that Makiki gets its name from a rock quarry at the back of Mauna Laha, where Hawaiians once harvested stones for octopus lure weights. The Kāʻeleloli rains nourish Makiki Valley, feeding three tributary streams that converge to form Makiki Stream. This water sustained life, irrigating loʻi kalo and fishponds across the Waikīkī Plain before flowing into the ocean as a kahawai at Māmala Bay, where its name changes to Piʻinaio. These waters not only nurtured crops like wetland taro but also sustained daily living.
Today, it’s easy to overlook this history amid the buildings and cars that dominate Makiki. Yet ancient Hawaiians carefully built ʻauwai systems to divert water, ensuring their agricultural success. Understanding this history deepens my appreciation for Makiki's journey—what it was, and what it can become.
Even something as simple as returning the name Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa (Round Top)—“Hill of the Rolling Sweet Potato,” named for its gardens—helps connect us to the land. Stories matter. Moʻolelo are the connective tissue of Hawaiʻi’s history, offering universal insights I crave in an increasingly digitalized world. They remind us where we’ve been and inspire us to shape where we’re going.
Attitude of Gratitude, Always
In conclusion, I have been so deeply grateful for the opportunity to live in Hawaiʻi and do this work. Polynesian and Native Hawaiian values remind us that the holidays can be a time for deep connection, ecological care, and cultural celebration. Learning about concepts like lōkahi (harmony) can inspire balanced and intentional celebrations. By embracing principles like aloha ʻāina, ‘ohana, and lōkahi, we resist the isolating and exploitative tendencies of capitalism and reimagine our traditions in ways that honor both humanity and the natural world. This transformative approach not only uplifts Indigenous knowledge but also creates a more just and regenerative future for all.