Hawai'i Area Program

AFSC work in Hawai'i began in 1942 with a program of service to Japanese residents suffering persecution after the Pearl Harbor bombing. Friends' opposition to the Vietnam War led to initiation of the present program in 1968. The Hawai'i Program offers grassroots, social analysis-based economic workshops. Advocacy work is initiated by others and focuses almost exclusively on state public policy affecting "welfare."

AFSC's focus is to assure that state policies bridge work and welfare. In 1996, collaborative work between the STRENGTH Coalition, Honolulu Friends Meeting, and the Committee on Welfare Concerns resulted in state legislation with less negative long-term impact on the poor.



Also, AFSC gained recognition among peers, Department of Human Services, and selected state legislators as a credible advocate. In addition, the program has compiled and distributed packets of information about Hawai'i and provided these through AFSC-sponsored educational workshops.



Demilitarization Program (Honolulu, Hawai'i):

The program examines the political, economic, and social role of the military in Hawai'i and advocates for the return of lands to Hawaiians. There is a unique focus on educating the general public on the extent, costs, and purpose of the military presence in Hawai'i. Actions involve a direct presence on military lands (i.e., picnics, hikes, caravans) and are repeated annually. Deliberate choice for innovative, popular education methods of presentation, making material accessible to the general public.



Accomplishments include coalition with community to successfully halt open burn and open detonation of military waste in Makua Valley, annual car caravan conducting educational programs at military sites, alternative July 4th observance, and picnic at Bellows Beach (Air Force recreation facility); increased discussion of alternative land uses in media and general public, recognition of AFSC as an alternative voice to the military's presence by media and academics. We focus on military destruction of land/environment and percentage of military lands withdrawn from ceded lands trust. AFSC-Hawai'i materials are used by academics, peace, and sovereignty groups.



Same-Gender Marriage Advocacy:

To date the purpose of the program has been to support plaintiffs in a landmark court case challenging State prohibition of same-gender marriage and to participate in legislative hearings on the subject. As a non-Hawaiian/Quaker organization, AFSC has worked with Na Mamo, a local organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Hawaiians, to discuss Hawai'i's tradition of diversity and openness to diverse relationships among Pacific cultures as a value to be perpetuated.



Hawaiian Sovereignty Program (Honolulu, Hawai'i):

AFSC is the first non-Hawaiian organization to take a public stand in support of self-determination. One of a few organizations working as a bridge between non-Hawaiian and kanaka maoli (native Hawaiian) communities through educational workshops, presence and participation in actions, activities, press conferences, called by na kanaka maoli.