Blog 4: Hiphop Culture in Hawai'i - Koko

Analysis of the Socio-historical contextualization of the emergence of hip hop culture in Hawaiʻi (the 1980s and the early 1990s).

           
“Keep in mind when brothas start flexing the verbal skillz, it always reflects what’s going on politically, socially, and economically.” – Musician Davey D, Hip Hop Journalist



    
          

Hawaiian sovereignty groups began petitioning for Native self-governance and self-determination in Hawai`i in the 1980’s. Emergence of hiphop culture in Hawai’i began around the same time in late 80’s and early 90’s with artists like Sudden Rush who 100 years after the annexation of Hawai’i, on August 12, 1998, played their song Ku’e in front of ‘Iolani palace along with other Hawaiians fighting to get their rightful land back (Imada, 85). The Hawaiian word Ku’e means to resist, oppose, and stand different. This song with strong bass talks of the illegal overthrow of Queen Lili’uokalani by the white missionary descendants on August 12, 1898. 

              Hiphop culture in Hawai’i is extremely important due to the long history of oppression that can be seen still to this day.  Hawaiians are disempowered in their own land only making up 20 percent of its population with the lowest life expectancy, highest cancer mortality rates and incarceration rates, and being the ethnicity that is least likely to complete four years of college (Imada, 88). Their land has not been returned and Hawai’i is still the fiftieth state of United States, meaning Hawai’i is still a stolen land. Sacred Hawaiian land that was ceded to the US government after the 1898 annexation was supposed to be held in trust and used for the benefit of Native Hawaiians but the state has violated this trust by denying the use of these lands to Office of Hawaiian Affairs. People of Hawai’i started to rise and petition and with that came the hiphop culture in Hawai’i. Hiphop gave a voice to the oppressed and strength to stand for what is right. It was much needed in Hawai’i and was found at the right time.

  

          

 Many youths of Hawai’i have gained knowledge of their culture through the emergency of hiphop culture in Hawai’i. Some would have never known the dark history of their stolen ancestral land without the some of the first hiphop artists in Hawai’i like Sudden Rush. Hiphop has always been the voice of the oppressed since the day it emerged from the South Bronx. Hawai’i’s hiphop scene in the late 80’s and 90’s used this voice to bring the local community together and create a powerful, positive change.