(ABOVE VIDEO) Footage taken by David Lakota documents the events on December 1 at the University of Hawaii’s Hilo campuses. Edited by David Corrigan and voiced by Sherry Bracken.

ABOUT

On Monday, a group of students and activists took down the American flag flying at main entrance of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, instead raising the Hawaiian flag that was beneath it. The action was related to what they say is the continued illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom by the United States. The American flag that was taken down was folded and handed over to university administrators. The group then went over to do the same thing at the flag pole of Hawaii Community College in Hilo. While there, they encountered security.

This video was shot by David Lakota. He and fellow participant Gene Tamashiro spoke on camera afterwards. UH student La’akea Caravalho explained more.

Big Island Video News asked the university for an official response to what occurred. We have yet to receive a statement.

UPDATE – The reasoning behind the action is evident in a letter written by students of the University of Hawaii to faculty and adminstrators, which began by saying the students have found the university has committed war crimes under the illegal occupation, specifically “pillaging” and “Americanization”. The letter relies on evidence presented in the recent “Memorandum for Ka Pouhana, CEO of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs regarding Hawai‘i as an Independent State and the Impact it has on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs” by Dr. Keanu Sai.

After detailing the background of the war crimes accusations, students wrote:

In closing if you are able to refute the evidence in the Memo then assuredly the felonies – war crimes – have not been committed. But if you are not able to refute the evidence, then beginning on November 28, 2014, Hawaiian Independence Day, La Kuokoa, which has been celebrated since 1843, the United States Flag will no longer be raised over the Hawaiian flag from that day forth. We demand that the Hawaiian Flag shall be raised first and be last taken down each day. The occupying United States flag shall be on a separate flag pole of exact same height with the flag flown as well at the same height. If no flag pole is provided for the U.S. flag it shall not be raised until one is provided by the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College at no cost to the students. the none refute of evidence means that all State of Hawaii officials and employees, as well as We / Students are compelled to comply with Hawaii Kingdom Law and the law of occupation. Students of UH-Hilo on November 4, 2014