As images of kūpuna being arrested for protecting Mauna Kea have been displayed all over the world, I’ve watched how those images have affected people differently and spent a good bit of time reflecting. I wanted to share some of my own thoughts and feelings because what I saw and how I feel about the Protectors of Mauna Kea are very much shaped by the history of the greater Micronesian region (particularly Palau) and how it played a major role in my formative years. That same history has impacted my work as an adult and connects #BeingMicronesian with Indigenous struggles going on throughout the world today.
