The legal career of Harriet Bouslog is marked by three signature engagements, any one of which would serve as the achievement of a lifetime for a lawyer.
In 1946, she undertook the representation of the ILWU in Hawai'i at the behest of the union's founder, Harry Bridges who instructed her as she boarded the plane to Hawai'i to not allow any of its sugar workers to stay in prison for walking the picket line on strike in the pursuit of a living wage. She did not fail in that assignment and for the next 32 years she served as the
In 1946, she undertook the representation of the ILWU in Hawai'i at the behest of the union's founder, Harry Bridges who instructed her as she boarded the plane to Hawai'i to not allow any of its sugar workers to stay in prison for walking the picket line on strike in the pursuit of a living wage. She did not fail in that assignment and for the next 32 years she served as the
ILWU Local 142's general counsel, a period during which Hawaii's working men and women moved from the plantations to the State Capitol.
In August 1951, Harriet Bouslog set out to stop the execution of two young Hawaiian men, James Majors, 21, and John Palakiko, 19. By September 13, 1951, she obtained a stay of execution two minutes before they were to be hung. Six years after that, the death penalty was abolished in Hawai'i.
From 1951 to 1953, Harriet Bouslog represented union organizers prosecuted
In August 1951, Harriet Bouslog set out to stop the execution of two young Hawaiian men, James Majors, 21, and John Palakiko, 19. By September 13, 1951, she obtained a stay of execution two minutes before they were to be hung. Six years after that, the death penalty was abolished in Hawai'i.
From 1951 to 1953, Harriet Bouslog represented union organizers prosecuted
in the Territory of Hawai'i for conspiracy of free speech. to violate the Smith Act. While the case was in progress, she addressed ILWU workers on Hawai'i Island about the case at the workers county meeting. A reporter made notes of her speech and Federal Judge Wigg, upon learning of the reporter's notes, told the Hawai'i Bar Association to investigate and charge her for contempt.
The Territorial Supreme Court made a new ruling forbidding her from interviewing any juror after a trial, and suspended her license for one year, all for exercising her first amendment right
The Territorial Supreme Court made a new ruling forbidding her from interviewing any juror after a trial, and suspended her license for one year, all for exercising her first amendment right
In June 1959, "In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings against Harriet Bouslog Sawyer, Petitioner," 360 U.S. 622,3L.ed.ed 1473,79 S.Ct., the United States Supreme Court ruled in Harriet's favor five to four, thus effectively granting lawyers the right to speak freely about cases of public interest.
Believing that by engaging her on behalf of the working men and women of Hawai'i, the ILWU had made her life meaningful, Harriet Bouslog established the Harriet Bouslog Labor Scholarship -continued on page 7
Believing that by engaging her on behalf of the working men and women of Hawai'i, the ILWU had made her life meaningful, Harriet Bouslog established the Harriet Bouslog Labor Scholarship -continued on page 7
February marks the 11th anniversary Hawaiian Language Month. Mahina Õlelo Hawai'i was signed into law by Governor Neil Abercrombie in 2023.
Mahina 'Ōlelo Hawai'i is the result of a decades-long movement to revitalize the native language of these islands after over a half-century of attempts to erase the Hawaiian language.
Ölelo Hawai'i and the Big 5 The overthrow of the Hawaiian government cleared the way for the sugar planters to expand their land holdings. Immigrant labor was then increased to work the fields. There was much hostility toward the all-white sugar baron oligarchy at the turn of the 20th century by both natives and immigrants. Native Hawaiians were angered at the theft of their lands and government. Immigrants were angered by their unjust treatment on plantations.
Reports sent from the territorial government to the United States Department of Interior in 1903 identified the widespread hostility toward the new ruling employer class among the vast majority of the population. The oligarchy was especially worried about the number of Japanese families in the islands whose children born in the islands would be eligible to vote in one generation. They proposed to focus on assimilating children through the public education system. Three years later, in 1906, the sugar oligarchy implemented the "American Patriotic Exercises" curriculum across the islands in all public schools.
In 1896, Hawaiian language medium schools were defunded. This is often framed in the history books as a "ban" on the Hawaiian language. But in reality, the Hawaiian language was almost lost through a two-pronged system of defunding schools and shaming or physically punishing children in schools when they spoke Hawaiian.
The first generation to be born and
Mahina 'Ōlelo Hawai'i is the result of a decades-long movement to revitalize the native language of these islands after over a half-century of attempts to erase the Hawaiian language.
Ölelo Hawai'i and the Big 5 The overthrow of the Hawaiian government cleared the way for the sugar planters to expand their land holdings. Immigrant labor was then increased to work the fields. There was much hostility toward the all-white sugar baron oligarchy at the turn of the 20th century by both natives and immigrants. Native Hawaiians were angered at the theft of their lands and government. Immigrants were angered by their unjust treatment on plantations.
Reports sent from the territorial government to the United States Department of Interior in 1903 identified the widespread hostility toward the new ruling employer class among the vast majority of the population. The oligarchy was especially worried about the number of Japanese families in the islands whose children born in the islands would be eligible to vote in one generation. They proposed to focus on assimilating children through the public education system. Three years later, in 1906, the sugar oligarchy implemented the "American Patriotic Exercises" curriculum across the islands in all public schools.
In 1896, Hawaiian language medium schools were defunded. This is often framed in the history books as a "ban" on the Hawaiian language. But in reality, the Hawaiian language was almost lost through a two-pronged system of defunding schools and shaming or physically punishing children in schools when they spoke Hawaiian.
The first generation to be born and
raised after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom grew up within this transition, though many still picked up the language. Their children, the "Baby Boomers," were the first generation who grew up with their families and the larger society telling them there was little to no value in the Hawaiian language. The language was almost lost. The Big 5 almost won. Almost.
Revitalization established The 1970s brought a major revival of Hawaiian culture and sparked a movement to restore the Hawaiian language. This movement stemmed from a wave of activism in Hawai'i, beginning with the anti-eviction movement on O'ahu and leading to the Protect Kaho'olawe movement. The Protect Kaho'olawe movement (which the ILWU was quite involved in supporting) made clear that the cultural is political. Especially language.
In the early to mid-1980s, significant steps were taken to revitalize the Hawaiian language. The Punana Leo Hawaiian immersion preschool was established, and the Department of Education implemented the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program. Today, there are thousands of fluent speakers with language programs across the DOE and college campuses. There are ILWU members across industries who send their children to Hawaiian immersion schools.
Continuity on the ocean Language is constantly evolving. One of the places that the Hawaiian language grew, adapted, and continued into the 19th and 20th centuries was alongside the development of a maritime industry in Hawaiian waters and harbors.
Hina Keala is a Master's student in Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. She is from Moloka'i and spent many years involved in the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Her research is on the development of the whaling industry in Hawai'i, but unlike the research before her, she uses 19th-century Hawaiian
Revitalization established The 1970s brought a major revival of Hawaiian culture and sparked a movement to restore the Hawaiian language. This movement stemmed from a wave of activism in Hawai'i, beginning with the anti-eviction movement on O'ahu and leading to the Protect Kaho'olawe movement. The Protect Kaho'olawe movement (which the ILWU was quite involved in supporting) made clear that the cultural is political. Especially language.
In the early to mid-1980s, significant steps were taken to revitalize the Hawaiian language. The Punana Leo Hawaiian immersion preschool was established, and the Department of Education implemented the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program. Today, there are thousands of fluent speakers with language programs across the DOE and college campuses. There are ILWU members across industries who send their children to Hawaiian immersion schools.
Continuity on the ocean Language is constantly evolving. One of the places that the Hawaiian language grew, adapted, and continued into the 19th and 20th centuries was alongside the development of a maritime industry in Hawaiian waters and harbors.
Hina Keala is a Master's student in Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. She is from Moloka'i and spent many years involved in the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Her research is on the development of the whaling industry in Hawai'i, but unlike the research before her, she uses 19th-century Hawaiian
language newspapers and other Hawaiian language sources to track the perspective of the native sailors. She is tracking maritime terms used when the Hawaiian language was the dominant language in Hawai'i.
"It's interesting. Most people associate the term "selamoku" (sela-"sailor"+moku -ship) with sailor. But before that, the term "luina" was dominant, and before that, my favorite, "holokahiki" (holo - to go + kahiki - foreign places)," explained Keala.
"The more I research, the more I understand that maritime is a rich Hawaiian tradition but mostly overlooked in Hawai'i. The cultural roots go back to ancient times, and it's awesome to see how that evolved into an industry during the Hawaiian Kingdom."
But the Hawaiian culture and language in maritime is not just a thing of the past. Kapena Mike Anderson, a 20-year veteran sailor who served as the Regional Director of the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific, shared with The Voice that some Hawaiian terms are still standard in maritime in Hawaiʻi.
"Until today, when a ship pilot is giving directionals to a tug boat, they use directionals like "mauka" and "makai" to help the pilot know where to steer when it's dark out or vision is obstructed by a massive ship. "A'ole" is used when the tugboat pilot may be turning incorrectly. And "Kapena" is still the customary title for captains.
Kapena Ed Enos also spoke with The Voice, sharing further terminology that is used. "It's lessening over time, but not long ago it was common to hear phrases like 'Hemo ke kaula' (loosen the rope) and 'lawa' (that's good, enough, stop there).
Enos explained that English is the industry standard for maritime across the planet. "If I'm talking to a ship in New York, with a Filipino crew and a Korean captain, we're all speaking English, even if some
"It's interesting. Most people associate the term "selamoku" (sela-"sailor"+moku -ship) with sailor. But before that, the term "luina" was dominant, and before that, my favorite, "holokahiki" (holo - to go + kahiki - foreign places)," explained Keala.
"The more I research, the more I understand that maritime is a rich Hawaiian tradition but mostly overlooked in Hawai'i. The cultural roots go back to ancient times, and it's awesome to see how that evolved into an industry during the Hawaiian Kingdom."
But the Hawaiian culture and language in maritime is not just a thing of the past. Kapena Mike Anderson, a 20-year veteran sailor who served as the Regional Director of the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific, shared with The Voice that some Hawaiian terms are still standard in maritime in Hawaiʻi.
"Until today, when a ship pilot is giving directionals to a tug boat, they use directionals like "mauka" and "makai" to help the pilot know where to steer when it's dark out or vision is obstructed by a massive ship. "A'ole" is used when the tugboat pilot may be turning incorrectly. And "Kapena" is still the customary title for captains.
Kapena Ed Enos also spoke with The Voice, sharing further terminology that is used. "It's lessening over time, but not long ago it was common to hear phrases like 'Hemo ke kaula' (loosen the rope) and 'lawa' (that's good, enough, stop there).
Enos explained that English is the industry standard for maritime across the planet. "If I'm talking to a ship in New York, with a Filipino crew and a Korean captain, we're all speaking English, even if some
of us are struggling. It's the language that has been set for common communication in maritime in all waters. Hawai'i is one of the few places on earth where you hear commands and directionals given in another language - a native language - the Hawaiian language. It's pretty neat, and sailors from around the world who frequent Hawaiian waters come to learn and understand the terms, too." Enos shared.
Enos, Anderson, and others are working to revive interest in the maritime industry through the Kanehunamoku program. This program teaches children about the deep oceanfaring traditions in Hawai'i and leads them to learn about the maritime industry. Investing in keiki ensures that these unique aspects of Hawai'i maritime live on while opening access to good-paying jobs for local kids.
The ILWU Local 142 commemorates mahina Ölelo Hawai'i and all of our members who have helped revitalize and perpetuate the language. Below is a list of historical and current Hawaiian language terms used in the maritime industry, shared by Hina Keala, Kapena Ed Enos, and Captain Michael S. Anderson Jr. Mahalo nui for your contributions!
Enos, Anderson, and others are working to revive interest in the maritime industry through the Kanehunamoku program. This program teaches children about the deep oceanfaring traditions in Hawai'i and leads them to learn about the maritime industry. Investing in keiki ensures that these unique aspects of Hawai'i maritime live on while opening access to good-paying jobs for local kids.
The ILWU Local 142 commemorates mahina Ölelo Hawai'i and all of our members who have helped revitalize and perpetuate the language. Below is a list of historical and current Hawaiian language terms used in the maritime industry, shared by Hina Keala, Kapena Ed Enos, and Captain Michael S. Anderson Jr. Mahalo nui for your contributions!