Commitment to Racial Justice

AIA Honolulu stands in solidarity with the Black community and the Black Lives Matter movement. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery among countless more Black lives have, once again, uncovered inequities of police brutality and systemic racism in our society that stem from roots in white supremacy. We support the efforts to protest against systemic racism and ongoing threats to Black lives. We were wrong to not speak on these topics openly and explicitly. We acknowledge our comfort in silence and that not looking at these issues head-on is rooted in our own privilege.

Our communities in Hawaii are often regarded as a racial paradise, free from the racism of the United States of America, citing our ethnic diversity as evidence for this claim. However, we know that even in our islands, we see pervasive inequities in our Black, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other communities of color. We see parallels in the struggles of these communities in a shared history of oppression by colonization, the ongoing pandemic of racism, and anti-Blackness.

We often use the “aloha spirit” as a reason to avoid conflict and the discomfort of confrontation, doing a disservice to us all. Let us instead think about true aloha as a commitment to equity and positive change that demands justice for all. We call on our AIA Honolulu community to recognize all of our privileges, internalized racism, and unconscious biases. Our commitment to justice requires a parallel commitment to discomfort and courage as we work together toward a just world.

AIA Honolulu commits to inclusive spaces for conversation and education and to utilize our skills and resources to create true equity. We commit to listen to and amplify the voices of Black leadership and the next generation who have historically led revolutionary movements for a better world.