fbpx
facebook app symbol  twitter  linkedin  instagram 1
 

WAIMANALO, Hawai’i—The Independent & Sovereign Nation of Hawai’i and a California tribe have signed a first-of-its kind treaty of peace and perpetual friendship.

At a special ceremony last Friday, leaders of the Nation of Hawai’i and the federally recognized Death Valley Timbisha Shoshone Band of California, known as the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, signed the agreement between the two nations. It is the first such treaty between the Nation of Hawai’i and a federally recognized tribe.     

The treaty marks the beginning of a promising relationship between the two nations and reaffirms their commitment to Aloha, peace, mutual respect, and understanding in fostering a just and prosperous world, according to a Nation of Hawai’i press release. The treaty also establishes a framework for ongoing economic development and trade, cultural exchange and environmental protections.

“We are honored to be able to formalize our friendship with the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe in this way,” Pu‘uhonua D.B.K Kanahele, president of the Nation of Hawai’i, said. “This treaty is a tribute to the strong bond that exists between our nations, and we look forward to continuing to build on this relationship in the years to come.”

Never miss Indian Country’s biggest stories and breaking news. Sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. 

The arrangement between the two nations was facilitated by Bennae Calac, an enrolled member of the Pauma Band of Luiseno Indians and president of Onoo Poo Strategies, LLC in California. The idea was pitched to Calac by Timbisha Shoshone Tribal Chairman Jimmy-John Thompson during a training session in Honolulu. Pu‘uhonua D.B.K Kanahele, the President of the Nation of Hawai’i, is Calac’s relative and delegates from the Nation of Hawai’i were glad to meet with another Tribal Nation when asked.

“These are things that Indigenous people should be doing on our own,” Nation of Hawai’i Vice President Brandon Maka’awa’awa said during the treaty signing ceremony on Friday. “This is sovereignty.”

After the signing between nations, President Kanahele and Chairman Thompson exchanged gifts, hugs, and pledges to support each other’s communities and people.

“This treaty is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to promote peace and understanding among all nations,” Thompson said. “We are pleased to be able to count the Nation of Hawai’i as a close friend and ally, and we look forward to working together to build a better future for all of our peoples.”

The treaty between the sovereign nations is the first between the Nation of Hawai’i and a federally recognized tribe, but it is not the first treaty for the sovereign island nation. Today, the Nation of Hawai'i has ambassadors and representatives working in Malaysia, India, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, and Zanzibar.

"Representatives are working in these nations to help build stronger relationships including signing peace and perpetual friendship treaties like the one we signed with the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe," Maka'awa'awa told Native News Online

“The Hawai’ian kingdom had treaties with more than 30 countries—treaties of peace, friendship, commerce, navigation,” President Kanahele told Native News Online. The treaties followed the passage of Public Law 103-150—known commonly as the Apology Resolution—in 1993 on the 100th anniversary of the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii on January 17,1893.

The law acknowledged the historical significance of the event, which resulted in the suppression of the inherent sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian people. 

The treaty will be ratified by the leadership of both nations in the coming weeks.

More Stories Like This

50 Years of Self-Determination: How a Landmark Act Empowered Tribal Sovereignty and Transformed Federal-Tribal Relations
Navajo Citizens Voice Mixed Reactions to Trump’s Coal Executive Order at Public Hearing
Apache Stronghold Will Petition the U.S. Supreme Court Again on Monday, June 23
California Senate Panel Backs Ramos Bill on Tribal Regalia Rights at Graduation
Janie Simms Hipp Named 2025 Chickasaw Nation Dynamic Woman of the Year

Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions

At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.

The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.

Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.

This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.

We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.

Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.

Levi headshotThe stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.

Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.

Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher

 
 
About The Author
Author: Darren ThompsonEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Darren Thompson (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe) is a staff reporter for Native News Online who is based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Thompson has reported on political unrest, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous issues for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Indian Country Today, Native News Online, Powwows.com and Unicorn Riot. He has contributed to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Voice of America on various Indigenous issues in international conversation. He has a bachelor’s degree in Criminology & Law Studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.