Kapulani Landgraf: ‘Au‘a | Voices of those who refuse

Since January the installation Kapulani Landgraf: ‘Au‘a has been a cultural touchstone at the museum. The 108 portraits vibrate with stories of resilience, struggle, community, defiance, and aloha. Artist Kapulani Landgraf has been dedicated to fostering dialog around her work, and the eight events—talks, discussions and a workshop with people who appear in ‘Au‘a—held over the last eight months have elicited laughter, tears, passion, and many aha moments. You can see five of them online.  
 
This isn’t the first time ‘Au‘a has been at the museum. A different version was on view here as part of the Honolulu Biennial 2019. On a Sunday morning in March of that year, more than 80 of the 108 people featured in ‘Au‘a came to the museum to see the finished artwork. Landgraf selected subjects she felt have contributed to the community. She photographed each person, then superimposed the words “I am not American” on their larger-than-life portrait. We asked Lynette Cruz and Sparky Rodrigues what they had thought when approached by the artist and what the work means to them. ‘Au‘a is on view through Sept. 29.

Lynette Cruz: It was very liberating

I was surprised to hear that this project was happening and I was at Thomas Square at an event called Lā Ho‘iho‘i Ea. I forgot who approached us but they said, “Hey you guys want to take a photo and say you are not an American? And I think everyone around me said, “Let’s do it,” and so we all trotted up the steps and took photos. I wasn’t alone when I came up, there were five or six people with us. I thought it was progressive and…nobody had ever asked. Because a lot of us are employed by the system, so this is not exactly a popular thing to say, because people are fearful. And yet, the fact that somebody would ask me that question, “Are you an American?,” and for me to be able to say, “I am not”—it was very liberating. I kind of loved the idea of being honest and straight up, and not thinking about the potential impacts of it because at some point in my life I actually had to say my own truth. 
 
Just coming in here this morning overwhelmed me. I actually felt like I am going to cry because all of these faces represent voices. They represent people I have met over the years, and they are where I am and everybody wants to say their truth. And it’s about time. So for me this is a really good and forward thinking and probably controversial topic, but eh, that’s the way it is and history tells us we are moving in that direction. Whether people like it not, whether it is popular or not, it is irrelevant. I can be me. 
 
I am proud to be among so many outspoken, educated, well-respected people in my community. It makes me feel not alone. Because I think for many years I felt like the crazy person in the group, the one who would say stuff that other people found indelicate, so you’ve always got to watch your words, but here in this space, it’s kind of safe, and I really like it. 
  
About the subject
Dr. Lynette Cruz is a retired professor of anthropology at Hawai’i Pacific University (HPU), where she is kupuna-in-residence. When her sister and her family became homeless in the 1980s, her awareness of this issue spurred the woman who thought the only thing she could do was work in fast food to attend college. She is a long-time community organizer and advocate for Hawaiian independence. She was a panelist for the talk Kū I Ka Mana: Caring for Communities on July 28.

Sparky Rodrigues: Admitting the truth

I was a little skeptical, there’s a lot of fear that goes along with stepping up and making that comment. Admitting that as being truth was a challenge, but once it happened, it…was responsible. The kuleana that goes along with it is always present in everything that we do. The militarization here, the way the government is and how the Hawaiians have just been pushed aside and denied access to almost everything and becomes normal, even for us. We tend to say, ‘Oh well,’ and to make the step, you know—‘I am not American—to take that stand is really a challenge. And I think a lot of people that didn’t want to do it was because that line of fear that we face, kept them from taking that step. 
 
When I first saw it, I realized, when we’re doing our individual work sometimes it feels like you’re the only one, very lonely, and a lot of times, especially when you’re in public, making statements, it’s a challenge. But to see everybody here—we’re not alone and even though we only do a small part, the foundation is getting bigger and stronger and deeper and more stable. All of these faces could be replaced with kupuna who were here before us. And that’s a different tribute, because they laid the foundation and their bravery is what set the path for us.  
 
About the subject
With deep roots in Wai‘anae, Sparky Rodrigues has been a key player in the legal fight for the halt of live-fire training in and access to Mākua Valley, which is been occupied by the U.S. military since the 1920s. He is a member of Mālama Mākua, for which he has served as director, president and board member. In 2023, the US military announced it will permanently end live-fire training in Makua Valley. Rodrigues and his late wife Leandra Wai were the honorees at this year’s Lā Ho‘i Ho‘i Ea celebrations at Thomas Square Park. 

September 2024