Mauna Kea Calling by Allison Milham
“’Mauna Kea Calling’ is a short pamphlet containing an essay written by my mother, Mary Alice Ka'iulani Milham shortly after her move home to Hawai'i in 2015 when she became involved in the struggle to protect Mauna Kea. In this short piece, she speaks to several issues affecting Native Hawaiians as the result of U.S. colonization and militarism in our islands and the devastating effects their presence continues to have on our land and waters. Also included is a brief forward that introduces my mother and her work, as well as a transcription of her testimony given at the Department of Interior hearing, which she references in her essay.
“My mother was a fierce aloha ‘ āina warrior who devoted much of her life to flighting for Hawaiian rights and the protection of our earth. I dedicate this project to her, in honor of our eternal bond and our shared commitment to protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and sacred relationships with āina”
‘āina = land
aloha ‘āina = patriot
Nā ‘Aumākua = Elders
Mauna Kea = White Mountain" - Project Statement, Allison Milham
“’Mauna Kea Calling’ was designed, hand-printed and bound by Allison Leialoha Milham (Morning Hour Press) in the winter of 2021. The type was digitally set in Edita Book and printed letterpress from photopolymer plates on Rives Heavyweight mould made paper. Bound in handmade cotton-rag paper covers. Endsheets are abaca from the Morgan Conservatory, patterned with sumi ink and silver letterpress text featuring my mother's favorite chant, Nā ‘Aumākua." -Colophon
“Translations included in the book are from the online Hawaiian Language dictionary, wehewehe.org. Transcriptions from the thousands of K'naka Maoli who spoke out for their sovereignty at the DOI hearings can be read at doi.gov/Hawaiian/reorg and videos of testimony as well as additional information about the 'Aha can be found on the Facebook page, A'ole DOI Final Rule Testimonials. Keep up with the movement to protect Mauna Kea and Hawaiian rights by following @protectmaunakea and @ainamomona.
“This book was published in a limited edition of 38 copies. The first eight are included as part of the artists' book project ‘Pilina Everlasting’.”
Processes, Dimensions, and Edition Information
Atascadero, California: Allison Milham, 2021. Edition of 38.
6 x 6”; 20 pages. Soft-cover pamphlet binding. Letterpress printing and sumi ink on Reeves Heavyweight paper, abaca from the Morgan Conservatory. Handmade cotton paper covers. Signed and numbered by the artist.