UH Hilo to fly American and Hawaiian flags at equal heights

Hawaii Tribune-Herald covers the decision by UH Hilo to fly U.S. and Hawaiian flag (which has remained virtually the since the kingdom), at equal heights.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo soon will fly the U.S. and Hawaii state flags at equal heights following protests late last year from students and community members.

On Dec. 1, Hawaiian sovereignty activists lowered the American flag on the single pole at the front entrance to the UH-Hilo campus and hoisted the Hawaii state flag that previously flew beneath. They folded the U.S. flag and delivered it to administrators, along with demands that the Hawaii flag be shown preference when the flags are raised.

[…]

Joseph Kaolulo, one of the Hawaiian students involved in the effort to take down the U.S. flag in December, said Tuesday he viewed the decision by UH-Hilo to place the flags on equal footing as an admission of guilt about what he called the United States’ “illegal occupation” of Hawaii.

“By putting two separate poles up, they (UH-Hilo) have recognized us as a nation not conquered,” he said. […]

Kaolulo claims the university committed “educational malpractice” in support of the alleged occupation, “brainwashing our society and our kids,” he said.

He added that, in light of the recent national debate that led to several state and private entities deciding to stop flying the Confederate flag, now is a good time to raise questions.