*PLEASE READ!! Note for submission:  I strongly encourage anyone who has encounters with Turning Point USA to please share their experiences in their submission so that we have more testimonies to present to the school. Please also share how it makes you feel having them on campus as well. If you're a local or not a student, please share your thoughts as well. 

Turning Point USA is a conservative organization, most well known and associated with Founder, Charlie Kirk. The organization advocates for conservative political beliefs for high school and college students. 

In September the organization turned heads and caught the attention of many, resulting in viral TikToks on the internet and Instagram posts with much scrutiny and backlash from the student crowd as well as locals of Hawaii. 

One individual from TPUSA caught the attention of many students while conducting speech that many deem as “hateful” and “ignorant”. The statements made somewhat of a mockery towards our sacred Hawaiian religion and culture that we protect here in Hawaii. The backlash this individual faced was so severe that they needed to be escorted off the stage by a bodyguard despite no one becoming violent. This shows that Turning Point USA is aware of the harm that they can cause if they feel it is necessary to bring security into their staff on a peaceful college campus. This also shows that students felt the need to stand up for Hawaiian culture and its people, but why should they have to protect it in the first place? Why should they feel threatened on a school campus where they should feel safe and accepted?

As the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is an esteemed school and establishment, we question why the university would allow such hate on the premises. UH is an establishment that should support Kānaka ʻŌiwi beliefs and lives, not make those students feel threatened while on their way to class on a campus that is supposed to support them. UH has such a tie to Hawaiian culture that it is embedded in students curriculums to learn about it, but why would they allow an organization like Turning Point to bash it? In the university's overview of the Strategic Plan's Vision and Values it says that "Mānoa is unique in American higher education, as a flagship university which is also the state’s land-grant university, a world-class international research university in an urban setting, an indigenous-serving institution with one of the most diverse student bodies in the world, including a strong and growing Hawaiian student population". Mānoa and all UH campuses for that matter should be a safe community where all are welcomed with Aloha and respect. Turning Point has accounts of spewing hate speech and misinformation about Kānaka ʻŌiwi and blatantly misuses Freedom of Speech which many found offensive and in distaste. Turning Point USA does NOT align with UH’s values and mission so why would we let an outside organization make UH a hypocritical school? This could damage UH’s credibility and reputation.

Turning Point USA has a series of growing viral videos on social media about their controversial takes and debating with students on campus. Turning Point USA has had a chapter here on Mānoa campus since 2018, and the recent years has caused many backlash. UH news outlets have also covered the events showing both support and discomfort which shows UH as a system is aware of the situation. After their tabling in March 2026 it seems to be that the situation is escalating. Many institutions such as the Southern Poverty Law Center officially added Turning Point USA to their "Hate Map" and other universities such as Loyola University has banned TPUSA from their campuses.  Turning Point has not been a part of University of Hawai'i very long and if they are causing distress to students, why should they stay? Their values do not align with UH, they misuse Free Speech, and they cause distress to the student body. It seems a change needs to be had. The University of Hawai'i represents Hawai'i on a large scale and if they allow the mistreatment and misinformation of Kānaka Maoli to be spread on their campuses, it normalizes the further doing so in the rest of the world to indigenous communities. 

Please consider signing the following petition if Turning Point USA has made you uncomfortable, felt unsafe, aggravated, or impacted your mental health as a way to advocate for our student population. UH should be aware of the presence of these organizations and our reactions to it. This also should show UH that speech like so is offensive to many whether it be native Hawaiians, students, students who are native Hawaiian, local residents, our 'ohana, and our 'ohana around the world who respect the unique Hawai'i we all love and protect. I strongly encourage anyone who has encounters with Turning Point USA to please share their experiences in their submission so that we have more testimonies to present to the school. Please also share how it makes you feel having them on campus as well. If you're a local or not a student, please share your thoughts as well. 

From this petition we ask that the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa explain the approval of Turning Point USA to enter our campus and strongly reconsider their decision to allow an organization that features hate speech onto any UH campus where their presence is distressing to many students and cause harm to our community in Hawai'i as a whole. 

If you have been negatively affected by Turning Point USA or are Kānaka Maoli, please know that there are many who support you, see you, and love you as you are. UHM has CSDC for mental health counseling therapy appointments free for registered students as well as other campuses having their own individual counseling centers. If you or a loved one is in crisis please call or text 988 to receive support.