Dear supporters,
I have updated the petition with a further refined flag proposal and corresponding description. The intent is to preserve the often underappreciated, misunderstood, and (surprisingly) non-colonial imagery in the current state flag while incorporating symbolism that explicitly represents the pre-European history and heritage of the islands, done through the vehicle of the richly symbolic Kanaka Maoli symbol. While the Kanaka Maoli symbol is itself representing such things, the flag bearing the same name has created confusion given its false claim to be the original flag of Hawaii, causing some backlash to the symbol because of its association with the flag. This updated proposal attempts to both use the real cultural symbols found in the Kanaka Maoli symbol and preserve the visual and symbolic integrity of the current state flag while distancing this proposal from the "first flag" claims behind the Kanaka Maoli flag. The descriptions and explanations of these elements have also been sharpened and expanded, and a visual presentation has also been added.
If you liked the last version of this petition, you are almost certain to like this version. If you support this petition, I encourage you to share this petition with friends and even lawmakers. Even if this flag does not become the flag of Hawaii, I believe it can become the flag for the people of the Hawaii, as it doesn't just symbolize the islands, but the peoples and cultures that built Hawaii into what it is.
A hui hou,
Maxwell