Hawaii, Liko Martin, Laulani Teale
Songwriter activists Liko Martin and Laulani Teale were part of a small but dedicated group of Hawaii independence activists that arrived in Washington D.C. to protest against the " U.S. Illegal Annexation of Hawaii" at a rally at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, and march to the U.S. Capitol on June 17, 2016. On this date in 1897, Hawaii Queen Lili'uokalani filed a formal protest letter against the Illegal Annexation of Hawaiii by the U.S. government (the "Red Ribbon" letter). Her letter was never answered. The activists began the day by refiling Queen Lil''uokalani's protest at the U.S. State Department. Legendary songwriter Liko Martin is known as Hawaii's "Chief Bard of Aloha 'Aina (love for the land)." Martin has been a front-line activist for nearly 50 years as well as the composer of many anthems of this century. (Photo by Jeff Malet)