George Helm

George Jarrett Helm, Jr. (March 23, 1950 – disappeared March 7, 1977)[1] was a Native Hawaiian activist and musician from Kalamaʻula, Molokaʻi, Hawaii. He graduated from St. Louis High School on Oʻahu, about which he said, "I came to Honolulu to get educated. Instead I lost my innocence." While at St. Louis, he studied under Hawaiian cultural expert John Keola Lake, and Kahauanu Lake. George achieved mastery in vocal performance and guitar.

For the English cricketer, see George Helm (cricketer).

George Helm
Born(1950-03-23)March 23, 1950
Hawaii
DisappearedMarch 7, 1977 (aged 26)
Known forHawaiian activism and music

Overview

Helm was one of the greatest Hawaiian falsetto vocalists, and played fast, complex guitar parts while singing in an "almost inhuman" vocal range. He was a powerful speaker, writer, and "revolutionary" philosopher who pioneered many Hawaiian sovereignty concepts. He was considered, as his posthumous album title suggests, a "True Hawaiian"[2] who surfed, fished, farmed, loved, sang, worshipped, and thought in the ways of old.[3]

Activism

George Helm began his front-line activism in the Molokaʻi-based group Hui Alaloa around 1975, and became deeply involved in Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana,[4] a Hawaiian-led organization that sought to end the bombing of the island of Kahoʻolawe, a Hawaiian island used as target practice by the U.S. Navy. In 1976, nine activists occupied the island of Kahoʻolawe, Helm among them. He was moved intensely by the power and beauty of the island, and dedicated the rest of his life to fighting for its protection.

Helm, stating "we were touched by some force that pushed us into commitment" (Hawaii Observer, 1976), appealed to the Hawaii State legislature[5] and to the U.S. Congress, where he proved to be a great writer and orator, for Kahoʻolawe's protection. However, the bombing continued. More Kahoʻolawe landings by protesters ensued, and on January 30, 1977 five activists (Helm, Walter Ritte, Richard Sawyer, Charles Warrington, and Francis Kaʻuhane) landed on Kahoʻolawe in an attempt to gain greater public recognition of the struggle. Everyone was arrested except for Ritte and Sawyer, who stayed hidden on the island for 35 days, with very limited food and water.[6]

Disappearance

Concerned for Walter Ritte and Richard Sawyer (bombing protesters who were in hiding on the deserted island of Kahoʻolawe), and beset by vivid dreams and visions, George Helm set out — first by boat, then by surfboard — to Kahoʻolawe, with Maui fisherman and park ranger Kimo Mitchell and water expert Billy Mitchell (unrelated). They reached the island, but Sawyer and Ritte had already been picked up. The next day, the boat belonging to Maxwell Han from Hana that was scheduled to meet Helm, Kimo Mitchell, and Billy Mitchell and return them to Maui was discovered swamped. Apparently someone had removed the plug out of the small Boston Whaler. Inexplicably, the three apparently decided to return to Maui. They had a long board, a short board and a pair of fins between them. The weather was extremely treacherous with high winds, small craft warnings, and pounding waves on the shoreline. On the entry to the water George Helm was injured with a gash to his head. Once they were in the water it was obvious to all of them that the currents and ocean conditions were going to prevent them from reaching Maui. They realized they were in a life-threatening situation. At this point Billy Mitchell took the long board and headed back to Kaho'olawe to get help. It took him a good part of the day to reach the shore and walk across the island to notify the Navy of the situation and to get the Coast Guard involved in a rescue operation. Helm and Kimo Mitchell were last seen near the tiny crescent-shaped islet of Molokini by Billy Mitchell, who was the only survivor of the group.[7]

Legacy

Today, George Helm is hailed as one of the Aloha ʻĀina movement's greatest heroes; among young activists he is as legendary as the great Eddie Aikau is to young surfers.[8] Although his only musical recordings were made with minimal technology in a local bar, they are played regularly on all Hawaiian music stations.[2] Generations later, George Helm's music is still inspirational to many, both because it is considered to be some of the finest examples of Hawaiian falsetto ever created, and because it embodies one of the most powerful expressions of the Hawaiian soul.[9] The popular song, "Hawaiian Soul," by Jon Osorio and Randy Borden, was written in his memory.[10][11]

In 2020, filmmaker ‘Āina Paikai released a 19-minute film, Hawaiian Soul, about Helm's life.[12][13]

Quotes

"We are in a 'revolution of consciousness' .... What we (are) looking for is the truth."[14]

"There is man and there is environment. One does not supersede the other. The breath in man is the breath of Papa. Man is merely the caretaker of the land that maintains his life and nourishes his soul. Therefore, the ʻāina is sacred. The church of life is not in a building, it is the open sky, the surrounding ocean, the beautiful soil...."[15]

See also

References
  1. McKinley, Ryan (May 22, 2007). "The music of George Helm". Ka Leo O Hawaii. Honolulu, HI, USA: University of Hawaii Board of Publications. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  2. "The Music of George Helm - A True Hawaiian". ASIN B003M7J054. OCLC 41616363, 9058443. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  3. "Honolulu Magazine | The HONOLULU 100 - George Helm Jr. to Eddie Kamae". Honolulu. Honolulu, HI, USA: PacificBasin Communications. November 2005. Archived from the original on December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  4. Enomoto, Catherine Kekoa (March 19, 1996). "George Helm's soulful music helped solidify a movement". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu, HI, USA: Oahu Publications Inc., a Subsidiary of Black Press Ltd. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  5. "kahoolawe catalog | 76.78". November 10, 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2012. "kahoolawe catalog | 77.78". November 10, 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2012. Pages 1 & 2 of House Resolution # 493, House of Representatives, Eighth Legislature, 1976, State of Hawaii
  6. Ritte, Jr., Walter; Sawyer, Richard (1978). Na Mana'o Aloha o Kaho'olawe: Hawai'i Warriors Love for Land and Culture. Honolulu, HI, USA: Aloha 'Aina o na Kupuna, Inc. ASIN B0006Y07P8. OCLC 8661294.
  7. Morales, Rodney, ed. (January 1, 1984). HoʻiHoʻi Hou, a tribute to George Helm & Kimo Mitchell. Bamboo Ridge : the Hawaii writers quarterly. 22. Honolulu, HI, USA: Bamboo Ridge Press. ISBN 9780910043083. OCLC 23139318.
  8. TenBruggencate, Jan (March 16, 2008). "Legend of a hero". The Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, HI, USA: Gannett Company. OCLC 8807414. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  9. Vance, Kamuela (March 7, 2011). "George Helm – A Hawaiian Legacy". Kingdom of Hawaii. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  10. "A Place Called Hawaii". Toronto, Ontario, Canada: DownloadCentric Corporation. 10. Hawaiian Soul. ASIN B000078JK4. OCLC 52612749. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2012. Audio sample of song.
  11. Osorio, Jon; Borden, Randy (April 13, 2012). "Hawaiian Soul". HUAPALA: Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives. Retrieved December 8, 2012. Written in honor of George Helm
  12. Fernandez-Akamine, Puanani (March 30, 2020). "Hawaiian Soul". Ka Wai Ola. 37 (4). Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  13. "Hawaiian Soul". Hawaiʻi Iinternational Film Festival. November 5, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  14. Nihipali, Kunani; Pa, Ho'oipo Kalaena'auao; Kanahele, Pu'uhonua "Bumpy" (February 22, 2004). "Commentary: Akaka bill doesn't right wrongs done to Hawaiians". The Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, HI, USA: Gannett Company. OCLC 8807414. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  15. "E pule kâkou. - Let us pray. Nâ Pule Hawai'i - Hawaiian Prayers". Archived from the original on October 26, 2009. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
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