Lesson Plan, Video, Activity A Struggle for Sovereignty: Rice v. Cayetano & the Ongoing Hawaiian EA Movement

This lesson plan examines the history and ongoing impacts of U.S. colonization of Hawai’i through the lens of the Rice v. Cayetano Supreme Court case and Native Hawaiian sovereignty movements. Students explore the U.S. overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, analyze the legal and cultural implications of the court ruling, and connect these themes to broader movements for civil rights and social justice. Through video analysis, guided readings, class discussions, and a final critical essay, students evaluate how colonialism has shaped Native Hawaiian identity, resistance, and legal struggles in the modern era.