1978 - Rights of Native Hawaiians— Constitutional amendment recognizes customary and traditional rights of Native Hawaiians.

1978 -  Office of Hawaiian Affairs — Constitutional amendment creates the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to begin to right extensive wrongs suffered by the indigenous people of Hawai‘i and rebuild the Hawaiian nation through a public trust.

1986 -  Aloha Spirit Law —  The Legislature enacts the Aloha Spirit Law, authored by Aunty Pilahi Paki, to preserve the essence of Hawaiian culture, and to set examples for kindness, unity, humility and patience     for the world.   

 1993 -  Apology Resolution — Congress and President Bill Clinton acknowledge the United States’ role in the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i in 1893 and that the Native Hawaiian people have never abandoned claims to sovereignty of their lands; thus, furthering the momentum of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement.

1978       Hawaiian Language— State Constitution recognizes Hawaiian as an official language; today, it is one of two states to give indigenous languages the same status as English (Alaska being the second state).

1986       Hawaiian Studies Program—The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and Hilo offers world-class, innovative programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, in Hawaiian Language to perpetuate the culture and result in fluent Hawaiian language speakers who are committed to- and live- the Hawaiian culture. The Hawaiian Language program also offers certificate programs.

1987       Ka Papahana Kaiapuni— The State Department of Education creates the K-12 Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Hawai'i Language Immersion Program for public and charter schools, complementing the Punana Leo Hawaiian language private preschools, to ensure keiki are raised with ‘Olelo Hawai'i and can teach future generations.  The program has grown from an enrollment of 152 in 1990 to 3,100 in 2017, graduating 21 successive classes of students through 2019.

1997       Ka Haka ‘Ula O Keʻelikōlani— To revitalize Hawaiian language and culture, UH-Hilo establishes the Ka Haka ‘Ula O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, the only school focused on indigenous language at a comprehensive public university. This enables UH-Hilo to provide not only bachelors and masters programs in Hawaiian Studies and language, but a world-leading PhD program that has positioned UH-Hilo as a global leader in indigenous language revitalization efforts for the world.  Ka Haka ‘Ula has also taken on a leadership role in preparing teachers for Hawaiian Immersion schools across the islands.

1997       Ka Huli Ao Center For Excellence In Native Hawaiian Law— The UH Law School establishes an academic center that promotes education, scholarship, community outreach and collaboration on issues of law, culture and justice for Native Hawaiians and other Pacific and Indigenous peoples.

2003       The John A. Burns School of Medicine at UH Mānoa— Establishes the Department of Native Hawaiian Health to develop a comprehensive program to improve the healthcare status of Native Hawaiians, including through the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence and the ʻImi Hoʻōla Program.

2006       ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center— As part of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, ‘Imiloa brings together members of the Hawaiian and astronomy communities to share a common vision for the future, bringing information about cultural and natural history of Maunakea each year to 66,000 students, teachers, local residents and visitors from around the world.

2007       Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge— Starting in 1970 as a     Hawaiian Studies option in Liberal Studies that has grown to the nation’s only indigenous college in a research institution, approved by the Board of Regents in 2007, the school offers bachelors and masters degrees to “pursue, perpetuate, reach and revitalize all areas and forms of Hawaiian knowledge. The college includes Kamakakūokalani Hawaiian Studies Program, Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, Ka Papa Lo‘i O Kānewai Cultural Garden, and Native Hawaiian Student Services. The services program supports an estimated 2,600 Hawaiian students annually, the largest body of indigenous students in any post-secondary educational institution in the world.

1964       Merrie Monarch— The County of Hawai'i establishes the Merrie Monarch Festival to acknowledge Hawai'i’s unique culture and to celebrate hula. Dottie Thompson, Director of Parks and Recreation, was appointed to lead the development of the festival. The Merrie Monarch Festival is now a world-class event showcasing the Hawaiian culture and celebrating hula.

1990       Island Burial Councils— In response to the desecration and disregard of Hawaiian burials, the State Legislature creates the Island Burial Council system to care for ancestral remains of Native Hawaiian burial sites in a respectful and appropriate manner.

1990       Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission— Following bombing and decades of inappropriate land use, the State Legislature establishes the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission to restore native ecosystems and manage the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve in trust, pending a future Native Hawaiian sovereign entity assuming authority. 

2018       Year of the Hawaiian Proclamation— In recognition of the growing renaissance of the Native Hawaiian culture, the Governor proclaimed 2018 as the Year of the Hawaiian. The proclamation asks “the people of the Aloha State to join us in understanding the value of Native Hawaiian cultural practices and recognize the Native Hawaiians for their achievements and contributions.”