This Beauty Video Gives a Platform to an Important Hawaiian Issue

We've seen Cut Video expand on decades of beauty trends around the world, including The United States, Mexico, and Korea. The most recent installment, which looks to Hawaii for inspiration, is as beautiful as it is informative.

The short clip exemplifies the classic Hawaiian figure — the hula girl — from beginning to end, spotlighting majestic headpieces and traditional dance movements. But it also begs viewers to think more deeply on the evolution of the trends. As we see floral hair accessories disappear, we watch as the appearance of the model becomes more in line with American trends. This is a nod to how Hawaii, once a sovereign nation, became colonized and then recognized as a state.

At the end of the video, the model displays her palms in the shape of a mountain, revealing the words "We Are Mauna Kea." In case you are unfamiliar, this is a reference to the planned construction of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). According to the Huffington Post, the build site for the TMT is dormant volcano Mauna Kea, which is recognized by many Native Hawaiians as the origin of the islands. They believe that the construction of the TMT will desecrate not only a sacred area, but also negatively affect the environment. The situation is a challenging one, as the TMT will also provide much-needed jobs to hundreds of residents. The project has since been temporarily put on hold.

"We end with this gesture — in a montage that includes hula — as a way of honoring a history of movement, gesture, and resilience inscribed on the body," the video's creators explained in a press release. "Our video asks how the Hawai'ian nation and identity persists despite territorial management, and eventually, statehood." Witness the elegance of the past 100 years of Hawaiian beauty, then learn more about the TMT here.