We've passed through another American anniversary, marking 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Teachers and students took note. Celebrations took, or are taking, place. Families gathered. Fireworks rocketed through the skies. And in Washington, D.C., the federal administration presented "Freedom 250" — marking 250 years of American independence.

For many Americans, this milestone anniversary in the history of the United States of America brings mixed feelings, and that's understandable. Citizens are flooded with information, not all of it factual; the politicking leading up to elections has become astoundingly polarized; and voting itself — the core expression of democracy — has become the focus of political maneuvering and bitter dispute.

In recent years, law that has interpreted the U.S. Constitution for the lifetimes of many citizens has been up-ended by the U.S. Supreme Court: the constitutional right to an abortion contravened in the 2022 decision, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization; restrictions on carrying guns in public stricken down in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, also in 2022; and regulations zapped on discouraging guns on private sites accessed by the public, as historically practiced in Hawaii, killed just days ago in Wolford v. Lopez.

These disruptive phenomena affect Hawaii residents' perceptions of the Constitution, as well as the Declaration of Independence and its legacy, as does Hawaii's unique history as a former Hawaiian kingdom, overthrown by Americans keen to profit from the islands' resources.

And yet.

The Declaration of Independence documents a nation inventing itself, affirming that the 13 American colonies ruled by Great Britain were breaking away to form a new, independent nation. Without question, this has great, global, historical significance.

To recognize July 4 as our nation's "birthday" is an affirmation that throwing off the rule of a distant, exploitative government and assuming independence is a legitimate act. It accepts the thrillingly revolutionary assumption that sovereignty — the capacity for and inherent right to self-govern — and release from the grip of an unjust monarchy, or government, is not only possible, but morally, politically and legally justified.

American democracy establishes sovereignty in its people — "We the People" — placing the power to choose leaders in individuals' hands, in a deliberate ploy to render armed revolution unnecessary, so long as cultivation of an involved, informed and capable citizenry is prioritized. This is an "American experiment," to put it in contemporary terms, because there's no playbook or precedent for developing and maintaining an involved, committed citizenry.

History shows that democracy can be subverted by portraying certain people as less than human, restricted by placing heavy burdens on participation, and weakened by encouraging cynicism and indifference.

Excess focus on race and origin, heavy costs for inclusion as a result of class barriers and underserved "ghettos" — physical, economic and educational — and leaders' inattention to inequality, deprivation and suffering do this, weakening the USA.

Respect for universal human dignity, for the well-being and autonomy of all who reside in this great nation; intolerance for barriers to community and political participation; and unceasing public demand for ethical, humane leadership, whether public or private, are all antidotes. The duty to nurture them belongs to every citizen, and the roots of these necessary national traits trace directly to the Declaration of Independence, with its pronouncement: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Residents of Hawaii can look to the sacrifice, communal effort and accomplishments of islanders to provide inspiration. Americans of Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, Guamanian, Chinese, European and a kaleidoscope of global backgrounds have demonstrated heroic valor and sacrifice in wartime — but also in pursuit of liberty and equality, for fair treatment on the job and access to housing and education. Determination, bravery and dedication to democracy's demand that people work together for common goals are required of each and every one of us.

At , President Donald Trump calls the story of the United States of America "the greatest political journey in human history," with his usual penchant for maximization. In this case, however, he could be right — though proving that true requires extensive exercise of American democratic actions that are inclusive, not exclusive. More must be done, as a people and a nation, to fulfill democracy's promise before it can be proven true.