George Jarrett Helm Jr. was a charismatic and gifted Native Hawaiian musician and activist from Molokaʻi, whose life was defined by his deep love for his culture and his unwavering commitment to protecting the land. A talented falsetto singer and philosopher, Helm became a prominent voice during the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s. He was a leading figure in the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana an organization formed to stop the U.S.
Navy's bombing of the sacred island of Kahoʻolawe, which had been used as a training ground since World War II. Helm, along with other activists, participated in a series of occupations of the island to protest its desecration, believing deeply in the spiritual and cultural significance of the land. His powerful oratory and soulful music inspired many to join the cause, transforming the PKO from a small group into a widely respected movement.
In early 1977, concern grew for two fellow activists, Walter Ritte and Richard Sawyer, who had been occupying Kahoʻolawe for an extended period to protest the continued bombing. Driven by a sense of responsibility and brotherhood, Helm, along with park ranger Kimo Mitchell and waterman Billy Mitchell, set out on a perilous journey to the island to check on their friends. They departed from Maui by boat with surfboards as a backup. Unbeknownst to them, Ritte and Sawyer had already been taken into military custody. After reaching the island and finding no trace of their friends, their pre-arranged boat for the return journey failed to appear, later discovered sunk under suspicious circumstances.
Faced with a desperate situation, on a day marked by treacherous weather with high winds and strong ocean currents, the three men decided to paddle back to Maui using two surfboards. Helm reportedly sustained a head injury while entering the turbulent water. Realizing the overwhelming difficulty of the crossing, Billy Mitchell made the difficult decision to turn back to Kahoʻolawe on one of the surfboards to seek help, a journey that took him much of the day. He was the last person to see George Helm and Kimo Mitchell, who continued their struggle against the unforgiving sea, last spotted near the small islet of Molokini. An extensive search by the military and Coast Guard covered thousands of square miles of ocean but found no trace of the two men. Their disappearance is a profound and enduring loss for the Hawaiian community, a tragic end to a journey undertaken out of love and concern for their fellow people and their sacred land.Last Seen: Mar 7, 1977
