For Paul Neves, the island of Hawaii is much more than leis and Hawaiian T-shirts. It's about preserving his heritage and family - things he said he believes strongly in.

Neves, who is involved in the sovereignty movement to create a separate nation of Hawaii, spoke Tuesday to a group of more than 100 students and faculty.

He talked about the history of the island and how it was discovered and settled, and said the settlement damaged his native culture. Despite that, he said, native Hawaiians are rediscovering their culture.

"From the few of us that are left, we are going to live again," Neves said. "We have to put the pieces of our culture back together, and it's taken us a long time, but sovereignty is freedom."

Hawaiian sovereignty is the belief that the state was once a sovereign nation and should return to being so.

Neves has worked for several organizations that promote Hawaiian sovereignty, such as the Na Koa Ikaika o Ka Lahui Hawaii and the Royal Order of Kamehameha I. He also is president of Pono Kaulike Inc., an organization that helps Hawaiian people.

"If I were to try and separate myself from my culture, I would fail," Neves said of his society and family.

He also teaches in halau, or hula schools, in several places across the country.

During the speech, Neves involved the audience with traditional songs and native dances used when attracting a mate, as well as music on the ukulele. He urged students to come to Hawaii to learn about the culture and the people.

"Hawaii is sold over and over again," Neves said. "Everything is always for sale, and it's been made a mess of for money. Help us to protect it."

Neves also is involved with MSU's Study and Internship program in Hawaii, where he talks to students and teaches traditional dances and culture.

"Our program has been enriched by having Paul involved," said Cyrus Stewart, a criminal justice professor and the coordinator of the Hawaii study abroad program.

Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science senior Molly Messinger, who went on the trip, said the group went to Neves's house and watched traditional dances and ate traditional food.

"We got to see what life is like for native Hawaiians," Messinger said. "We saw what life was like beyond getting a lei at the airport and the Hawaiian T-shirts.

"We got to see the true Hawaiian experience."