I’d like to send this letter by old age home essay Not every state celebrates or even recognizes Columbus Day. Hawaii, Alaska, and South Dakota do not recognize the holiday and have come up with alternate commemorations instead. This comes in part from Native American groups, who describe Columbus as more of an exploiter of their ancestors than an explorer of new lands. Pictured, a Mexican man dressed as an indigenous Indian shouted “Death to Columbus” during a Columbus Day protest in 1995.