Native Hawaiian Coalition seeks separation from the U.S.

This article was on the front page of the Garden Island newspaper today. It wasn't posted on their website, but it is mentioned on their home page as being in the Sunday print edition. I think someone keyed it in, and I received it via an email list, so there may be typos. I have posted it in the extended entry.

It covers a meeting of the Native Hawaiian Coalition on Kauai, which has been funded by OHA but is apparently not in support of the Akaka bill, and seems to be more directed toward independence. While I was aware of their meetings previously, this is the first time I have heard of the process of elections and convention that they are proposing, which is outlined in the article. I know some have also criticized them for focusing too exclusively on Native Hawaiians (being their name and all) rather than Hawaiian nationality, which is the same trap of the Akaka bill, and asking at what point will non-aboriginal Hawaiians be able to participate in the process, particularly those who are descended from Hawaiian subjects, which is absolutely necessary if they're really talking about an independent country consistent with Hawaii's history. There's also the whole issue of trying to create a new government and legal order rather than recognizing that the legal order of the Hawaiian kingdom has never ceased to exist and starting from there. Of course it does need to be updated and can eventually be changed into whatever form the national population wants it to be, but it is arguably premature to do that while still under full occupation. Anyway, I support anyone striving for independence, but I also have to point out my questions. Those are my initial reflections upon reading the article, but it is another aspect of the overall "movement" which just shows how vibrant and diverse the whole thing is.

Native Hawaiian Coalition seeks separation from the United States

Garden Island News
July 10, 2005

NUKOLII- Sixty residents, most Hawaiians, were beseeched by leaders of the Native Hawaiian Coalition to help elect leaders of a new government who could some day either support the Akaka bill to recognize Native Hawaiians or the drive for independence.

Meeting at the Radisson Hotel Saturday, the Native Hawaiian Coalition vowed to help with the forming of a new government even as the U.S. Senate prepares to vote on the Akaka Bill which mandates its own government to lead Hawaiians.

The Akaka legislation was originally introduced in 2000 and calls for the federal government to recognize Native Hawaiians in the same way it recognizes Native American Indians and Native Alaskans.

The major difference between the Akaka-mandated government and the coalition-backed government is the former would be "subordinate to the US," said Sharon Pomroy, chairperson of the Kauai hui of the coalition.

The latter would "operate separately from the influence of the U.S.," Pomroy said. She stressed the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaii Monarchy is illegal, and that she would support independence.

She said she would part company with the coalition members if they decided to support the Akaka Bill.

The Kauai hui of the coalition held the meeting at the Raddisson to educate Hawaiians about the organization and its goals.

The group has 20 chapters, located on all the islands, and its key mission is to provide Hawaiians with the way for achieving self-governance through self-determination.

The group is acting as a facilitator only for the election of the leaders of the new government.

Saturday's meeting was that first one held by the coalition on Kauai, and it was historic because it allowed the coalition to get the word out on the island what it is trying to do, said the Rev. Kaleo Patterson, who sescribed himself as a 'convenor' for the group.

Patterson once served as pastor on Kauai and was a key spokesman for the Hawaiians and environmentalists who worked to stop missile launches from dunes at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in the l980's.

Patterson said he is excited about the work that looms ahead for the coalition, and that meeting at the Radisson allows Hawaiians and the public to know "there is an initiative, it's moving forward."

"Here's the history, we want you to support it, and we want you to participate and spread the word," Patterson said. Future coalition meetings are planned for Lanai, Maui and the Big Island.

Hawaiians and supporters of the coalition's work will most likely go door to door to get the word out, and to galvanize the Hawaiian community on Kauai, Patterson said.

The group was formed after a meeting of Hawaiian leaders and groups at the Honolulu Airport in February 2004.

Since then seven meetings have been held, and have been attended by such Hawaiian leaders as Mililani Trask, Trustees with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Bumpy Kanahele and representatives from such Hawaiian groups as Alu Like and the Independent Center for Hawaiian Studies.

All met with the commitment to talk about the process of electing leaders for the new government, "not about forming a nation," Patterson said.

Patterson said the proces for putting the coalition-backed government in place starts with the election, possibly later this year, of six officers and l4 representatitives from the various islands.

The group will become interim leaders of the coalition, Pomroy said.

The group members would focus on laying the foundation of the new government, Patterson said.

The bricks of that foundation deal with organizational structure, resignation [sic?], the election of new leaders, community networking, education and the staging of a convention.

Pomroy said delegates would then be sent to the convention, where a constitution would be drafted.

Ultimately, l00 leaders in the new government would be selected in January 2007, and the constitution would be sent out to Hawaiians across the state for their review and ratification, if it came to that, Pomroy said.

Kawika Cutcher said he would like the coalition to back a policy that would prevent non-Hawaiians from buying land meant for Hawaiians.

Such a policy is needed because non-Hawaiians have bought up chunks of lands on Kauai, displacing Hawaiians, he said.

"A lot of Hawaiians with kuleana lands have been bought up by foreigners," he said. The American system of land use, he contended, "is set up for them to steal from us."

Pomroy said while she supports the idea, she said the coalition is not in a position to take an offical stand on that issue.

She suggested Cutcher become one of the elected delegates to the convention and advance his idea.

Some people like the Michael and Sondra Grace of Anahola, long-time advocates for independence, said they are sticking by thier guns and want the U.S. out of Hawaii.

"The government we need now is the kind that would not accept the Akaka bill," Sondra Grace said. "The Akaka bill wants to make Hawaiians less than sovereign. It is limited sovereignty, and it would be a mess. Just as it is for Native Americans. It has been in the courts forever."

Michael Grace said acceptance of the Akaka Bill would strip him of his identity as a kanaka maoli.

Another audience member said more Hawaiians probably would have attended Saturday's meeting had people understood why OHA funded the meeting and the other seven meetings of the coalition.

Pomroy explained OHA paid out about $80,000 so far to represent the interest of all the Hawaiianans it serves, including those who support independence.

Other key members of the coalition hui on Kauai who attended the meeting were Healani Trembath and Lambery and Cynthia Kaiminaauao.

Posted: Sun - July 10, 2005 at 05:00 PM

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Native Hawaiian Coalition seeks separation from the U.S.

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