No jubilation felt in illegal statehood

The "Jubilee of Statehood," was supposed to be a humdinger of an event. But the mood had changed considerably since 1959, so the state's celebration commission decided to downplay the jubilant part of jubilee.

You see, over the last few decades Hawaiians became increasingly aware that there was something wrong with statehood. The more that was discovered about the shady circumstances that led to statehood, the more statehood looked like a massive con job. The people of Hawaii (and the world, for that matter) were hoodwinked.

The passage of the Apology Resolution in 1993 by Congress and signed by the president, had obvious implications: It confirmed that Hawaii was being unlawfully possessed by the U.S.; that the Kingdom of Hawaii never ceased to be; and that the people of Hawaii had the lawful right (indeed, patriotic duty) to restore their country.

The Republic of Hawaii was unlawful; the annexation of Hawaii by the U.S. was unlawful; the Territory of Hawaii was unlawful; and the State of Hawaii was and is unlawful.

This is radically different from Hawaii being the 50th state. The dilemma for the state is: celebrating the jubilee of a lie.

Oliver Dukelow
Kahakuloa Village, Maui