Begin forwarded message:
From: Leon Siu <leon@hits.net>
Subject: Ke Aupuni Update 11-25-13
Date: November 25, 2013 at 5:59:45 PM HST
Ke Aupuni Update
November 25, 2013
Keeping in touch and updated on activities regarding the restoration of Ke Aupuni o Hawaii, the Hawaiian Kingdom. Ua mau ke ea o ka aina I ka pono.
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• Hawaiian Nationals co-opt Apology 20th Anniversary
On Wednesday, November 20 we sent the following email to editors and TV new directors:
[Are you] planning on doing a feature story on the historic US Public Law 103-150 of 1993 (the Apology Law) in which the US Congress and President Clinton admitted to and apologized for the illegal actions that led to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom?
This Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of its signing and wouldn’t it be appropriate to do a 20-years-after assessment of what effect (if any) the Apology had?
We got immediate responses. They, like everyone else, had completely forgotten about the anniversary, but said they would cover the story. Lo and behold, on November 23rd the Star-Advertiser ran a “front-page, headline-above-the-fold” article titled: “Apology Still Weighs on Activists.” Crews were sent from Hawaii News Now and KITV News to cover the press conference we held at ‘Iolani Palace. For KITV’s story click here. For Pono Kealoha’s YouTube post, click here.
Attachments:
• Pic of Star Advertiser front page
• PDF of the Hawaiian Nationals press release
• PDF of Hawaiian Nationals press statement
There were about a dozen of us present for the press conference which lasted about 30-35 minutes. Those who made statements were: Palani Vaughn, Poka Laenui, Pilipo Souza, Pono Kealoha, Kealii Makekau, Kalani Asam, Robert Quartero and me. Everyone was engaging and expressed personal mana’o about the apology.
After the press left, about 10 more people joined us for kuka kuka. We talked for nearly 2 hours, mostly about moving forward. Everyone felt the conversation was invigorating and very worthwhile and agreed we should do this regularly. Someone suggested every week. We’ll see what can be done…
Considering it was impromptu, the co-opting of the Apology anniversary turned out quite well. The fake State of Hawaii, OHA, et al who were so enamored with the Apology and its spawn: the Akaka Bill, Kau Inoa, Kana’iolowalu, were nowhere to be seen.
Next up…La Ku’oko’a…
• Celebrating La Ku’oko’a – Independence Day
On November 28, 1843 France and Great Britain formally recognized the Sandwich Islands (the Hawaiian Kingdom) as a sovereign, independent nation-state. King Kamehameha III declared the date a national holiday and La Ku’oko’a became the most celebrated holiday in the Kingdom for over 50 years!
That is, until 1895 when the Republic of Hawaii, the puppet government that displaced the Queen and the Hawaiian Kingdom, ordered the American Thanksgiving Day holiday to be celebrated instead of La Lu’oko’a. It so happened that that year, the American Thanksgiving Day fell on November 28, La Ku’oko’a.
Although La Ku’oko’a was recently revived by Hawaiian nationals, like in 1895, this year it falls on the same day as the American Thanksgiving Day. You would think, what an opportunity to reclaim the holiday for the celebration of Hawaiian Independence! But unfortunately, the American Thanksgiving Day has gotten so engrained into our society that even our compatriots who usually plan the La Ku’oko’a celebration event have decided to pass on it this year rather than risk having a poor turnout.
While understandable, it’s sad because it sends the message that the American holiday trumps the Hawaiian one.
But let’s see if we can turn this situation into an opportunity to spread awareness about La Ku’oko’a.
What if we each took a few minutes at our Thanksgiving dinners to point out to our families and friends about the significance of Hawaii’s Independence Day and to say how thankful we are that our country was recognized as a sovereign nation. (And you might add that because of this, the Kingdom is returning). In one day we would effectively reach thousands more of our ‘ohana in the intimacy of our homes with the story of Hawaii’s Independence Day…more than we would have at a big public rally.
Attached is a pdf of a flyer about La Ku’oko’a that you can use to share with your ‘ohana.
Let’s bring back our holiday, La Ku’oko’a, by giving thanks for our Hawai’i nei.
Malama pono,
Leon
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If you would like to kokua, maika’i loa! And Mahalo nui!
Make checks payable to Context Communications and send them to Context Communications, PO Box 23055, Honolulu, Hawaii 96823 or …
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MAHALO NUI!
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