Maui Council supports investigation of executive agreements

From an article in The Maui News

Maui County Council members gave unanimous support Friday for a move in the state Legislature to convene a panel to probe two executive agreements related to the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.

Council Member Elle Cochran, who initiated county support of state House Concurrent Resolution 107, said the council action does not commit it to a position on the matter but does support the intent to gather more information.

The resolution was introduced in the state Legislature by state Rep. Mele Carroll, who represents residents of East Maui, Molokai and Lanai. It would establish “a joint legislative committee to investigate the status of executive agreements known as the Lili’uokalani Assignment and the Agreement of Restoration.”

According to the resolution, one document provided for Queen Lili’uokalani, under protest, to temporarily yield her authority to the government of the United States to avoid bloodshed. A second document, or agreement, provided that Lili’uokalani would provide amnesty to those who overthrew her government.

The resolution says that “President Cleveland and his successors in office have violated these agreements by not administering Hawaiian Kingdom law and not restoring the Hawaiian Kingdom government.”

State House members approved the resolution Thursday.

Maui Council Reso (PDF)