This blog is about Hawaii's status as an independent country under prolonged illegal occupation by the United States, and the history, culture, law & politics of the islands.
The public is invited to the Big Island premiere of the film, “Ku Kanaka: Stand Tall,” about the late Dr. Kanalu Young and the Hawaiian sovereignty movement.
The free screening is at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Hale ‘Olelo, Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikolani, College of Hawaiian Language, Lumi Pahiahia, University of Hawaii at Hilo.
Young was quadriplegic from a diving accident at the age of 15 who learned to heal from his trauma and became a Hawaiian studies professor at the UH-Manoa. An activist and chanter, Young emerged as a leader in the Native Hawaiian struggle for civil rights and helped his people heal from national injustice and embrace their Hawaiian identity.
The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A. The panel includes:
• Marlene Booth, filmmaker and instructor, Academy for Creative Media at UH-Manoa.
• Pua Mendonca, educator and Young’s friend.
• Shelbi-Ahlan Shimazu, UH-Hilo student.
• Dr. Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwo‘ole Osorio, a Hilo native and professor and interim dean of the Hawai‘inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, UH-Manoa.
Brandon and Bumpy share about their experience with Al Jazeera Plus visiting Puuhonua O Waimanalo and telling the story of the land base of the Nation of Hawaii, and talk about blockchain technology among other topics.
In the first half, Dr. David “Keanu” Sai, who has a Ph.D. in Political Science specializing in Hawaiian Constitutionalism and International Relations, argued that Hawaii is not legally a US State, and it should be considered a sovereign nation, as it was never legally part of the US. “Hawaii,” he mused, “was kidnapped but it was treated like it was adopted.” Since 1843, Hawaii was recognized as an independent state, and had consulates in various locations throughout the US, he noted, but the US sought to gain Hawaii as a military outpost, and a puppet government bypassed the monarchy and signed a treaty with America in 1893.
Later that year, President Cleveland received a diplomatic protest from the head of state of the Hawaiian Kingdom, claiming that US marines had overthrown a neutral government. An investigation was initiated and the Secretary of State at the time, agreed that the US bore responsibility for the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian government, Sai reported. In 1898, an annexation resolution was passed by US Congress to seize Hawaii during the Spanish-American War, and the military never left– there are currently 118 military installations on the islands, he added. Sai has participated in proceedings at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands, which has verified that the Hawaiian Kingdom still exists, and is not a part of the United States.
Issues that Matter recorded on Feb. 1, 2017, welcomes Italian National Dr. Federico Lenzerini and Dr Keanu Sai discussing work at the Permanent Court of Arbitration; International Commission of Inquiry/Larson Case.
