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.
Whitewashed press releases, a sinister state bill and a flippant disregard for the rules of the convention
Editor’s note: As one of the 154 kānaka maoli who agreed to participate in the state-sponsored, Naʻi Aupuni-initiated Native Hawaiian ʻAha, Kaʻiulani Milham had a front row seat at the month-long proceedings. What follows is the second installment of a multi-part, first-hand account that highlights various and consistent affronts to democratic processes that ruled during the ʻAha proceedings. Read Part I here.
The vivacious Makalehua group’s “In it to win it” mantra came into play in important ways during the second week of the ʻAha.
But what exactly was the “it” they were in it to win?
Setting up shop in a side room off the main meeting hall, Makalehua members installed a pair of privately-owned printers—Naʻi Aupuni officials neglected to foresee that drafting a constitution would necessitate such things as printers and paper—to produce early drafts of documents and hana ka hana (work the work) of the ʻAha.
In the midst of this hurried activity, Makalehua member Makana Paris, the ʻAha’s vice chair, was overheard whispering that certain participants had been appointed to an ʻAha communications team, which would be in charge of disseminating information about the ʻAha to the public. Having committed to fostering an atmosphere of free prior and informed consent during the nation-building exercise, the fact that the members of this important team seemed to have been decided on without the participation of the plenary was concerning.
Published on Mar 8, 2016
February 1, 2016 at Lyman Museum in Hilo, Dr. Sai lectured on Hawaii’s relationship with the British starting with Captain Cook, through Captain George Vancouver and also Davis & Young
Editor’s note: As one of the 154 kānaka maoli who agreed to participate in the state-sponsored, Naʻi Aupuni-initiated Native Hawaiian ʻAha, Kaʻiulani Milham had a front row seat at the month-long proceedings. What follows is the first installment of a multi-part, first-hand account that highlights various and consistent affronts to democratic processes that ruled during the ʻAha proceedings.
Despite heavy opposition from federal recognition advocates and an agenda deliberately primed to produce a federal recognition-friendly constitution, Hawaiian independence advocates at the Native Hawaiian Convention, better known as the ʻAha, succeeded in planting a stake in the ground for the “pursuit of independence.”
For Jade Danner, a staunch proponent of federal recognition, those three words—hard won additions to the draft constitution’s preamble—were a stake to the heart. According to Katie Kamelamela, one of two appointed sergeants-at-arms during the ʻAha, the words sent her “crying like a little bitch” to the parking lot.
Independence advocates knew the stakes going in.
They knew that independence is an option in diametric opposition to the interests of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and they knew that, after a decade of failure to secure federal recognition through the Akaka Bill, OHA was desperate for a win.
Twice in recent years, at the 1999 ʻAha Hawaiʻi ʻOiwi (AHO) and again at the 2000 Ha Hawaiʻi conventions, OHA had withheld funding after the elected delegates determined to pursue independence.
This video helps to explain the overall situation in regard to Hawaiian National Sovereignty and what Bumpy Kanahele is doing to assist in the integral education process and background of Hawaiian issues.
Bumpy Kanahele says that, “I can not stay with this Aha any longer. It would be a miracle if I ever do step back into that whole thing. That miracle for me would be for that body, and not just half of us, but EVERYBODY to proclaim the restoration of our national sovereignty. That is a term that has been buried just like our issue of the overthrow and stuff for many years. Believe it or not, Article 73 documents on this board here, basically started from Statehood. National Sovereignty was suppressed from that time.”
In 1993 we did not have technology to the extent that we have today. Back then we had to actually READ the actual paperwork and books to know what actually happened and speak with each other face-to-face and look into each other’s hearts and spirits. This is why we are traveling to outer communities and neighbor islands to teach and connect again with people’s hearts as well as their minds.
The main points of a Sovereign Nation has to do with these 4 issues:
1) Political
2) Economic
3) Social
4) Educational
“Whereas, the indigenous Hawaiian people never directly relinquished their claims to their INHERENT SOVEREIGNTY AS A PEOPLE OVER THEIR NATIONAL LANDS
to the United States, either through their monarchy or through a plebiscite or referendum;” — U.S. Public Law 103-150 (29th Whereas Clause)
From the Preamble of the Constitution of the Native Hawaiian Nation: “Honoring all those who have steadfastly upheld the self-determination of our people against adversity and injustice, we join together to affirm a government of, by, and for Native Hawaiian people to perpetuate a Pono government and promote the well-being of our people and the ‘Aina that sustains us. We reaffirm the National Sovereignty of the Nation. We reserve all rights to Sovereignty and Self-determination, including the pursuit of independence. Our highest aspirations are set upon the promise of our unity and this Constitution.”
REFERENCES:
* http://Hawaii-Nation.org/art73.html Article 73
* http://bumpykanahele.com/St_Thomas_Law_Review_1995.pdf
* https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanaiolowalu Act 195
* http://Hawaii-Nation.org/organic.html Act 395, Organic Act
* http://bumpykanahele.com/educational-matrix/
* http://BumpyKanahele.com/legal/legal.htm Legal Foundation
* http://BumpyKanahele.com/apology-law/ U.S. Public Law 103-150
* http://BumpyKanahele.com/bumpy-article/ Life of Resistance
In January, it was announced that Native Hawaiian Ciara Leina’ala Lacy (Kanaka Maoli) became the first recipient of the Merata Mita Fellowship from the Sundance Institute. Named in honor of late Maori filmmaker Merata Mita, the award was created as a way of continuing her legacy by helping indigenous filmmakers. According to the Sundance Institute, the fellowship provides financial support, access to strategic and creative services and mentorship opportunities.
Lacy’s first feature film, Out of State,follows the story of a group of Native Hawaiian prisoners who, after being moved to Saguaro Correctional Center in Arizona, began practicing hula to feel closer to home and connect with their culture. The fellowship will help Lacy and her creative team finish the editing process and complete post-production.
“It’s not a cheap pursuit,” she says. “As an independent filmmaker, my family and I have invested heavily to make sure this project sees completion.”
The Maunawili I Declaration: The United States has permanently Occupied the dominion of the Kingdom of Hawaii in violation of International and United States Law
We, the undersigned declare the following:
“The Kingdom of Hawaii,” is the name of the sovereign independent State which has been under the unlawful and continued occupation of the United States since 1900. Under such occupation, the United States exercises complete police power and control of the Hawaiian Islands.
The Native Hawaiian constitutional convention this afternoon adopted a governing document that will go out to a vote for ratification.
The constitution, approved by an 88 to 30 vote with one abstention, apparently allows room for federal recognition by the U.S. government while holding out for the possibility of independence.
“We reaffirm the National Sovereignty of the Nation,” the preamble says. “We reserve all rights for Sovereignty and self-determination, including the pursuit of independence.”
Under the constitution, citizens of the nation are any descendents of the indigenous people who lived in Hawaii prior to 1778. It also says citizenship in the Native Hawaiian nation shall not affect one’s citizenship in the United States.
The government would be composed of an executive branch — led by a president and vice president and advised by an island council, plus a legislature with 43 members representing the islands and Native Hawaiians, as well as a judicial authority.
Opponents of the four-week-long convention, or aha, claim the event was predetermined to allow for federal recognition, or the nation within a nation model of government.
Surfers from the country of Hawaii dominated the leaderboard Thursday in The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau.
The big-wave surf invitational drew thousands of spectators to Waimea Bay on Oahu’s North Shore.
For casual observers, many of whom were watching a surf contest for the first time, some eyebrows were raised at how the leaderboard explains where each surfer comes from.
Under the category “Country,” six of the top 10 were from Hawaii, one was from the United States, two were from Australia and one was from South Africa.
[…]
In recent years, there’s been a heightened awareness of issues important to Native Hawaiians, including sovereignty, making the leaderboard’s listing of Hawaii as its own country all the more salient.
