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.

By Scott Crawford, Hana, Maui

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DoI to host public hearings on Hawaiian recognition

Article from the Washington Post, “Feds take step toward Native Hawaiian recognition”:

The federal government announced Wednesday it will take a first step toward recognizing and working with a Native Hawaiian government at a time when a growing number of Hawaiians are questioning the legality of the U.S. annexation of Hawaii.

The U.S. Department of the Interior will host a series of public meetings during the next 60 days with Native Hawaiians, other members of the public and Native American tribes in the continental U.S. to discuss the complex issue, Rhea Suh, assistant secretary for policy, management and budget for the department, said during a conference call with reporters.

“This does not mean we are proposing an actual formal policy,” Suh said. “We are simply announcing that we’ll begin to have conversations with all relevant parties to help determine whether we should move forward with this process and if so, how we should do it.”

Update: Below the fold, here’s the full DoI press release, with hearing dates…

Continue reading DoI to host public hearings on Hawaiian recognition

Keanu Sai on ‘First Voices Indigenous Radio’

Dr. Keanu Sai will be John Kane’s guest on “First Voices Indigenous Radio,” from WBAI-FM this Thursday, June 19, 3-4 a.m. Hawai’i Time for the entire hour.

The show will air live. It can be streamed live at www.wbai.org and will be available in the WBAI’s station archives immediately following the broadcast. The show also will be aired by the 45 stations that carry FVIR around the U.S. and Canada and will be available shortly thereafter – in perpetuity – in the show’s archives at www.firstvoicesindigenousradio.org.

Update: The show is now available at WBAI archive to play or download. Later it will be available long-term in the FVIR archive.

Radio Australia interview with Willy Kauai

 Willy Kauai, Hawaiian studies lecturer at UH, interviewed on Radio Australia regarding Crabbe’s letter and the reactions, the role of OHA and Obama’s move towards federal recognition, and the importance of education on the true history of Hawaii. (Kauai’s doctoral dissertation was on dis/continuity of Hawaiian nationality.)

Privatizing ʻĀina: A presentation with Umi Perkins

Privatizing ʻĀina

Umi Perkins, PhD.

Kamehameha Schools Political Science

Windward Community College

June 10, Tuesday, 4:00 pm

Olelo Community Media Center · 1122 Mapunapuna St.

For Hawaiians, ʻāina is kin. For settlers, it is real estate – an asset.

For both it is power.
Umi Perkins’ work looks at the theoretical basis of the land tenure system created in the 1840s and 1850s by Kauʻikeaouli and his inner circle, in particular native tenant rights and their real-world implications today for Hawaiian political revitalization and sovereignty

Fourth in a series of presentations on new research into Hawaiian Kingdom history

Please join us in studio for this presentation

Sponsored by Ka Lei Maile Alii Hawaiian Civic Club, with funding from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Ample parking in the Olelo Community Media Center parking lot and on the street

For more information: palolo@hawaii.rr.com, phone (808) 284-3460

Seating is limited

This event is free and open to the public

Video from OHA’s public hearing on nation-building

Some videos by Pono Kealoha from OHA’s public hearing on Thursday regarding nation-building process.

OHA CEO Crabbe Statement

From OHA’s website:

Statement by Kamana`opono Crabbe, OHA Ka Pouhana and CEO

Reestablishing our Hawaiian nation is perhaps the most important kuleana of hoa kānaka (Hawaiian patriots) living today. This kuleana requires each of us to contribute to rebuilding our nation to better care for our lāhui and pae ‘āina.

The question I posed to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was intended to move the discussion in a positive direction that accounts for the crucial answer to that question.

That question is also related to my belief that OHA must ensure that all paths to rebuilding our nation are explored. Our lāhui should also be given the opportunity to thoroughly understand the implications of the various choices so they can make informed decisions about which path(s) to pursue.

For this reason, I remain committed to OHA organizing a symposium on international redress pathways that may be options for our lāhui to consider. Similarly, I support the U.S. Department of the Interior’s efforts that may open a federal pathway for our lāhui to consider.

He then offers a set of diagrams and says he hopes they help “clarify that we are committed to a process that places decision making with our lāhui.”

DoI proposed rulemaking for Native Hawaiian governing entity

From Hawaii News Now (follow link for video as well as full article):

“The Department of the Interior is considering publishing an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to help determine whether the Department should develop a formal, administrative process to reestablish a government-to-government relationship with a future Native Hawaiian governing entity,” said Jessica Kershaw, press secretary for the US Department of the Interior.

The article follows with expected reactions from those who support or oppose, but the independent position is sourced to the conservative/libertarian so-called Grassroots Institute, which has a convergence of position with some of the independence-minded when it comes to this issue.

But Grassroot Institute of Hawaii president Kelii Akina said it’s unconstitutional.

“The government cannot just create an Indian tribe. And Hawaiians were never an Indian tribe. We were citizens of all races in a constitutional monarchy,” he said.

Washington Times has the full conservative perspective (also with video), and says:

The Interior Department issued a notice of proposed rule-making Friday, before the holiday weekend, to solicit comments on how to “facilitate the re-establishment of a government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community.”

OHA special meeting for public comment on nation-building

From: The Koani Foundation
Date: May 28, 2014 at 6:58:38 PM HST
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will hold a special meeting tomorrow, Thursday, May 29 at 10 AM at their Nimitz headquarters to gather public comment on OHAʻs nation-building efforts — the possible first step in what may lead to a delay in the process.

The idea for the meeting — scheduled for 10 AM in the boardroom of OHA’s Nimitz Highway headquarters — apparently arose May 19 during a closed-door meeting with the OHA trustees and CEO Kama­na‘o­pono Crabbe.

Noho Hewa DVD offer

A good chance for folks to get a copy of this important video to share with family and friends…

 

Limited-Time-Offer-$25-personal-copy

Boyle upcoming book: Free Hawaii!

From: Boyle, Francis A
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2014 1:59 PM
Subject: New book: Free Hawaii! Kanaka Maoli Genocide, Sovereignty, and Independence

Aloha, Dear Friends:

Just to let you know that I recently signed a contract with Clarity Press for my next book:

Free Hawaii!

Kanaka Maoli Genocide, Sovereignty, and Independence

We hope to have it in print by the end of the year.

Francis.