Hawaiian Kingdom Independence Blog

Today marks the 120th anniversary of President Grover Cleveland’s message to Congress regarding the situation in Hawaii.

I highly recommend you take a few minutes and go (re)read it. Not only is it quite informative in understanding the true history of Hawaii and the nefarious nature of the overthrow, but it is remarkably relevant to many of today’s issues and the role the U.S. is still struggling with in terms of obligations abroad, the role of international law, and the proper conduct of powerful nations in relation to weaker ones.

Here’s a couple passages:

By an act of war, committed with the participation of a diplomatic representative of the United States and without authority of Congress, the Government of a feeble but friendly and confiding people has been overthrown. A substantial wrong has thus been done which a due regard for our national character as well as the rights of the injured people requires we should endeavor to repair. The provisional government has not assumed a republican or other constitutional form, but has remained a mere executive council or oligarchy, set up without the assent of the people. It has not sought to find a permanent basis of popular support and has given no evidence of an intention to do so. Indeed, the representatives of that government assert that the people of Hawaii are unfit for popular government and frankly avow that they can be best ruled by arbitrary or despotic power.

The law of nations is founded upon reason and justice, and the rules of conduct governing individual relations between citizens or subjects of a civilized state are equally applicable as between enlightened nations. The considerations that international law is without a court for its enforcement, and that obedience to its commands practically depends upon good faith, instead of upon the mandate of a superior tribunal, only give additional sanction to the law itself and brand any deliberate infraction of it not merely as a wrong but as a disgrace. A man of true honor protects the unwritten word which binds his conscience more scrupulously, if possible, than he does the bond a breach of which subjects him to legal liabilities; and the United States in aiming to maintain itself as one of the most enlightened of nations would do its citizens gross injustice if it applied to its international relations any other than a high standard of honor and morality. On that ground the United States can not properly be put in the position of countenancing a wrong after its commission any more than in that of consenting to it in advance. On that ground it can not allow itself to refuse to redress an injury inflicted through an abuse of power by officers clothed with its authority and wearing its uniform; and on the same ground, if a feeble but friendly state is in danger of being robbed of its independence and its sovereignty by a misuse of the name and power of the United States, the United States can not fail to vindicate its honor and its sense of justice by an earnest effort to make all possible reparation.

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.
———

• 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.

Continue reading Hawaiian Nationals co-opt Apology 20th Anniversary

20 years ago today President Clinton signed the “Apology Bill” (U.S. Public Law 103-150) for the Unites States’ illegal invasion of the internationally recognized Hawaiian Kingdom and overthrow of its lawful government 100 years earlier.

The bill is not entirely accurate. For example, while acknowledging that Hawaii was a fully recognized independent country, in an attempt to define the situation within U.S. domestic laws and “Native American” framework, it offers the apology only to the Native Hawaiian people, when the Kingdom had subjects of all races who were born in Hawaii or naturalized.

But it is nevertheless an important document, and despite being “just a resolution” is still an admission against interest with legal ramifications that is worth re-reading again today, 20 years later.

From: Leon Siu <leon@hits.net>

Subject: Talk-story session at AHCC
Date: November 9, 2013 at 7:24:57 PM HST

PUBLIC EVENT

I will be giving two talk-story briefings on what’s happening in the international arena regarding our assertions of independence. One in Koloa Friday night, November 15; and the other in Lihue, Saturday morning, November 16.

Following the briefing on Friday, November 15, the film Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty will be screened at Koloa Union Church.