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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OHA to move ahead with nation building

Star-Advertiser reports

Native Hawaiian leaders plan to start forming their own new but unrecognized government following the failure of federal legislation to do so.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Haunani Apoliona on Tuesday called for the state-funded agency to sign people up to enroll as participants in the formation of a future Hawaiian government.

A previous effort, called Kau Inoa, gathered 108,000 signatures of people showing interest in a Hawaiian governing entity, but this new process will go a step further by creating the structure of the Hawaiian government.

Eventually, Congress would be asked to recognize the Hawaiian government, granting it a degree of sovereignty to create its own laws and manage its resources.

Native Hawaiians are the last remaining indigenous people in the United States that haven’t been allowed to establish their own government, a right already extended to Alaska Natives and Native American tribes.

Federal recognition for Native Hawaiians, known as the Akaka Bill, hasn’t received a vote in the Senate this year, and it likely will be shelved after newly elected Republicans take office next month.

Study requested for Native Hawaiian government

From the Star-Advertiser

A federal government spending measure pending in the U.S. Senate calls for a study on forming a Native Hawaiian governing entity.

The one-sentence language mandating the study was inserted into a $1.27 trillion appropriations bill that’s expected to be considered this week.

The study’s unspecified cost would be paid by the Department of the Interior.

It would involve community and government groups to recommend a mechanism for the reorganization of a Native Hawaiian governing entity, with recognition of that entity by the United States as an Indian tribe.

Hawaii Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka have said they’re also trying to pass legislation creating a Hawaiian government this year, but time is running out for the bill to be considered.

Update 12/17: Omnibus spending bill is dead, and Akaka bill study funding along with it.

Article “Sai v. Obama, et al: Hawaii’s Legal Case Against the United States”

Check out this good article by Jon Letman in Truthout.org “Sai v. Obama, et al: Hawaii’s Legal Case Against the United States” reviewing Keanu Sai’s legal case against the United States, with some other perspectives on the case and it’s ramifications.

Report of Ku’e Action Protesting Abercrombie’s Inauguration at ‘Iolani Palace

From Leon Siu…

December 6, 2010

Report of Ku’e Action Protesting Abercrombie’s Inauguration at ‘Iolani Palace

The Ku’e Action was fantastic!  At about 9:30 AM our gang processed mauka on Mililani Street sounding the pu and flying hae Hawaii and banners. The procession crossed over King Street and we situated ourselves right at the main gate of the palace. The small side gate was the only point of entrance for the guests and public. About six HPD officers who were standing in the driveway moved aside and eventually disappeared, leaving the front gate for us to occupy.

Continue reading Report of Ku’e Action Protesting Abercrombie’s Inauguration at ‘Iolani Palace

Sai v Obama – Civic Clubs Acknowledging Queen Lili`uokalani’s Agreements

From Keanu re Sai v Obama et al

UPDATE: DECEMBER 2, 2010 — On November 13, 2010, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at their annual convention at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, Island of Hawai`i, unanimously passed Resolution No. 10-15 titled Acknowledging Queen Lili`uokalani’s Agreements with President Grover Cleveland to Execute Hawaiian Law and to Restore the Hawaiian Government. The resolution not only acknowledged the Lili`uokalani assignment and the Agreement of Restoration as binding executive agreements upon the successors in office of President Cleveland, but also acknowledged the federal lawsuit: “WHEREAS, this agreement is called a sole executive agreement under U.S. constitutional law and is the basis of a federal lawsuit in Washingtion, D.C., filed by David Keanu Sai against Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Admiral Robert Willard, and Governor Linda Lingle on June 1, 2010.” The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs was founded in 1918 by Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole and is comprised of a confederation of fifty-eight (58) Hawaiian Civic Clubs located throughout the State of Hawai`i and in the States of Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, Tennessee and Texas.

Aha Kanaka Ku’oko’a in Paukukalo Maui

From a flyer…

Aha Kanaka Ku‘oko‘a
– 2 Day Event –
Come out and Support!

In honor of the birthday of our nation, we will be having a celebration on November 27, 2010
Time: 5:00pm till 10:00pm
With free entertainment and food will be sold.

Please come and join us to review Hawaiian presentations that outline possible processes to eventual independence. Still wondering if Hawaiian independence is possible?  Hawaiian leaders of various groups who believe so, have been invited to share their mana’o with the community at this forum.  Presentations will begin at 10 am and continue throughout the day until 3pm. Rach leader will be given 20 minutes to present.

Date:     November 28, 2010  Sunday
Time:     10:00am to 3:00pm.
Place:    Paukukalo Community Center
Hawaiian Homes Wailuku
* Stew & Rice lunch will be provided to all participants.

New version of Akaka bill introduced

A little slow on this, but article from last week’s Star-Advertiser

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka has introduced a compromise version of a native Hawaiian federal recognition bill and is waiting to hear from Senate leaders whether legislation can move during a lame-duck session before the end of the year.

The version was negotiated between the state’s congressional delegation and Gov. Linda Lingle’s administration in July and has the support of the governor. If Akaka is given time on the Senate floor this year, however, the version would likely be offered as an amendment to an older version of the bill that moved through the committee process.

[…]

Akaka, D-Hawaii, likely needs 60 votes to break Republican procedural opposition in the 100-member Senate. Akaka has been relying on one Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to help him get to 60 votes. Murkowski lost in the GOP primary but has won in the general election as a write-in candidate.

If the bill clears the Senate, it would have to go back to the House for approval, since the House passed a different version of the bill earlier this year.

Clearing both chambers would be difficult given the short amount of time left this year. The bill may have an even more difficult road next year, when Republicans take over the House and increase their ranks in the Senate.

Acts do not make theft of kingdom legal

Dan Taylor has a good letter in the Maui News

When it comes to Hawaii kingdom sovereignty issues, the courts are like a mule with blinders. They are only allowed to see as far as what is legal under the state and federal constitutions. What is blocked from view is the lawfulness of the state of Hawaii and its constitution.

Any actions (the Organic Act and Statehood Act) which are subsequent to an act of fraud (the Newlands Resolution) have no more lawful authority then the initial act of fraud. For instance, if your car is stolen, the theft isn’t made legal by altering the title and doing a paint job before selling it. The fact remains, the car is stolen.

Read the rest…

Ka La Ku’oko’a – Hawaiian Independence Day

In celebration of
LĀ KU‛OKO‛A
Hawai‛i Independence Day

Sunday, November 28, 2010
Ahu at ‛Iolani Palace grounds
Noon – 4 pm

Free parking on the Palace grounds
[no driving or parking on the grass, please!]

Speakers include:

Dr. Niklaus Schweizer
History of Lā Ku‛oko‛a and Its Importance Today

Puuhonua Bumpy Kanahele, Nation of Hawai‛i
Unification Via Participation:  How a Constitutional Convention Can Help Empower All Hawaiians [to be confirmed]

Leon Siu, Foreign Minister, Ke Aupuni o Hawai’i
Unification on the Ground:  Asserting Hawaiian Identity, One Person at a Time

Tom Lenchanko, ‛Aha Kukaniloko
Nā Kūpuna as the Basis of the Lāhui – Moving Forward in Unity

It’s a potluck!
Bring food to share & mats or chairs to sit on

Two activities
Cleaning of the burial mound & an exercise in healing wounds of the past

For more information:
Email palolo @ hawaii.rr.com, or phone 284-3460

Sponsored by:
Ka Lei Maile Ali‛i Hawaiian Civic Club,
Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance,
Ka Pākaukau,
Pro-Kanaka Maoli Independence Working Group, Kōmike Tribunal

Sai v Obama – Spanish Embassy’s Reply

From Keanu re Sai v Obama et al

UPDATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2010 — Plaintiff files Notice of Spanish Embassy’s Reply to Plaintiff’s Letter Apprising the Spanish Ambassador of Plaintiff’s Motion to Supplement the Amended Complaint. On November 3, 2010, Plaintiff sent a letter apprising His Excellency Jorge Dezcallar de Mazarredo, Spanish Ambassador to the United States, of Plaintiff’s Motion to Supplement the Amended Complaint requesting the Court’s permission to add His Excellency as a Defendant. Included with the letter was the 1863 Hawaiian-Spanish Treaty. On November 15, 2010, Camilo Villarino Marzo, Deputy Chief of Mission, on behalf of the Spanish Ambassador, sent a letter to the Plaintiff stating, “We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 3rd, 2010 addressed to the Ambassador of Spain to the United States, and take note of the contents thereof, including your suggestion that we look into the pleadings of the case.” The Notice as well as all court filings, can be downloaded at http://hawaiiankingdom.org/sai-obama.shtml in PDF below under the heading “Court Docket Filings.”