There is more than a passing touch of symmetry in Monday’s news release directed at Hawaii from the Clinton for President campaign.
In a direct appeal that shows Hawaii has at least a tiny bit of relevance in presidential politics, Hillary Clinton’s brief note promises new attention toward Native Hawaiian nation-building.
It was 23 years ago that her husband, President Bill Clinton, signed the apology resolution steered through Congress by Hawaii Sens. Daniel Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye.
“The Congress apologizes to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the people of the United States for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii on January 17, 1893 … and the deprivation of the rights of Native Hawaiians to self-determination,” said the resolution.
The resolution then urges the president and Congress “to provide a proper foundation for reconciliation between the United States and the Native Hawaiian people.”
Now comes former Secretary of State Clinton carefully wading into the issue.
Hillary Clinton recognizes that Native Hawaiians are doing something and that if she is elected, she will support something, but that is all.
“I support the Native Hawaiian community’s ongoing work toward self-determination and nationhood, and their recent adoption of a constitution. I commend President Obama’s leadership in working with Native Hawaiians on the opportunity to establish a government-to-government relationship with the United States,” Clinton said.
There is no direct promise that a Clinton presidency will do any more than, as she said “work to break down all of the barriers that hold people back and create ladders of opportunity to help everyone achieve their full potential.”
Asked what he thought it meant, Peter Apo, state Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee, said the Clinton note appeared to be “an oblique indication that if she is president, she will support the strategy of approaching federal recognition by presidential executive order and provide a continuum to Obama’s kick-start.”
On Sunday, Star-Advertiser reporter Tim Hurley explained that the folks running the convention that adopted the constitutional document appear to be continuing their campaign to run the government outside of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that forbid using public funds for a racially exclusive election.
Simply put, the court said that public money cannot go for an election that is limited just to Hawaiian voters.
So now if Native Hawaiian voters are going to be briefed on the proposed new constitution and then hold a ratification election, something besides taxpayer money will have to be used.
Hurley reported that the nonprofit, Na ‘i Aupuni, which has been charged by OHA with running the election, is mulling over raising private money for the election.
The election is needed so that the U.S. Department of Interior will have a document to begin negotiations with the Hawaiians about how the federal government recognizes a Native Hawaiian government.
The danger in all this is that if you think the national GOP is on the verge of civil war, you should tap into the online fights among members of the just-concluded Native Hawaiian convention.
Clinton is smart to be the diplomat, not the activist in the realm of Hawaiian activism.
Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.
