Vote on new Native Hawaiian constitution might occur in late 2017
STAR-ADVERTISER / DEC. 2015
“As people understand the nuances of the issues and learn that it can improve lives in practical and achievable ways, we are finding support,” said Aha participant Jade Danner.
A plan with a timeline to raise $2 million and bring the newly created Native Hawaiian constitution to a ratification vote by the end of the year might have been a tad ambitious.
Those involved in the effort say the ratification campaign, while still moving forward on a “grass-roots” level, is progressing at a slower pace than some had originally hoped.
The participants in February’s Na‘i Aupuni convention, or aha, say it’s now looking like a vote won’t be held until the latter part of 2017.
The constitution, approved Feb. 26 by an 88-30 vote at the Royal Hawaiian Golf Course in Maunawili, calls for a government led by executive, legislative and judicial branches and representing only descendants of the indigenous people who lived in the islands before 1778, or Western contact.
In the weeks following the convention, it became clear that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs trust fund-supported Na‘i Aupuni nonprofit — hamstrung by a lawsuit accusing it of using public funds for a racially exclusive election — would be unable to underwrite the ratification effort.
So a small group of aha participants, plus former Gov. John Waihee, came together to formulate a pathway to ratification.
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With talk of seizing the momentum created by the historic convention, the group developed a plan for raising $2 million to educate Native Hawaiians about the new constitution, register new voters and stage a ratification vote by the end of the year.
If the document were to be ratified, the funds would also pay for another election to choose officers for the new nation, including a president, vice president and 43 members of a unicameral legislature.
The group figured at least a quarter of the donations would come from small individual donors. The funds would be held in coordination with the Tides, a California foundation dedicated to social change and which has worked with the Protect Kahoolawe ‘Ohana and other Hawaii groups.
Despite the creation of a couple of fundraising and informational websites and the collection of a quick $70,000, there has been little buzz about the effort over the past several months. The silence has left some to speculate that the governing document was doomed to collect dust in the file cabinet of history.
But participants insist they remain committed to seeing the process through.
“The status quo is no longer working for our people,” declared Rebecca Soon, an East Honolulu community and economic development consultant and aha participant.
Soon said the fundraising continues in earnest while a low-key “grass-roots” educational campaign is being carried out by individuals making presentations to civic clubs, community groups, homesteader associations and families and friends.
She said no formal organization is overseeing the ratification campaign — at least not yet.
“So much has to be done before a (voting) date can be set,” she said. “Our goal is as much participation as possible. And the community needs to understand why we recommended what we did.”
Waihee and other participants tied to the fundraising effort could not be reached for comment. While Soon and others said they don’t know the amount of the funds raised so far, Soon said none of the money has been spent.
Aha participant Jade Danner, who was not among the early campaign planners, said grass-roots campaigning is a good thing for becoming connected to the community, but it is ultimately a slower process.
“The message is getting across,” she said. “As people understand the nuances of the issues and learn that it can improve lives in practical and achievable ways, we are finding support.”
Aha participant Zuri Aki said he didn’t think the delay in the vote would cause the effort to lose any steam.
“I think the process to acquire greater political authority and to exercise self-determination and sovereignty has been one that Native Hawaiians have been patiently waiting for for quite some time — and with greater interest than ever before,” he said.
Aki, who is running for a state House seat representing Mililani, said all eyes are focused on the presidential race because the next president will ultimately determine the strategies employed in exercising the right to Native Hawaiian self-determination.
“When the dust settles, I’m certain we’ll see a lot more activity with regard to educational initiatives and campaigns,” he said.
Meanwhile, those opposed to the Native Hawaiian constitution continue to pound away on social media and in a series of community meetings.
The Protest Na‘i Aupuni group and the ‘Aha Aloha ‘Aina coalition claims the constitution is part of a controlled and predetermined effort to meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s proposed rule to set up a federally recognized Native Hawaiian nation.
In doing so, the Hawaiian nation will be reduced to an Indian tribe, members of those groups say, adding that any claims to true sovereignty or to nearly 2 million acres of Hawaiian lands, or ceded lands, will be lost in the process.
They are encouraging people to back out of their Native Hawaiian voter registration or, at the least, vote no in the ratification election.
But Soon and others from the aha insist that the governing document, as written, is open to any path, having been influenced by all different voices at the convention.
They say that if the constitution is ratified, it will be up to the newly elected leaders to decide whether to pursue federal recognition, independence or anything else.
“Ultimately, we all want the same thing: a better quality of life, greater political and economic sovereignty, and control of our resources,” Soon said.
Danner, former majority policy director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs under former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, said the downside to federal recognition is that it’s not the sexiest option.
While those who push independence make promises of greater political and economic control and a better life, the problem is that they can’t deliver, she said.
The campaign’s aloha lahui.com website implores Hawaiians to join hands and help raise a nation by offering a donation, while its sister Hawaiiannation.com website explains the nation- building process and includes a copy of the constitution.
The latter website urges readers to return for more information about what’s next in the ratification effort. But the page has yet to be updated.
Despite few new developments four months after the aha, participant Rowena Akana, an OHA trustee, said she remains optimistic that a ratification vote will be held.
“One hundred thousand- plus people are interested in this. We have an obligation to look for some way to ratify it,” Akana said.
29 responses to “Vote on new Native Hawaiian constitution might occur in late 2017”
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It’s the same old problem, Akana is not a native Hawaiian. She is a trustee of the Hawaiian land trust, that is to say, the state’s land trust which descendants of native Hawaiians are beneficiaries of, through the OHA. The same set up as the ali’i trusts. The same group of the public when set apart from those without that native Hawaiian ancestor of the public is a racial group according to existing federal law as applied in Rice v Cayetano. The same group oppressing the native Hawaiian and obstructing normalization of the relationship set up in 1921 by congress between the federal government and the nearest kinship group, known in the law as small n native Hawaiians. The large N Native Hawaiian is a term introduced by Dan Inouye to increase the number of citizens factored into the funds he diverted from Native Americans to state bureaucrats said to be administering state programs for Hawaiians, or, Native Hawaiians. There were no state programs for native Hawaiians, who are languishing in povery and landlessness as a result of the diversion. Congress knows better and the O administration knows better so this aha is yet another fantasy cooked up as yet another gimmick by the state, exemplified by the Waihees, to keep their seat on the gravy train. The whole scheme is based on unconstitutional language in the Hawaii Admission Act paragraph 5f, which is in the process of being severed as we speak. The state legislature was tricked into supporting this gimmick by the ali’i trusts, who fear normalization of the standard full native american franchise with the actual federally recognized natives in the lead bird position. The hokulea voyage is the PR arm of this diversion and switch of the standard from the 50-100 native to the one drop of blood member of the public. The former is alien to the royalist colonial land trusts so they are trying to convert it to yet another element of Hawaii they control. Then they would be in control of adding Singapore or Macau luxury resort gambling to the little island empire.
Oh well.
Another one of those gimmicks, this time around the fake constitution, and being hooked up with an insider claiming creds by be4ing hooked up with a senator, well, does it add up to reality or does it amount to just another gimmick by one of the insider hustlers trying to get over to feather their own nest by posing as helping the little guy. what’s wrong with reality, Jade. You are lost in the land of gimmicks, our Dem Party;s only policy as its economic policies are stagnant and frozen in the 50s, Dan Inouye style. Just look at the elevated rail fiasco.
I love Hawaiians, although most are more Asian-American or Caucasian than Hawaiian, but, as an indigenous Mandan, I in no way consider them tribal, indigenous or Native Americans. The history is very different. The best thing for Hawaiians to do is to work through the existing state government, which represents all people regardless of race,and to make things better for all. As Hawaiians actually illegally stole their land from the Marquesans who got here first,and then butchered and enslaved them, they have no claims on any resources different from the claims of any citizens.
Quote: “Ultimately, we all want the same thing: a better quality of life, greater political and economic sovereignty, and control of our resources,” Soon said.
The United State of America has given more of these things to Hawaiians than any Hawaiian entity ever has or ever will.
The most encouraging thing in this news report: “… the governing document was doomed to collect dust in the file cabinet of history.”
The unity achieved at the Na’i Aupuni 4-week event was a joining together of those whose main concern is how to protect a plethora of racial entitlement programs (the tribalists, whom I call racial separatists), alongside those who seek the ideal of the Hawaiian islands as an independent nation with racial supremacy for ethnic Hawaiians (whom I call the secessionists). We can have both, they all now agree. And screw everyone else who lacks the magic blood — those foreign settlers (some with 8 generations in Hawaii) can stay here but only under our rulership. We’ll start right now by getting federal recognition of our Hawaiian tribe in order to get legal protection for our racial entitlement programs, and then we’ll build upon our growing wealth and growing political power to demand secession and reparations.
I believe most of Hawaii’s people are opposed to racial entitlements, separatism, and secession. Indeed I believe most ethnic Hawaiians are also opposed to those things, as shown by the fact that fewer than 40,000 out of 580,000 ethnic Hawaiians (likely figure in 2006) actually signed the specific Kana’iolowalu racial registry leading to the Na’i Aupuni gathering, and only about 20% of ethnic Hawaiians ever signed onto any sort of racial registry during the entire 15 year period of Kau Inoa and Kana’iolowalu with expenditure of perhaps $30 Million for lobbying, advertising, and free T-shirts in Hawaii and throughout America.
Remember, here’s the declaration of race-war taken directly from the preamble to the “constitution” of the “Native Hawaiian nation.” This is the outrageous concept that 88 ethnic Hawaiians voted in favor of on February 26, which will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior which will then give federal recognition to the Hawaiian tribe:
“[W]e join together to affirm a government of, by, and for Native Hawaiian people” and “affirm our ancestral rights and Kuleana to all lands, waters, and resources of our islands and surrounding seas.” In other words: We’re gonna take over the whole place and exercise racial supremacy over everyone else.
Lily Dorton (alias Lilikala Kame’eleihiwa) has proclaimed for 25 years her vision for the master-servant relationship she believes ethnic Hawaiians have a god-given right to exercise, after they win the race war now proclaimed in that preamble. In her 1992 book “Native Land and Foreign Desires” she uses the term “foreigner” to refer to anyone who lacks Hawaiian native ancestry; thus, even a Caucasian or Asian person whose family has been born and raised in Hawaii for eight generations spanning perhaps more than 200 years would be called a “foreigner.”
Here’s what Lilikala says, starting at page 325: “Foreigners must learn to behave as guests in our ‘aina and give respect to the Native people. If foreigners cannot find it in their hearts to do this, they should leave Hawaii. If foreigners truly love Hawaiians they must support Hawaiian sovereignty. They must be humble and learn to serve Hawaiians. If foreigners love us and want to support our political movements they must never take leadership roles. Leadership must be left to [ethnic] Hawaiians … Foreigners who love us can donate their land and money into a trust fund for Hawaiian economic self-sufficiency … and the Native initiative for sovereignty.”
Every registered voter, regardless of race, has the right to vote for OHA trustees. The U.S. Supreme Court, in 2000, by vote of 7-2, ruled that OHA is a state government agency and the Constitution says “The right to vote [in a government election] shall not be denied or abridged on account of race” and “Native Hawaiian” is a racial designation. When you get your ballot, you can vote in any contest you see on the ballot, including OHA at-large, OHA Big-Island seat, and OHA Moloka’i seat.
OHA has been the big pusher for 16 years trying to create a Hawaiian tribe and give it federal recognition. There are 4 OHA trustees on the ballot this year. 3 of them have opponents. All three of them deserve to be defeated. PEOPLE OF HAWAII THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET RID OF 3 OHA TRUSTEES WHO HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BREAK APART THE STATE OF HAWAII BY CREATING A HAWAIIAN TRIBE.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and expecting a different result. Dear voters, show that you are not insane. Don’t leave your ballot blank in these contests. Vote for anybody EXCEPT these three trustees.
Trustee at-large Haunani Apoliona has been on the board for 20 years. For about half of that time she was chairperson. She’s a tired old lady who has done nothing at all for the last 4 years. Vote for any of her opponents. The opponent who has the best education and experience running organizations and a record of public service is Dr. Keli’i Akina, president of the Grassroot Institute.
Hawaii-island trustee is Robert Lindsey. Currently chairman of OHA, he suffered a stroke several months ago and has been out sick. Nobody knows whether he can handle the job anymore. Vote for either of his opponents. The one most likely to defeat him is Mililani Trask. Hold your nose and vote for her.
Moloka’i trustee is Collette Machado. Vote for either of her opponents. Don’t let her get 50% of the votes in the primary.
Not a registered voter? This year you can register online from your smartphone or desktop. Takes 5 minutes. Go to
https://olvr.hawaii.gov
Kelii Akina is a republican. Nuff said,he votes trump.
so, you’ve seen his voter registration, or you’re just making stuff up? I don’t care whether Akina is a Republican or whether he’s voting for Trump. What I do care is that he is running against Apoliona, and will bring major changes to OHA. Anyone who doesn’t like the way OHA has been doing things for the last 20 years, vote to dump Apoliona (and Lindsey and Machado)
Oh and their website endorses NRA and the Second Amendment. Like the fujitsu commercial ” we don’t need yaw kind around hea”.
KENNY WOULD GO
Kenny still wants to play the “whose culture and country is more racist” game. This is baffling given the 350 years of white supremacist rule and privilege over all non-European Americans. Today he cherry picks an offensive quote to make his case. So, how about this recent quote from Rick Tyler, pastor, restaurant owner and candidate for US Senate for Tennessee under the slogan ‘Make America White Again’?
Here is Tyler’s statement in full:
< begin quote >
Let me begin by thanking everyone that has gotten involved in the controversy spawned by the “Make America White Again” billboard on Highway 411 in Polk County. I am persuaded that the overwhelming majority of you are sincere and well intentioned. Obviously, there are the “frothing at the mouth lunatics” who react in a completely irrational, emotional, Pavlovian dog fashion. Fortunately, they are a small percentage of the whole—and even they are passionately sincere albeit ignorant, misguided and lacking in self control.
A PREDICTABLE AND DESIRED RESPONSE
Be assured, the response that has been engendered by the billboard is precisely what was expected and hoped for. You see… this is not a mere publicity stunt, but rather a calculated maneuver to dispense hardcore truth while simultaneously doing an end run around the iron curtain of censorship. As Orwell stated, “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” Unfortunately, a globalist cartel has long held power in our nation, and in effect, there has already been a soft revolution wherein lawful constitutional government has been supplanted by a rogue band of oligarchic criminals. Those who seek to set things aright are actually counter-revolutionaries, endeavoring to facilitate the restoration of lawful, constitutional government.
Whether you realize it or not, you are all participating in this counter-revolutionary exercise irrespective of where you stand on the matter!
Indeed, the brainwashing may well be too far advanced, and there may be no chance of restoration, rejuvenation, and revival in our once great nation. Like the watchman spoken of in Ezekiel 33, some of us must sound the warning of the advancing and ominous peril that is encroaching upon our civilization as a whole. Like Nineveh, there could be great repentance and revival in America. If not, we will succumb to the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.
For those who are posturing in a high and mighty stance of ostensible moral superiority, I would caution you against falling into the trap of modernism and the liberal watering down of truth. Your fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers would have been entirely sympathetic and supportive of the preservation of a white super majority in America. They would have been utterly hostile to the concept of the mass nonwhite immigration that has ensued over the past half century. They would have never acquiesced to the schemes of forced racial integration foisted upon the states by a usurpatious federal government. By capitulating on these and other related issues, you are dishonoring your fathers and mothers of old in a flagrant and treacherous violation of the 4th Commandment. In the fulness of time, God will surely hold you accountable for this violation of his sacred law. As Isaiah 5:20 states, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
AM I A RACIST?
The charge of “racism” is the most flagrant and abusive canard of our time. Absurdly, those who bandie about the charge never bother to define its meaning. Is a racist one who harbors antipathy toward someone simply based on their ethnicity? If so only a foolish person would fit such a description. If, on the other hand, we are talking about someone who demonstrates greater affinity for his own racial family (your race is the extension of your biological family) then the charge would be truly preposterous. Ethnocentricity is completely healthy and normal and all races, except the white race, are encouraged to engage in and express it. The glaring double standard is all too obvious.
ABOUT THE BILLBOARD’S MESSAGE
The “Make America White Again” billboard is a takeoff on Donald Trump’s slogan of “Make America Great Again.” In a nutshell, it is stating that the “Leave It to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet, Mayberry” America of old was vastly superior to what we are experiencing today. It was an America where doors were left unlocked, violent crime was a mere fraction of today’s rate of occurrence, there were no car jackings, home invasions, Islamic Mosques or radical Jihadist sleeper cells.
Additionally, government was much smaller, responsible, and accountable to the people. Yes, that Norman Rockwell America was immensely preferable to the rapidly deteriorating culture now engulfing us. Only the ignorant and misguided would resist its restoration and resuscitation. As set forth on the Tyler for Congress website, (www.ricktylerforcongress.com) a moratorium on nonwhite immigration and the abolition of policies that subsidize nonwhite birth rates would be two constructive actions toward beginning the long journey back toward sanity and stability in our beleaguered and foundering nation.
A WHITE SUPER MAJORITY
It is no coincidence that every nation being inundated by the teeming multitudes of the third world is a white nation. It is indisputable that the white race has achieved infinitely more in the way of technology, culture and innovation than the nonwhite civilizations of history.
The racial component of this phenomenon is all-important. In a blind, suicidal manner modern man overlooks this profound truth while plunging headlong toward destruction.
SOUNDING THE CLARION CALL
The Caucasian race has been inordinately blessed and favored by the God of scripture. It was among this people that the new covenant gospel of Jesus Christ took root, blossomed, and flourished. Western Christian civilization evolved in the ensuing centuries leading to the eventual rise of our beloved America of yesteryear. As time progressed however, our nation and people lost their way. America forsook the God of her fathers and turned to the false gods of the heathen world. Now we are a people under divine judgment with a very grim future staring us in the face.
The Tyler for Congress candidacy is a last ditch effort to challenge the descendents of America’s founders to “return to the ancient landmarks.” Scattered throughout the land are the proverbial seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. (I Kings 19:18) The remnant of God may not be large enough to facilitate restoration of that which has been lost… but we will proceed to carry the torch in the hope of miraculous and divine intervention.
The incumbent lawyer and representative of the 3rd Congressional District voted for the 1.1 trillion dollar spending bill in December; which among many nefarious expenditures allocated funding for the importation of 100,000 Syrian refugees, a large number of which are straight off of the Jihadist battlefield. A full-blown Muslim invasion is underway while a criminal, runaway federal government gobbles up what remains of liberty at breathtaking speed.
CONCLUSION
Amazingly, while being oblivious to the aforementioned circumstances plaguing our nation, a substantial number of low information citizens are easily whipped into a frenzy by the mythological enemy of “racism.” Sadly, it never occurs to the reactionary mob that they in fact, are guilty of the grievous sin of rejection of truth. Yet, just as Jesus was able to miraculously give sight to the blind, God is still in the business of peeling the scales off of men’s eyes. Yes, he gives grace to the humble but resisteth the proud. (James 4:6.)
Concerning the hostility emanating from various directions I would say the following:
We believe in Libertarian principles of free speech and freedom of association. All are free to go where they desire as well as refrain from going where they do not want to be. Of course, these same individuals will continue to patronize all manner of franchises and national chains that truly are the embodiment of corruption and exploitation. Yet another example of hypocrisy and double-standards.
Will the Rick Tyler for Congress campaign gain traction and become a force to be reckoned with? Only time will tell. When all is said and done however, the truth will prevail. Of that we can be assured.
< end quote >
Tennessee’s primary is Aug. 4.
If Kenny is really so concerned about fighting racial injustice, shouldn’t he go to Tennessee, or Alabama or Georgia or South Carolina, or many of the other US states with large numbers who support a white supremacist culture? Oh, and then there’s Donald Trump’s racist campaign for POTUS.
The US mainland desperately needs a racial equality freedom fighter like Conklin!
Kenny Would Go…?
Not. He’s too busy bravely standing up to those 6 uppity kids up Kapalama who refused to stand for the anthem of the white supremacist nation that overthrew and colonized their homeland. How brave he is to stand up to tyranny against those diabolical Hawaiians.
Yup,dat about sums it up danno. Book um.
One why Kenny has been determined to fight against hypothetical racism from a proposed Hawaiian nation rather than against the very real, dangerous, violent and historically pervasive white supremacy in the United Atates of America? Could it be because he is white and harbors sentiments similar to Rick Tyler, a man who is determined to fight the growing “tyranny” that threatens the white supremacist “traditions” and “freedoms” his ancestors enjoyed, and whose projected fear and disrespect for non-Europeans forced him to deny his own pathological racism? Why is it that folks like Tyler and Conklin fancy themselves to be crusaders fighting for America’s freedom and liberty when really they are European American men obscenely obsessed with resisting the erosion of white supremacist privilege?
“Wonder why Kenny has been determined to fight against hypothetical racism from a proposed Hawaiian nation rather than against the very real, dangerous, violent and historically pervasive white supremacy in the United Atates of America?”
I’m ready to vote YES. Hurry up, let’s this this ratified and kick start our Hawaiian nation.
Could people be members of this new government entity and members of the existing state and federal government entities? Could a person vote in both and maybe hold an office in both?
an ex post facto scheme pursuant to an adverse supreme court ruling is unlawful. There is nothing stopping anyone who can hustle it, however, from promoting one. Yet when such a scheme matures after being hustled, it can be attacked based upon its illegality, even when it appears to be legit as per media manipulation. Who do you think placed this “news” story in this venue. Interior is on to the scheme. Jade’s sister ran into a problem at the DOI when a DOI inspector general investigated her role in the scheme. Dr Conklin? Educate us on this, please.
Yes, a member of an Indian tribe can be an officer of the tribal government and can vote in tribal elections, while also being an officer of the county, state, or federal government and voting in elections of all those governments too. But it doesn’t work the other way around. Citizens or officers of the federal, state, or county governments are not allowed to be members of a tribe or vote in tribal elections unless they also have Indian blood. In Hawaii someone who has Hawaiian blood gets to sit on both sides of the negotiating table — as a member of the tribe he gets to decide how much stuff to demand from the state; and as a member of the state he gets to decide how much to give to his tribe.
So here’s a tremendous conflict of interest. In Hawaii we actually have a large number of members of the state legislature and the county councils, or who are department heads or who are state or federal judges, who are ethnic Hawaiians. As government officials they are already voting or making decisions for the state or county governments which directly benefit themselves or their families on account of having Hawaiian blood. It’s a huge conflict of interest and is highly unethical.
For a detailed analysis of this issue, see
http://www.angelfire.com/big09a/AkakaHawnConflictRecuse.html
When Honolulu County spent tax dollars to buy Waimea Valley and then turned over the deed to OHA, that directly benefitted people with Hawaiian blood in a way it did not benefit the other 80% of our people. When the state government handed over to OHA the deed to $200 Million worth of land in Kaka’ako, that directly benefitted people with Hawaiian blood in a way it did not benefit the other 80% of our people. Ethnic Hawaiians on the county council or in the state legislature voted in favor of doing those things. Terrible conflict of interest. Highly unethical.
This article mentions that Zuri Aki, who was a delegate to the recent constitutional convention and who actually wrote the proposed constitution for the Hawaiian tribe, is now running as a candidate for the state legislature. Anybody lacking Hawaiian blood who votes for him must be insane, because Aki would work from inside the legislature to undermine the sovereignty of the State of Hawaii and to hand over huge amounts of state land, money, and jurisdictional authority to his tribe to directly benefit himself and his family and all the members of his blood brotherhood.
Good point. When the Nation is reconstituted and recognized, this will need to be addressed and members could be ineligible for state or federal office, as you suggest. At this time it is a non-issue.
This thing wouldn’t die. By hook or by crook, they will push this thing through so that the Native Hawaiian elite can claim millions to put in their own pockets.
To me the most interesting part is the fact that when it comes time to ante up and pay even a little bit of cash to get this project voted on, the coalition of fake Indian tribe supporters and the Kingdom restorationists gets nowhere. It only seems to work when somebody else is footing the bill. Why am I not surprised?
Hawaiians being asked to donate money (or even just their time and labor) will ask: “Heh? Wat kine stuff I going get? Free o wat? No need do notting, eh?”
Holomua! Mahalo nui to the delegates and their many supporters for bringing Hawaiian self-governance this far, please do not give up!
Its- time to revise the document. There are still many concerns and this is a good time for discussion to address these issues. For example here is something in the article…
“In doing so, the Hawaiian nation will be reduced to an Indian tribe, members of those groups say, adding that any claims to true sovereignty or to nearly 2 million acres of Hawaiian lands, or ceded lands, will be lost in the process.”
This should not be a purely legal discussin. That was done at the aha. There should be social as well as cultural considerations
Dan Inouye walked on, Without him pulling the strings in Washington, nothing even resembling a gimmick is going to slide past the watchdogs of slime in congress or the white house. all this is nothing other than detritus of the dan’s fifty years of pulling strings as directed by the ali’i trusts. There are no white or chinese tribes in Indian Country.Race does matter when it comes to law, even in Hawaii. Come on now.
“true” sovereignty is nebulous. We need to accept the current state of our society as well as cultural definitions of sovereignty.
“reduced to an Indian tribe.” I wonder how such a profound statement resonates on the drums of Indian ears?
It’s condescending and insulting to the indigenous peoples of North America. They fought hard, thousands died, defending their `aina, standing for their national sovereignty. We can respectfully decide we do not want to be a government under U.S. jurisdiction, but we are in no position to judge, look down upon or put down the political status of other indigenous peoples. C’mon Hawaiian sovereigntists, get a grip, get off of your condescending high horses. Right now, depending on how you look at it, you are citizen an occupied/colonized etc. country, answerable to the U.S. and its subsidiary state government. You can deny their jurisdictions until the cows come home but run afoul of their laws, and you will end up in their jails. Native American governments run their own legal system with jurisdiction over their own citizens, nothing to look down on, given our current political status.
The state of Hawaii is the problem.