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| The flag of Ka Lahui |
To make a long story short and not to sound like a gossip column, two sisters--Haunani and Mililani Trask--and their supporters who were mostly middle class college degree holding Native Hawaiians-- would form a group called "Ka Lahui Hawai'i" in 1987. They advocated gaining a nation within a nation status for Native Hawaiians similar to what existed for Native Americans. However, on paper they left the option for independence open if the United Nations would re-inscribe Hawai'i as a non-self governing territory. However, in several interviews, leaders of Ka Lahui said that independence was not a viable option because it would be tantamount to "secession". Out of the various groups beginning to emerge in the 1980s, they were no doubt the most organized with a constitution and an "ali'i branch" headed by the "Ali'i nui" Owana Salazar, a high ranking member of the ali'i. It also had a very nice flag and at first appealed to the new radicalized Hawaiian youth because it seemed like a practical way of organizing among other Native Hawaiians.
According to its own literature:
Ka Lahui is a Native initiative - it is something that developed from grassroots Hawaiians. It is based on a democratic constitution, created by Native Hawaiians. Citizenship is open to all Hawaiians and honorary citizenship is offered to non- Hawaiianss. Only full citizens can vote and hold office. The Constitution identifies four branches of govenment: the Executive, the Legislative, the Judiciary and the Ali'i Nui. Leadership is elected by the citizens of the 33 districts statewide where Hawaiians live. Provisions for initiative, referendum and recall are included in the Constitution. Ka Lahui Hawai'i is separate from the state government and controls its own internal affairs. Therefore, Ka Lahui Hawai'i is not subject to state control.1
Now, when you compare that there were people years earlier such as George Helm calling for revolution and student groups making resolutions calling for Hawaian independence, Ka Lahui's raison d'etre seems rather warm and fuzzy. In fact, it was welcomed by Senators Inouye and Akaka as being a democratic initiative--and for a Hawaiian group it was. But looking more carefully at Ka Lahui, one sees:
Replies
The seven sisters by the way was created by Mits Ueyhara, I know cause I was the one he bounced it off. So I am very happy that Ka Lahui followed through with the stars.
All the assertions (crap) said by this author misses the fact that Ka Lahui turned into a general and inclusive group whereas it's origin was native Hawaiians with 50% plus bloodquantum only. Including the less than and the general public was the aim of Ka Lahui.
Ka Lahui tried to bring in the general public as part of the governing entity with a constitution agreement. I opposed this direction because it drowned out the voices of those of us that were still attached to our ancestors land and had transition or connected to department of Hawaiian Homesland and were not ready to shoulder the burden of the general public just yet!. This endeavor started in 1974, but prior to '74 there were many house and community meetings before the incident of George Helm. That incident brought people together as a preventive as well as more losses to our culture. But, with the constitution 1978 convention, the formation of OHA and today's groups--it's all good!