Posted by Pono Kealoha on March 19, 2009 at 8:30am
Hawaiia s diversity applauded at statehood celebration - Hawaii...Hawaii was and is the most "diverse state in the Union, yet a place where racial and ethnic lines are often blurred or deemed irrelevant ."http://www.genocidewatch.org/8stages.htmTHIS PROCESS iS KNOWN AS CULTURECIDE and GENOCIDE aka COLONIALISM " GENOCIDE OF NATIONS and COUNTRIES TO MANIPULATE, CONTROL AND RAPE RESOURCES.Hawaii’s diversity applauded at statehood celebrationBy Pat GeePOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 19, 2009Gov. Linda Lingle called Hawaii's unique racial and cultural diversity one of its most resonant contributions to the world during a celebration yesterday of the signing of the Hawaii Admission Act, which paved the way for statehood 50 years ago.Mixed Feelings On Hawaii Statehood Anniversary50 years ago President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill allowing Hawaii to become a state, some celebrated while some protested.[ Watch ]Lingle addressed a special joint legislative session and an overflow crowd at the state Capitol House Chamber as part of a yearlong commemoration by the Hawaii 50th Anniversary of Statehood Commission. Honorees included a virtual parade of who's who in Hawaii, many of them recognized as the "50 Voices of Statehood," a video anthology created by the commission.President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Admission Act on March 18, 1959, paving the way for Hawaii residents to vote overwhelmingly in favor of the bill June 27. Eisenhower officially proclaimed Hawaii the 50th state on Aug. 21.A group of 30 protesters held its own press conference nearby prior to the Capitol event but did not disrupt the ceremony. The Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance, a coalition of 10 groups organized by Lynette Cruz, opposed the "fraudulence of the history being celebrated at the capitol," a release said.Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and House Speaker Calvin Say joined the governor in applauding Hawaii for being, in Lingle's words, "a place like no other, with a people like no other.""Hawaii was and is in many ways a simple place with complex issues, and in many ways is defined by our contradictions," Lingle said. "We are isolated geographically, yet we serve as a vital bridge between the mainland United States and Asia-Pacific region. ... We are the most diverse state in the Union, yet a place where racial and ethnic lines are often blurred or deemed irrelevant ..."Our differences are our strength and they create the vibrant tapestry of our culture," providing "a model of tolerance ahead of its time," she said.Hawaii has also provided "a model of community" in being able to pull together to meet challenges. Perhaps facing the biggest obstacle since 1959 in the economic crisis today, the entire community will need the same determination and hard work to achieve stability, Lingle added.Cassidy Apo, 11, of Mid-Pacific Institute thought the ceremony "pretty cool." One of the few youngsters to attend the event, she was spending the day with her dad, City Councilman Todd Apo, who represents West Oahu and the Leeward Coast.Cassidy Apo said she wants to be a social studies teacher one day and, after listening to the speeches, found it "amazing" that so much was accomplished in 50 years.She said, "Our best feature is our culture. Hawaii is really unique and we can do a lot to help the nation ... (President Barack) Obama knows Hawaii's problems and can help make it better. He can use the experience he had living in different places to make the nation a better place."Also in attendance were members of the state's first legislature, and living former governors and first ladies.http://www.starbulletin.com/news/hawaiinews/20090319_hawaiis_diversity_applauded_at_statehood_celebration.html
Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lynette Cruz (808) 284-3460 palolo@hawaii.rr.com
50th STATE or HAWAIIAN STATE UNDER OCCUPATION? Demonstration for the History the State Does Not Want Remembered
Honolulu, Hawaii – The Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance (HIAA) is calling a press conference at 11a.m, March 18, in front of the Queen Lili‘uokalani statue between ‘Iolani Palace and the State Capitol. HIAA, comprised of more than 10 different Hawaiian groups, will peacefully draw attention to the wrongs committed against the Hawaiian nation and the fraudulence of the history being celebrated at the capitol.
Statehood is memorialized as a civil rights victory, where Hawai‘i defeated a notion that it was unqualified for statehood because of its largely Asian population and rumors of communism. Lynette Cruz organizer of the demonstration argues, “the human rights violations committed against Hawaiians do not warrant celebration. Why should we commemorate theft?”
Hawai‘i was listed as a Non-Self-Governing-Territory by the United Nations in 1946, and the United States had a “sacred trust” obligation to promote self-determination. In 1953 the U.N. General Assembly passed Resolution 742, which stated that offering “independence,” “separate systems of self-government,” and “Free Association” were factors that would determine “whether a Territory is or is not a Territory whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government.” The federal ballot used in 1959 did not afford the people of Hawai‘i several possibilities besides statehood, and thus violated U.N. Resolution 742.
Furthermore, on January 17th 1948, the 55th anniversary of the overthrow, Alice Kamokila Campbell filed a lawsuit against the Hawaii Statehood Commission in Campbell v. Stainback et. al. Her lawsuit won an injunction against the legislature for using taxpayer money to advertise nationally for statehood, which the Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruled in 1949 “are to the exclusion and detriment of citizens and taxpayers …opposed to statehood for Hawaii.”
Indeed, in 1998, United Nations Special Rapporteur Miguel Martinez, after reviewing the process by which Hawai‘i was made a territory and state of the U.S., recommended that Hawai‘i be placed back on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing-Territories.
In 1988, the Justice Department issued a memo to the State Department stating that the annexation of Hawaii required a two-thirds vote, which never took place.
It is for the benefit of non-natives that we buy the myth of a melting pot because than the ugliness that lies below the surface doesn't have to be acknowledged, nor does the truth need to be told. Yes this whole diversity thing sounds nice but it doesn't address the issue of how the native people today have suffered as a result of the overthrow, annexation, the Territorial years and finally Statehood. Kanaka have been disenfranchised from their land and culture and that is the ugly truth of Statehood that the government won't acknowledge or attempt to rectify. The powers that be stand to loose too much.
Imua. History was made as the jets flew overheard...Mahalo to all the po'e who supported and participated. Mahalo to Pono and the crew for filming too.
Comments
Lynette Cruz
(808) 284-3460
palolo@hawaii.rr.com
50th STATE or HAWAIIAN STATE UNDER OCCUPATION?
Demonstration for the History the State Does Not Want Remembered
Honolulu, Hawaii – The Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance (HIAA) is calling a press conference at 11a.m, March 18, in front of the Queen Lili‘uokalani statue between ‘Iolani Palace and the State Capitol. HIAA, comprised of more than 10 different Hawaiian groups, will peacefully draw attention to the wrongs committed against the Hawaiian nation and the fraudulence of the history being celebrated at the capitol.
Statehood is memorialized as a civil rights victory, where Hawai‘i defeated a notion that it was unqualified for statehood because of its largely Asian population and rumors of communism. Lynette Cruz organizer of the demonstration argues, “the human rights violations committed against Hawaiians do not warrant celebration. Why should we commemorate theft?”
Hawai‘i was listed as a Non-Self-Governing-Territory by the United Nations in 1946, and the United States had a “sacred trust” obligation to promote self-determination. In 1953 the U.N. General Assembly passed Resolution 742, which stated that offering “independence,” “separate systems of self-government,” and “Free Association” were factors that would determine “whether a Territory is or is not a Territory whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government.” The federal ballot used in 1959 did not afford the people of Hawai‘i several possibilities besides statehood, and thus violated U.N. Resolution 742.
Furthermore, on January 17th 1948, the 55th anniversary of the overthrow, Alice Kamokila Campbell filed a lawsuit against the Hawaii Statehood Commission in Campbell v. Stainback et. al. Her lawsuit won an injunction against the legislature for using taxpayer money to advertise nationally for statehood, which the Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruled in 1949 “are to the exclusion and detriment of citizens and taxpayers …opposed to statehood for Hawaii.”
Indeed, in 1998, United Nations Special Rapporteur Miguel Martinez, after reviewing the process by which Hawai‘i was made a territory and state of the U.S., recommended that Hawai‘i be placed back on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing-Territories.
In 1988, the Justice Department issued a memo to the State Department stating that the annexation of Hawaii required a two-thirds vote, which never took place.
For more information visit www.hawaiianindependencealliance.org or call Lynette Cruz at (808) 284-3460.
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