Contact:
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Leon Siu
(808) 488-4669
leon@hits.net
Honoring Kūpuna Reveals the Annexation Lie
McKinley High School Statue in Error
Honolulu, Hawaii – The Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance (HIAA), consisting of more than ten different Hawaiian groups, will present a “Circle of Witnesses” depiction at 12:00 noon on President’s Day (Feb.
15) at the William McKinley statue in front of McKinley High School.
Feb. 23, 2010 marks the 99th anniversary of the dedication of the statue of William Mckinley on the grounds of the present day McKinley High School. This statue holds in its hand the
so-called Treaty of Annexation annexing Hawaii to the United States.
In 1897, more than 39,000 signatures were collected on two separate petitions reflecting the will of the citizenry of the Hawaiian Kingdom, both native and non-native citizenry, in
opposition to the annexation of Hawaii to the United States. Those petitions were sent to congress
and, as a result, the treaty of annexation being considered in the senate was
defeated. There is no such thing as
a “treaty of annexation” that pertains to Hawaii, despite attempts to rewrite
history. Instead, in 1898 the
United States resorted to the passage of a domestic law called the Newlands
Resolution to illegally annex Hawaii, and celebrated this illegality through the
perpetuation of lies embedded in an educational institution for the past 100+
years.
Over a century has passed, yet the lie continues. The efforts of our Hawaiian ancestors have not been fully appreciated nor recognized by most
people of Hawaii, including those of Hawaiian ancestry. In effect, our ancestors’ efforts have
been nearly forgotten.
On Monday, February 15, on a day set aside to honor American presidents, the Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance will stage a demonstration art project, the first of many, to call
attention to and honor our ancestors who protested the annexation of Hawaii to
the United States. The McKinley
statue, situated on McKinley High School grounds, will be enclosed by a Circle
of Witnesses, representatives of those who signed the ku`e petitions against
annexing Hawaii to the united states.
HIAA wishes to call attention to two significant issues:
1) Our ancestors ensured there was no treaty of annexation by signing petitions in opposition; those petitions were subsequently taken to the Washington DC and
introduced in the US Senate, effectively stopping the treaty from being
adopted
2) McKinley high school, which honors the U.S. president during that time period, continues to this day to teach a history that is incorrect. Public school students at McKinley,
throughout Hawaii and elsewhere deserve to be taught a true and accurate
history.
A press conference will be held at the McKinley statue at noon on Feb. 15. For more information, call Leon Siu at 488-4669.
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Comments
Tony Yardly has more to say, and in all seriousness my Uncle Mel and Randy's Kalahiki Ohana carried my grandparents burden more than those of us who are the great-grands.
My grandparents home on Hollinger Street in Kapahulu was a place of political talk. So was tutu Kaleo's house in Kalihi where maritime was the center of discussion among Captains of vessels, such as Abe Piiania and Orlando Auld.
And my natural dad's side of the family had to battle the missionaries and their need to rip apart Liliu. Sadly, the Mendiola had to deal with FDR from Papakolea DHHL
"Four delegates, James Kaulia, David Kalauokalani, John Richardson, and William Auld, arrived in Washington, DC on December 6 with the 556-page petition in hand. That day, as they met with Queen Lili'uokalani, who was already in Washington lobbying against annexation, the second session of the 55th Congress opened. The delegates and Lili'uokalani planned a strategy to present the petition to the Senate."
Much love and aloha for the experience. I actually was not going to share any of this with the younger generation. It's amazing how receptive they were, I couldn't have asked for a better place to be in space and time. Kaohi
My grandfather Orlando Auld inherited the burden of this petition and so did my grandmother who is a Mitchell. On my dad(s) side was Manumanu (Luukia 'niaupio) and Mediola. Both sets of families and politics merged my mom and dad(s). The Spanish American War, nuclear war, and pre-existing 1778. Yesterday, I was able to merge the Waiolama, and Mahoe--so that the younger generation would be able to pass on the reasons why they are soldiers or warriors in the fields that are laden with poverty and lack of intelligence or ignorant of facts.
Those of us who are wired into the cyber space need to close the gap. Public Broadcast is an important factor to this present problem. NO ONE SHOULD STOP ONE'S VOICE, IT IS NOT ABOUT VENTING--IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION, AND REALISM. FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS SOMETIMES the Only TOOL we have in the field.
To me shutting down ones voice in place of windmills is just too much of a moron and unintelligent. We need to free the voices and allow the younger generation into the movement by encouraging them to speak and say the things that are on their mind, and not let these young people wonder around with no history connections. It's important to keep 'venting' and allow our children to hear their voices from their Na kupuna that were here at the time of 9/11/1897 and putting their lives on a petition. Kaohi