Posted by Free Hawai`i on August 6, 2010 at 2:30am
In 1993, the United States admitted in US Public Law 103-150 that it violated its own Constitution, its treaties and international law by perpetrating an outrageous armed theft of theKingdom of Hawai`iand the forced American citizenship of Hawaiian national citizens.
The US recognized in 1894, and again in 1993, that the Kingdom of Hawai`i has a right to exist.
The Hawaiian Nation has a right and obligation to enact and dictate land laws which prevent the selling of its lands to foreign speculators at prices which deny native nationals from living on their own home islands at an affordable price.
The Hawaiian nation has a right and obligation to protect and defend the quality of life, land, water, ocean and air.
The Hawaiian nation has a right and obligation to its citizens to provide the best in education, health care and housing.
We Love Our Nation As You Love Yours - Would You Like It If Your Land Was Stolen?
In politics it appears that timing is everything, except when it's not.
Hawai`i's senior Sen. Dan Inouye knows the legislative calendar better than most. So last year when he started saying now was the time to move the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act—dubbed the Akaka Bill after its sponsor, Sen. Dan Akaka—people were wise to start circling dates on the 2010 calendar.
It now appears that it is time to pull out the White-Out because those circled dates are passing.
The fumbling started when Senate Democrats lost an assured 60-vote majority when Massachusetts voters put Republican Scott Brown in the U.S. Senate.
Even arithmetically challenged reporters know there are 100 senators and a simple majority is 51, so the question is, why does it takes 60 votes to pass most bills in the Senate?
The reason that sloths and glaciers move faster than the U.S. Senate is because any senator can stop any piece of legislation by putting a "hold" on it. To end debate and force a vote, 60 senators must sign on. In its 10-year history, the Akaka Bill has had so many holds placed on it, it must have grown handles by now.
Part of common Hawai`i political folklore is that Dan Akaka is the nation's most beloved senator. Next to him in the pantheon of Hawai`i senators is Inouye, rippling with legislative might as chairman of the Appropriations Committee and bulked up with more seniority than any of the other 99. Regardless, neither has ever been able to get 60 votes to push the bill for a floor vote.
The Akaka Bill is rapidly becoming like the famous Norwegian Blue parrot in the Monty Python comedy sketch.
"He's a stiff! Bereft of life, he's resting in peace ... His metabolic processes are now history! He's off the twig! He's kicked the bucket, he's shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!" says John Cleese.
"No, no, he's not dead, he's, he's resting! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue ..." argues Michael Palin.
Today the Senate is inching toward its August recess. All this year Inouye has predicted the Akaka bill cannot be taken up in the fall because there is too much to do before the November elections.
Now the Senate GOP minority may still be able to block the bill. If Akaka and Inouye try to delay the vote until next year, things will be more difficult because there will likely be more Republicans in both chambers after the election.
Although the Akaka bill would fundamentally change Hawai`i, it is on no one's Washington radar. Only on slow days will conservative alarmists such as Michelle Malkin give it a toss; for the rest, it is a matter of whether Inouye and Akaka can find 60 votes and time in the next two weeks to conclude a decade-long debate.
The Senate is looking at starting the August recess either Aug. 6 or 13. If the bill has not cleared the Senate by then and moved back to the House for a second vote, this exercise may be pau.
Posted by Pono Kealoha on August 4, 2010 at 8:00pm
TIME TO SHARPEN SPEARS AND QUESTIONS !
MililaniTrask and Manu Kaiama will be speaking with Annelle Amaral on the First Friday show this Friday (August 6th) live. Call in with comments or questions.
OLELO program / Oceanic Cable Channel 53 FirstFirst Friday: LIVE 8/6/10(Native Hawn Issues), Length: 0:58 Hosted by Mililani Trask & Manu Kaiama
Guest: Annelle Amaral- Native Hawaiian Liaison to the US Hawaii Army Garrison Commander.
"Live" monthly program of political analysis, commentary & viewer phone-in. Issues absent from mainstream news. "
Per Mililani the phone-in number is announced on the day of the show. Watch the show and call-in your questions or comments.
Annelle Amaral has received a contract (W912CN-08-C-0051) from the Army totaling $742,392.00. Her statement of work says:
"(a) Prepare a written Community Relations Plan (CRP) which shall present aclear, comprehensive and responsive program to present and explain theissues of the presence of the Army in Hawaii to the affectedcommunities, neighborhood boards, special interest groups, resourceagencies at all levels of government, and interested individuals. (b) Represent USAG-HI leadership at community meetings with communitygroups to provide information to community on the Army’s positions,activities, accomplishments as they relate to Native Hawaiian issues andother concerns; (c) Obtain outside points of view, opinions, or advice of notedcommunity leaders, organizations, or experts to avoid too limitedjudgment on critical community and transformations issues, and providefeedback to USAG-HI leadership; (d) Enhance USAG-HI’s understanding of, and develop alternativesolutions to, complex community issues, and provide advice on NativeHawaiian issues and concerns, and propose a way-ahead; (e) Provide training or workshops to USAG-HI or Army personnel on Native Hawaiian issues and concerns. (f) Attend monthly USAG-HI command and staff meetings or special topicplanning meetings. The SP shall attend meetings and serve as thesubject matter expert and provide technical and functional advice andassistance on community support and related special project issues.Meetings will be held on the Islands of Oahu and Hawaii."
Was this a congressional earmark or sole source (no-bid) contract? If so, who directed the earmark?
Where is the community relations plan? What did you advise the Army to do to solve it's problem with the Kanaka Maoli?
Her job is primarily to "fix" the Army's community relations problemwith Kanaka Maoli. One of the tactics has been to organize apro-military Kanaka Maoli front via the "Native Hawaiian Covenant" andthe Makua community leaders helicopter ride and photo op.
These are the same counterinsurgency methods used in Afghanistan andIraq to try to win over a segment of the native population present afig leaf of legitimacy for what is an illegal occupation. As it istrue for people around the world, no amount of community relations canchange the basic historical truths and the material consequences ofimperialism. The Army cannot "P.R." away a peoples' hunger forjustice.
We can expect that the line of discourse will be "can't we all getalong?". "How can we have a win-win situation?" "Can't we havereconciliation?" We can expect that there will be some acknowledgmentof past harm, and an openness to listening and doing things better. Wecan expect appeals to support the troops, our loved ones in the militarywho need to train.
But there cannot be a real reconciliation without sincere and justresolution of the historical wrongs or without addressing the immoralityof the current policies/wars. As long as the military occupieshundreds of thousands of acres of Hawaiian national land and uses theselands to practice invading and waging wars against other countries, howcan anyone seriously believe there can be reconciliation? And thepeople of Hawai'i did not declare a war or launch an invasion of otherpeoples' countries. The way to keep our loved ones safe is by keepingthem out of the war.
In March, Annelle Amaral was quoted on KITV as saying
"The relationship between Native Hawaiians and the military becomes increasingly hostile as the years progress. Enough already. It's timefor us to learn to work on building bridges instead of blowing them up.”
How insulting. The only ones blowing things up is the military. Is themilitary "building bridges" by continuing destruction of sacred sites onland that was stolen from the Hawaiian Kingdom? They have guns andbombs and billions of dollars; the people have our voices, our minds andour spirits. Shame on Ms. Amaral for belittling the efforts andrighteous anger of those who rise up in defense of Hawaiian land,culture and human rights. Shame on those who excuse the destruction anddesecration of the sacred places turn their backs on the ancestors whoare being desecrated by the war games of the military.
Posted by Pono Kealoha on August 4, 2010 at 7:30am
The Army is systematically erasing the history and sacred places in Lihu'e, Kahuku, Pohakuloa and the other areas impacted by its Stryker Brigade expansion. The report by an independent archaeologist blasts the Army for numerous violations and failings and calls for protection of the vast and important cultural site complex in Lihu'e, O'ahu, once the ancient seat of government for O'ahu chiefs. Meanwhile OHA sat on this urgent information.http://thehawaiiindependent.com/story/oha-stryker/OHA ‘drops the ball’ in protecting cultural sites from Stryker brigade
The U.S. Army's 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division conducts limited training exercises using Stryker vehicles in Hawaii. Above: An M1126 Stryker vehicle and squad in Iraq. Below: A Stryker vehicle crew belonging to the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, fires a TOW missile during the brigade's rotation through Fort Polk's Joint Readiness Training Center.
HONOLULU—Cultural sites that were supposed to have been protected from military vehicles and training exercises may have been put in jeopardy due to an oversight by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) lasting nearly a year.
At a special meeting with concerned community members last Thursday, OHA admitted to “dropping the ball” by not taking action on a damning report the agency received last year that criticized the Army’s efforts at preserving cultural sites while training and constructing the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCT).
OHA received the report in September 2009, and it suggests that parts of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) were disregarded. Trustees and staff discussed the item at a committee meeting in November. According to the minutes, Clyde Namuo, CEO, said staff was to draft a letter to the Army requesting the protection of sites mentioned in the document. It was revealed last week that no such action had been taken since that committee meeting last year.
“A lot happened,” said Kai Markell, OHA’s Compliance Monitoring Manager, who noted some structural changes within the organization kept some employees in limbo. “Some of us didn’t know if we were going to be here, and we lost a few people related to the project.”
The report, written by independently contracted archaeologist Christopher Monahan, comments on the Army’s numerous shortcomings in its attempts at documenting cultural sites, which, if included on the National Register of Historic Places, offers them various protections from being disturbed.
The report was the end result of a lawsuit OHA filed against the Army in November 2006 alleging violations against the NHPA and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Cultural monitors claimed that numerous sites were being mistreated or were endangered, including Haleauau heiau near Schofield Barracks, whose protective buffers were razed by bulldozers in July of that year.
In October 2008, a settlement was reached where OHA would drop its lawsuit based on its then knowledge of the existing surveys and reports. In return, the Army allowed the independently contracted archaeologist, Monahan, as well as OHA staff, access to Stryker Brigade sites for a total of 50 days in order to draw up an objective second opinion. OHA had the option then to proceed with mediation or litigation based on the new findings.
OHA initially gave the report to Terri Kekoolani, program coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Hawaii, a few weeks ago at her request.
Monahan is critical of the methods used in the previous surveys conducted by the military and its hired firms, recognizing there are issues with the competency of the field personnel involved. It also notes a general lack of subsurface testing, or excavating, to locate such sites. Instead, there are “mere guesses ... and based on relatively little scientific data.”
At some locations, Monahan’s findings more than doubled the number of known features the Army had previously reported.
There is also concern regarding numerous earlier reports—ones that evaluated surveys taken of impacted areas—that were not made available to him because they were in draft form. Most problematic was a major report on the Kahuku Training Area, which was completed six years ago but is still not available.
Many of those in attendance recommended that, due to the Army’s violations of NHPA as cited in the report, an injunction should be filed by OHA to halt construction and training activities, until these issues are resolved. Markell said he would consult with upper management and the legal team on the options.
“We will refocus our efforts,” Markell said.
Thisis an OHA Kai Wai Ola article about the signing ceremony with a few pictures of those who attended.
"OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona and OHAChief Operating Officer Stanton Enomoto joined with other prominent members of the Hawaiian community to witness the signing of the covenant."
Members of the Royal Order of Kamehameha were in attendance as leaders of the Army and Native Hawaiian community forged an historic agreement to improve relations. Photo by John Matsuzaki
Army and Hawaiian leaders bridge old gulf with new agreement
By Liza Simon / Ka Wai Ola Loa
Conflict has often divided the military and the Hawaiian community, but a new symbolic accord marks an effort to forge positive relations.
In a March 24 ceremony at Fort DeRussy, a first-of-its-kind Native Hawaiian Covenant was signed by representatives of the Army and Native Hawaiian organizations. The agreement is a pledge between the parties to promote mutual respect and understanding.
According to a news release, speaker Neil Hannahs of Kamehameha Schools said that the agreement marked a turning point for Kanaka Maoli, "who have endured events that pushed our culture to the brink of extinction."
OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona and OHA Chief Operating Officer Stanton Enomoto joined with other prominent members of the Hawaiian community to witness the signing of the covenant. Photoby John Matsuzaki
"We are dedicated to remember our past and perpetuate our traditions," he said. "But we realize that it is equally important to turn our focus toward the horizon and navigate our way to a world in which relationships and outcomes are as we would wish them to be."
Hannahs is a member of the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai'i's Native Hawaiian Advisory Council organized last year by the Army to assist in brokering the new covenant.
The covenant reads in part: "We recognize … Native Hawaiians' cultural and historical experience is shaped by the land and surrounding ocean ... that as the Army maintains and uses the land of Hawai'i, it is mindful to protect and preserve this fragile environment and ensure that what remains is a meaningful legacy for future generations." It further states that the parties are "committed to a mutually beneficial relationship" by promoting dialogue and understanding of each other's culture and values.
Neil Hannahs of Kamehameha Schools adds his name to the agreement, which he helped to craft as a member of the Army’s Native Hawaiian Advisory Council. Photo by John Matsuzaki
The signing ceremony featured traditional presentation of ho'okupu by the Royal Order of Kamehameha I and the planting of an 'ulu tree to symbolize harmony. In the crowd of more than 200 were Army Col. Matthew Margotta, Commander of the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai'i, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Haunani Apoliona, OHA Chief Operating Officer Stanton Enomoto, OHA Special Assistant to the CEO Martha Ross, and Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs president Leimomi Khan.
U.S. Army Col. Margotta participates in the Hawaiian protocol that was part of the signing ceremony. Photo by John Matsuzaki
"It was an overwhelmingly humbling experience to see leaders of both our Native Hawaiian community and the Army come together and pledge their commitment to maintaining a mutually beneficial partnership," Annelle Amaral, Native Hawaiian liaison for the Army, said in a news release. "The signing of this covenant is a significant step to our vision of a relationship built on understanding, respect and trust."
She added: "We mahalo all the individuals that made this possible, especially the members of our Native Hawaiian Advisory Council, Colonel Margotta and Sen. Daniel Inouye for their dedication and determination in fulfilling the promise of this covenant."
Posted by Free Hawai`i on August 4, 2010 at 6:49am
FREE HAWAI`I TVTHE FREE HAWAI`I BROADCASTING NETWORK"ALMOST THERE, BUT LET'S BEWARE"The US Senate Has Gotten The Word & Your Voices They Have Heard.Now There’s Almost No More Time For Inouye & Akaka To Commit Their Akaka Bill Crime.We’re Almost There, But We Still Must Take Care.What’s The One Thing Left To Do?Watch This To Ensure The Akaka Bill Is Through.Then Send This Video To One Other Person Today.
Why should the needs, actions, responses and ultimately the fate of Native Hawaiians concern the residents of this state? Why should Hawaiians not simply be treated as any other failed or failing minority in the United States?
You hear the complaint often enough - Hawaiians aren't going anywhere. We Hawaiians haven't gone anywhere despite almost 90 years of the Hawaiian Homestead Act, and more than 30 years of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Look at the statistics of arrest and incarceration. Look at the school dropout rate. Look at the miserable economics that seem to hold the native Hawaiian in a grip of mediocrity despite all of the things done for them.
But Hawaiians aren't going anywhere. The sovereignty movement, now more than 20 years old and stronger every year, more than ever seems to be nested in a classical Hawai`i. We Hawaiians insist on learning our language, singing and composing our songs, learning and writing our histories and re-mastering the technologies of navigation, agriculture and aquaculture that once sustained our nation.
Increasingly we believe we should govern ourselves, and why shouldn't we? Ninety years of the Hawaiian Homes Act and 30 years of OHA seem only to demonstrate that neither the US nor the state of Hawai`i can provide homes and work, education and a national and cultural pride that matches what our own kingdom provided in the 19th century.
And besides, this is our country, isn't it? Even people who claim that the kingdom's property is now America's property can scarcely deny that a vocal and active sovereignty and independence movement thrives among our people today.
Ultimately, the call for a just solution to the Hawaiian national claims may need to be framed not simply as the pursuit of social justice and redress for the American theft of the Hawaiian nation and its lands, but as a self-interested and rational acknowledgment that native Hawaiians are struggling to succeed, to live as Hawaiians, not Americans, despite all that has been done to them.
Whether a peaceful and mutually satisfying arrangement can be made between the native people and everyone else living in Hawai`i could depend on how much of a struggle we are forced to endure. And remember, none of us are going anywhere.
Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwo`ole Osorio is a professor of Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, and an advocate for the restoration of Hawai`i's political independence.
Posted by Free Hawai`i on August 1, 2010 at 8:38am
Even though Pono Kelaoha had a tough upbringing, what was even tougher was seeing his own children starting to repeat the pattern.
He pulled them out of the school where they were failing and placed them in a charter school. In so doing, he not only changed their future but his own too.
You see, what they brought home from school opened up a whole new world not only for them, but also for him. The Internet.
Pono immediately began to see how it could be used to broadcast the message of a Free Hawai`i to the world.
That’s what he started to do many years ago and he hasn’t stopped since. His story is a fascinating journey. Come along for the ride all this week on Hawai`i’s award winning Voices Of Truth – One-On-One With Hawai`i’s Future.
MONDAY, August 2nd At 6:30 PM –Maui – Akaku, Channel 53 MONDAY, August 2nd At 7:00 PM & FRIDAY, August 6th At 5:30 PM – Hawai`i Island –Na Leo, Channel 53 THURSDAY, August 5th At 8:30 PM & FRIDAY, August 6th At 8:30 AM -Kaua`i – Ho`ike, Channel 52 SATURDAY, August 7th At 8:00 PM –O`ahu, `Olelo, Channel 53 “Voyage Of Rediscovery – A Visit With Pono Kelaoha” When’s the last time your kids brought something home from school you got more into than they did? That’s what happened to Pono Kealoha when he discovered the Internet. Ever since he’s been using his online skills to spread the word of the US illegal takeover of Hawai`i. What drives this master of the online universe? See our fascinating visit with him & find out - Watch It Here Now you can become a fan of Voices Of Truth on Facebook by clicking Here and see behind the scenes photos of our shows and a whole lot more.
Voices Of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants. We hope you'll be inspired to do the same.
Voices Of Truth now airs on local access stations in Cape Town, South Africa, Sweden and 29 cities across the US. Check your local listings.
If you support our issues on the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network, please email this to a friend to help us continue. A donation today helps further our work. Every single penny counts.
Today is La Ho`iho`i Ea - Sovereignty Restoration day in Hawai`i.
It was a wrong made right after five months - the restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom when forced under British rule in 1843.
In the early 1840s, during the reign of King Kamehameha III, English consul Richard Charlton made outrageous land claims against the Hawaiian people to provoke a British takeover.
At his request, a British war cruiser arrived on Feb. 10, 1843, under the command of Lord George Paulet, who demanded special lands and rights from the king for British subjects.
In order to avoid bloodshed, Kamehameha III ceded his kingdom to Paulet under protest and appealed to Queen Victoria for redress.
British fleet commander Adm. Richard Thomas, enforcing his country's policy that the laws and customs of native governments be treated with courtesy and respect, sailed from Mexico to Hawai`i to remedy the trouble.
On July 31, 1843, Thomas ordered the Hawaiian flag raised and the kingdom restored at a ceremony at Kulaokahu`a - which today is known as Thomas Square named after him.
Kamehameha III proclaimed a 10-day holiday, and throughout his reign, July 31 was celebrated as La Ho'iho'i Ea or Sovereignty Restoration Day.
He also proclaimed the now famous motto, "Ua mau ke ea o ka `aina i ka pono," which means, "The sovereignty of the land is maintained byright behavior."
Join Us All Day Today At Thomas Square In Honolulu To Celebrate. The Public Is Welcome At This Free Event.
Important Message from Chris Nakanishi:Hakipu'u Learning Center will be evicted this Saturday, July 31 at 6pm. We please need help to move our whole school to our temporary location before 6pm. We will be there all day from 8am. Anyone on the property after 6pm will be arrested. Anything left on the property will be disposed. This would be a good time for our people to KU'E. We are sending the kahea for help. We're in code red.
Read more…
We are "the other 98%" who do not have corporate lobbyists in Washington. Come and be part of the "people power" that is needed to take our government back. Help us "be the change!"
We will be making phone calls, writing letters, making signs and getting ready for our "Fight Washington Corruption Rally" on August 10th12 noon at 300 Ala Moana Blvd. Bring pot luck, your positive energy and bring a friend!
Help us build the momentum we need to stop corporate influence. If you cannot join us, just do one of these things.
When William McKinley won the presidential election in November of 1896, the question of Hawaii's annexation to the U.S. was again opened. The previous president, Grover Cleveland, was a friend of Queen Liliuokalani. He had remained opposed to annexation until the end of his term, but McKinley was open to persuasion by U. S. expansionists and by annexationists from Hawaii. He agreed to meet with a committee of annexationists from Hawaii, Lorrin Thurston, Francis Hatch and William Kinney. After negotiations, in June of 1897, McKinley signed a treaty of annexation with these representatives of the Republic of Hawaii. The President then submitted the treaty to the U. S. Senate for approval.
The Hui Aloha Aina for Women, the Hui Aloha Aina for Men, and the Hui Kalaiaina formed a coalition to oppose the treaty. Together, these three organizations represented a majority of the Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians). Hui Kalaiaina had originally been formed after the Bayonet Constitution of 1887 as a vehicle for Kanaka Maoli political power. The two Hui Aloha Aina organizations were founded just after the overthrow of the Native government in 1893, expressly to support the Queen and to oppose U.S. annexation.
The Kanaka Maoli believed that the American government was committed to their stated principles of justice and of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. They believed that once the U.S. President and members of Congress saw that the great majority of Hawaiian citizens opposed the annexation, the principles of fairness would prevail, that is, their Native government would be restored. The three huis therefore began to organize mass petition drives The heading on Hui Aloha Aina's petition read: PALAPALA HOOPII KUE HOOHUI AINA, Petition Protesting Annexation
On September 6, 1897, the Hui Aloha Aina held a halawai makaainana - a mass meeting - , at Palace Square, which thousands of poe aloha aina - patriots - attended. President James Kaulia gave a rousing speech, saying "We, the nation (lahui) will never consent to the annexation of our lands, until the very last patriot lives." He said agreeing to annexation was like agreeing to be buried alive. He predicted that annexation would open the door for many foreigners to come here, and to take jobs and resources away from the Native people. He asked, "Then where will we live?" The crowd answered, "In the mountains," which figuratively means, "we shall be homeless." He asserted that a mass refusal by the people could prevent the annexation: "If the nation remains steadfast in its protest of annexation, the Senate can continue to strive until the rock walls of Iolani Palace crumble, and never will Hawaii be annexed to America!" The annexationist newspapers had published threats that the leaders of the mass meeting would be arrested for treason, but Mr. Kaulia assured the people that their assembly was legal. He said that it was because the brains of the government could not push over the brains of the Kanaka Maoli that the government had to resort to weapons of war. (At this time, Hawaii was ruled by a haole - European- American - oligarchy called the Republic of Hawaii that had deprived the Native people of political participation.) He said, "Let us take up the honorable field of struggle, brain against brain." He told the people, "Do not be afraid, be steadfast in aloha for your land and be united in thought. Protest forever the annexation of Hawaii until the very last aloha aina [lives]!" The crowd cheered.
Following Kaulia, David Kalauokalani, President of the Hui Kalaiaina, explained the details of the annexation treaty to the crowd. He told them that the Republic of Hawaii had agreed to give full government authority over to the United States, reserving nothing. It would also give all the government's money, the government and crown lands, government buildings, harbors, bays, military forts, military armaments and warships, and all resources claimed by the government of the Hawaiian Islands. Furthermore, he explained, the laws of the United States would not extend to the Hawaiian Islands, but the Congress of the U.S. would decide how Hawaii was to be governed. It was uncertain whether the Kanaka Maoli would have the right to vote. He said those who favored annexation would want to deny Kanaka Maoli voting rights because, from the very beginning, they have known that the Kanaka Maoli would overwhelmingly vote against annexation and anyone who supported it. This is the reason they were always afraid to put a vote to the people.
A resolution protesting the annexation was read to the crowd, who approved it. It was announced that U.S. Senator Morgan, an advocate of annexation, would be arriving soon, and that there would be another mass meeting held while he was here.
The petition drive started at about this time. Very soon afterwards, Mrs. Abigail Kuaihelani Campbell, President of the Women's branch of the Hui Aloha Aina, and Mrs. Emma Aima Nawahi boarded the inter-island ship the Kinau for Hilo on a signature gathering mission.
On September 14, Senator Morgan and four congressmen from the U.S. indeed arrived. On the same day, Mr. Enoch Johnson and Mr. Simon Peter Kanoa boarded the Claudine for Maui, and Mrs. Kaikioewa Ulukou departed for Kauai - all bound to gather signatures on those islands. The Hui Aloha Aina paid all of their expenses.
At the same time, there was a branch of the Hui Aloha Aina active at Kalaupapa (on the island of Molokai) where people with leprosy were imprisoned.¹ The President of the Kalaupapa branch was Mr. Robert M. Kaaoao, who not only gathered signatures on the protest petitions, but had also organized a full day's activities to commemorate the Queen's birthday on September 2. The activities included a prayer service; boating, swimming, running, horse, and donkey races; as well as pole climbing and apple eating contests.
When Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Nawahi arrived in Hilo harbor, they were greeted with honors. A delegation of the Hilo chapter of the Hui, consisting of Mr. Henry West, Mrs. Hattie Nailima, Mrs. Kekona Pilipo, and Mrs. J.A. Akamu met them at the harbor. The Hilo delegation showered them with leis, and proclaimed that a Hawaiian double-hulled canoe would carry them into the harbor. They had decorated five seats on the beautiful vessel with leis of maile, lehua, and other flowers, and had a Hawaiian flag waving at the back. The people of Laupahoehoe had sent welcome gifts of opihi, limu, and fish. Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Nawahi attended meetings of the Hui Aloha Aina all over the Hilo and Puna area, and returned with thousands of signatures.
Meanwhile Mrs. Laura Mahelona was working hard in Kona and Kau; she was the committee member delegated to gather signatures there of both men and women. She traveled from North Kona south to Kau, leaving blank petitions with instructions everywhere she went. She told the chapter presidents to get the petitions signed and return them in a few days when her ship would stop again at the same harbors. When she returned, signed petitions were ready at every harbor. When she landed at each port, she was welcomed by the women of the Hui Aloha Aina branches, carrying leis over their arms, and when she returned to the boat, her clothes couldn't be seen because she was completely covered by leis. Mrs. Mahelona gathered 4,216 signatures.
Mrs. Kaikioewa Ulukou gathered 2,375 on the island of Kauai.
Mr. Simon P. Kanoa gathered 1,944 in the district of Hana, Maui.
When all the work was done, there were over 21,000 signatures- men's and women's in about equal numbers. When one considers that the population of Native Hawaiians at the time was less than 40,000, this is an impressive number.
The Hui Kalaiaina also had a substantial membership- -they conducted their own petition drive at the same time, collecting about 17,000 signatures.
The Hui Aloha Aina held another mass meeting on October 8, 1897, and at that time decided to send delegates to Washington D.C. to present the petitions to President McKinley and to the Congress.
The executive committees of the three hui met and decided to send four delegates: James Kaulia of Hui Aloha Aina, David Kalauokalani of Hui Kalaiaina, with John Richardson, and with William Auld as secretary. All four were Kanaka Maoli. This was an important sign to the nation. Some people had written in the papers that previous delegates to Washington had failed because they were not Kanaka Maoli, or because they were too wealthy to truly have the nation's well-being in mind at all times. It is important to note that although a women's representative did not travel to Washington, Mrs. Campbell, President of the women's branch of Hui Aloha Aina, was part of the decision-making committee, and was viewed as a leader of the nation along with the men.
The four Elele Lahui - National Delegates - left Hawaii on November 20, 1897. In San Francisco on November 28, they commemorated La Kuokoa - Hawaiian Independence Day.
They arrived in Washington on December 6, the day that the Senate opened. They first met briefly with Queen Liliuokalani, who was staying in Washington. Then they met Senator Richard Pettigrew who took them in to the Senate's opening ceremonies. After the ceremonies, they returned to Ebbitt House where the Queen was staying, and where they would also stay. Someone told them at that time that their trip to Washington was useless, since it was known that there 58 votes on the side of annexation, with only 2 more votes needed for the treaty to pass. They said they didn't answer but remained as quiet as doves. They spoke amongst themselves later, however, to plan what to do.
The next day, December 7, they met again with the Queen to consider how to present the petitions. They chose the Queen as chair of their Washington committee. Together, they decided to present the petitions of Hui Aloha Aina only, because the substance of the two sets of petitions was different. Hui Aloha Aina's was called "petition protesting annexation," but the Hui Kalaiaina's petitions called for the monarchy to be restored. They agreed that they did not want to appear divided, as if they had different goals.
The day after that, the delegates met with Senator Hoar, who was against annexation. They braved snow, cold and slippery streets to get to the Senator's residence. They said the "elemakule" (old man) greeted them with a handshake². He asked them what the people of Hawaii thought about annexation. John Richardson, the spokesman, explained everything. While he was explaining, they could see tears welling up in the old man's eyes. Richardson told him that they brought petitions signed by the whole nation protesting the annexation. Senator Hoar told them to submit the petitions to him, and he would bring them before the Senate, and then to the Foreign Relations Committee. David Kalauokalani of Hui Kalaiaina also submitted his endorsement of those petitions (so that the U.S. would know both huis had the same goal). On December 9, Senator Hoar read the text of the petitions to the Senate and had them formally accepted. The delegates were present, seated in the area where people are allowed to observe the Senate proceedings.
On December 10, the delegates met with Secretary of State John Sherman, and Kalauokalani submitted a memorial protesting annexation (Ka Memoriala a ka Lahui) to him.
In the following days, the delegates met with many different Senators and Congressmen. Senators Pettigrew and White encouraged them in the hope that the annexation treaty would be defeated. They said that they were asked a lot of questions about Japan or England trying to annex Hawaii. They answered that either of them could have taken Hawaii if they had wanted to any time in the past five years. Why would they wait for America to try before they did so? They also reminded the U.S. Congressmen that Hawaii had remained independent for fifty years, partly because of the 1843 resolution signed by Great Britain and France guaranteeing Hawaii's independence.
By the time they left Washington on February 27, there were only 46 votes in the Senate on the pro-annexation side, down from 58 when they had arrived. Forty-six votes was far too few for the treaty to pass -- sixty votes were necessary.
Senator Pettigrew and Senator Turpie insisted that the Kanaka Maoli of Hawaii be given a chance to vote on annexation. But Senator Morgan and the other pro-annexation Senators knew that if a vote were taken, it would be overwhelmingly in favor of Hawaii's independence. In a report, these Senators wrote, "If a requirement should be made by the United States of a plebiscite [vote] to determine the question of annexation, it would work a revolution in Hawaii which would abolish its constitution." They knew, in other words, that if the people were allowed to vote, not only would they reject annexation, they would also reject the haole Republic that had been forced upon them against their will.
Three of the delegates, James Kaulia, David Kalauokalani, and William Auld returned to Honolulu victorious, sure that the treaty would fail, as indeed it did. They had carried the hard work and hopes of the whole nation to Washington in the form of the protest petitions. They had succeeded in persuading many senators to vote against the treaty. They left behind John Richardson to continue the work, along with Queen Liliuokalani, her secretary Joseph Heleluhe, and her devoted friend, J.O. Carter.
One annexation crisis was over, but another was soon to follow. This same year, the peoples of Cuba and the Philippines were fighting wars of independence against Spain. The United States also declared war on Spain after the U.S. warship, the Maine was blown up in a harbor in Cuba. The reason that the Maine was even in Cuba is questionable, since the U.S. had not been involved until it involved itself by sending the ship there. Be that as it may, the United States was at war. Suddenly, the empire- builders of the United States were saying that they needed to send military troops on ships to the Philippines to fight Spain. For this, they said they needed Hawaii. In the midst of the fever of war, a Joint Resolution of Congress called the Newlands Resolution passed by a simple majority of each house, making Hawaii a territory of the United States. That was in July of 1898; the flag of the United States was hoisted over Hawaii on August 12th.
The Kanaka Maoli continued to protest. The Hui Kalaiaina concentrated on persevering to undo the annexation, and restore the Native government. Hui Aloha Aina began to work towards securing full civil and political rights for Hawaiian citizens in the U.S. territorial system. In 1900, the two huis banded together as one political organization called the Home Rule Party. David Kalauokalani was elected President, and James Kaulia as Vice-President. This was the party that elected Robert Kalanihiapo Wilcox as (non-voting) Delegate to the U.S. Congress.
James Keauiluna Kaulia continued his work for his nation until the day of his death at age 41, in 1902. On that Sunday, he spent the morning at the jail house trying to help prisoners assert their rights. After church and lunch, he lay down for a nap from which he never woke up. He died of heart failure.
David Kalauokalani lived until 1915, also serving his people all of his life. He served as a senator in the territorial legislature, and as a member of the Board of Health. His son, also named David, became the first clerk of the City and County of Honolulu.
Mrs. Kuaihelani Campbell served as President of Hui Aloha Aina for its entire existence. She later became well-known as a benefactor for the ill and poor among her people, and for her many charitable deeds. She married Samuel Parker in 1902. Her daughter Abigail married Prince David Kawananakoa at about the same time, and Mrs. Campbell-Parker thereby became an ancestor to the royal family remaining in Hawaii today. She passed away in 1908.
Mrs. Emma Aima Nawahi kept the newspaper Ke Aloha Aina running for many years as its owner and business manager. She sold it in 1910. She also remained active in charities until her death in 1935.
The petitions protesting annexation, consisting of five hundred fifty-six pages, are now held in the National Archives in Washington D.C.
The Kanaka Maoli continue to protest today. We have never relinquished our national sovereignty. Kanaka Maoli are working on state, national, and international levels to have our existence as a nation recognized. Kanaka Maoli also continue to resist and protest every encroachment upon our inherent rights to this land, our ocean and fresh waters, and all the other natural resources of Hawaii. We are insisting as well on our rights to keep our language and cultural traditions, and the land itself, alive.
Sources consulted
Coffman, Tom. Personal communications, 1997.
Earle, David William. "Coalition politics in Hawaii 1887- 90: Hui Kalaiaina and the Mechanics and Workingmen's Political Protective Union." MA thesis, University of Hawaii.
Ka Loea Kalaiaina (newspaper) various issues 1897-1898.
Ke Aloha Aina (newspaper) various issues 1897-1898.
Russ, William Adam. The Hawaiian republic (1894-98) and its struggle to win annexation. Selinsgrove: Susquehanna University Press, 1992 [1961].
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 55th Congress. [Sen. 55A-J11.2]. National Archives and Records Administration.
Senate Report 681 (55th Congress 2nd Session).
Footnotes
1 The government called their confinement "quarantine," but the people confined called themselves "prisoners." It was nearly impossible to escape the quarantine area bounded by rough seas and sheer cliffs. Prisoners were sent there for life; most would never see any family member again. Furthermore, the prisoners were not given adequate food or medicine, which added to their sense of being punished.
2 This handshake seemed to be an important detail in the reports of their meeting with Senator Hoar. It may be because the delegates were subjected to race prejudice in Washington some white men may have refused to shake their hands. They do not complain of this directly, however.
To: All Media Listed Re: Press Conference July 31, 2010 at 11 a.m. at Thomas Square Contact Person: Richard Pomai Kinney Telephone Number: 668-4394
We would like to invite the media to the Thomas Square event, for independence and commemoration of the return of our government as well as to address the RIMPAC 2010 training in our islands as an affront to the Kanaka Maoli people.
Various groups with their spokesperson will be there to give a full disclosure of our press release, who have been notified that we will be calling for a press conference.
Please confirm your attendance to the person by calling the number above for Mr. Richard Pomai Kinney, one of the spokespersons for his group HPACH (Hawai'i Political Action Committee of Hawai'i) and joining him will be myself, Kawehi Kanui, Po'o Hewahewanui 'Ohana Council, Waimanalo.
ACTION ALERT !!! KOKUA !! COURT HEARING TO STOP THE EVICTION OF HAKIPUʻU LEARNING CENTER TOMORROW FRIDAY JULY 30TH 3PM DISTRICT COURT ROOM 5-C. COME OUT AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT !!
* What: Court hearing to stop the eviction of the Hakipu’u Learning Center
* When: This Friday, July 30 court hearing starts at 3pm, come early limited parking Where: District Court Building, Court Room 5-C. The court is located on the corner of Alakea Street and Hotel Street. District Court1111 Alakea StHonolulu, HI 96813 Link for location of the court:
* Who: Please tell everyone to come down to the court to help show support for the Hakipu’u Learning Center to help to stop the school from being evicted The judge that will be hearing the case is Judge Trader.
Please wear you Hakipu’u Learning Center shirts. Mahalo for the kokua.
We are still having our our Rally at the Hakipu'u Learning Center this Sunday, August 1st at 1pm at the school.
Mahalo to everyone who came out to support our fundraiser's. Mahalo to the families who helped in every way with the food, set up etc..and for all the donations as well! All to support our sister Sacha's journey to Stanford University Hospital in October to have open heart surgery.
We have set up an account with American Savings Bank. When sending in checks etc please notate in the memo section SACHA WILKINS donation. You can donate to any ASB branch as the account is under Sacha & Kaleo Wilkins & Louise Renaud
Next fundraiser are
Saturday Aug 28 Kickball Tournament / Hawaiian Plate Fundraiser $10 Hauula School Playground 8am (all day) $50 per team contact Xavier Solomon 330-6401 (xaviersolomon@ymail.com)
FREE HAWAI`I TVTHE FREE HAWAI`I BROADCASTING NETWORK"4 MORE TO IMPLORE"We Told You Last Week Dan Inouye Plans To Speak With Four Republicans About His Akaka Bill Plans.Well Now There’s More To Thwart - Four Others He’s Trying To Court.But That’s Where You Come In So The Akaka Bill Won’t Win.Let Them Know The Akaka Bill’s A No-Go.Watch This To Learn Their Names, & Beat Inouye At His Akaka Bill Numbers Game.Then Send This Video To One Other Person Today.