In keeping with the spirit of this holiday, Prosecutor Justin Kollar has authorized the release of the badge belonging to Dayne Aipoalani, alii nui of the Kingdom of Atooi. It's been in lockdown since 2008, and cost the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in legal wranglings, but that little piece of tin has finally been set free.
In recognition of the ongoing struggle by Dayne and other kanaka maoli to regain control of their homeland, I'm reprinting this piece by Pilipo, a Hawaiian national and kupuna:
Aloha kakou he Hawaii au,
As we approach the hoorahs of the Fourth of July as a Hawaiian National, I can not help but think of the 38,000 Kupuna before us that signed the Ku'e Petition Against Hawaii Annexation in 1897. They had witnessed a major change in government and the constant detriment against their Independence as a Hawaiian National. Although most of the Hawaiian Nationals did not own land they had access and the privilege to the use of the aina under the Hawaiian Kingdom, and most did not realize that constant deterioration would negate their own existence in their birthland.
For them, December 7 1941 was not the First Foreign invasion of the Hawaiian Islands. They had witnessed the First Invasion by a Tactical Operation Deployment of 160 U. S. Marines in the overthrow of 1893. For some on Oahu, they had been around when Kamehameha the Great did the same to gain power in uniting the Hawaiian Kingdom under one Ruler but Kamehameha did it to fellow Kanaka Maoli, and not Foreign interest of many disguises against Kanaka Maoli. Then to show deliberation and pride of their conquest, Hawaiian Nationals witnessed their First 4th of July with the enactment of the Republic of Hawaii in 1894.
Over the past 120 years Kanaka Maoli have mutated into various specie of Hawaiian founded in Federal Appropriations of some kind or form all designed to change the pu'uwai and uhane of the Kanaka Maoli. The Federal Programs of sort dictates the kind of Hawaiian that is needed to secure the Fraud. But yet after 120 years, the Federal Homestead Privileges of 1920 and Statehood in 1959, the questions of Hawaiian Inherent Rights to the Aina still remains like that of ka makani, aloof. While most Court decisions have been against such claims due to lack of proper documentation but not birthright, not all have failed. Some Court decisions have even declared they "lack jurisdiction in the matter of ownership" but ordered Eviction Notices to Kanaka Maoli. But why, if the overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation was so pono and 'Divine Destiny" fulfilled, why are there still loop holes in the system? It can only be because the foundation of everything in Hawaii since January 17, 1893 is based upon Fraud, and Fraud has "No Statute of Limitation".
But Hawaiians are not alone in this scam. Americans are also "Victims of Identity" too, and yet they will celebrating their Independence in glorious fashion. At least 96% of the Hawaiian National population in 1897 knew of the scam against them and recorded their protest in the U. S. Congress. Slavery in the United States of America did not end in 1865. In fact, it tremendously increased by Federal Legislation to include the new designations of slaves registered as U. S. 14th Amendment Citizens enacted in the 1866 Civil Rights Act and later sanctified as "Corporate Inventory" under "Act 1871", in February 1, 1871 by President Ulysses S. Grant (U. S. Grant?)
The Free Public of the United States became Slaves. A Country "for" Free People became a Corporation "of" Slaves. Chains and shackles were no longer necessary because the minds of freemen were /are controlled as Pavlov's Dog without the whistle, as that of the Corporation's subsidiary, "STATE OF" (HAWAII)
Kana'iolowalu [Hawaiian roll call] is the death of Kanaka Maoli and declared Hawaiian Nationals. As long as "People of Truth" stand-up, we are a lei of lima (hands) and will not fall. We stumble a lot, but never fall. Kana'iolowalu is a Corporate Entity of the Corporate State of Hawaii. It is no more than that what the State of Hawaii is to the Federal United States of America. They are using the existing Sovereign Kanaka Maoli and Hawaiian Nationals against themselves to impose their Corporate Legislation (ACT 195) to control the people by nullifying their"Living Soul Identity", just as the Legislation of the Federal Corporation of the United States of America did to "once Sovereign Americans" by imposing their U. S. 14th Amendment. ACT 195 or Kana'iolowalu uses Hawaiians to legitimize the disposal all Crown Lands that will also terminate all Hawaiian Inherent Right Claims. If there is no Bona Fide Identity there is no Bona fide Claimant!
Kaulana Na Pua!
malama ke kino,
pilipo
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39 comments:
As a kanaka, I applaud you for posting this piece which I am sure will provoke the usual commentary of "Hawaii is part of the USA, get over it" that is sure to come. I on the other hand, do not celebrate this "Independence" Holiday. It is an insult to Hawaii Nationals who lost their independence in 1893 and again in 1898. American Independence also comes at the expense of natives of the American continent who lost lives and lands at the hands of genocidal Europeans. I will instead celebrate Hawaiian Independence Day in July when Kamehameha III declared "Ua mau ka ea i ka 'aina i ka pono", the life of the land is perpetuated in sovereignty". Ea!
The Indians are mentioned, specifically in the declaration of independence. Where the founders listed the wrongdoings of the King of England that forced them to separate, they wrote:
"He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions."
I knew I could count on you to view the day (which is also my kane's birthday ... and a real cause for celebration!)from the ground. As I have said before, I come to visit you when I am able to eat the mana'o.
I will link to this on Makua O'o. Take care Joan.
'Eli'eli kau mai,
Mokihana
When each island is a "Separate Kingdom" apart from one another. Then, we can celebrate.
Kamehameha colonialized Kauai as sure as the US overtook "Hawaii."
im confused w/ what the DHHL is for. if there are 2k acres in anahola being unused why dont they deed the land to those of whom been waiting for all these years? local folks are very resourceful and make that place work but for some reason they arent allowed to. if i had a piece of that land i would have no problem w/ the help of my ohana to make use, whether farming or homesite.. rent or borrow a D9 and an acre would be cleared in a matter of days, the timber used and a good road to get to it..... put hawaiian lands into hawaiian hands and let mana flow
American Independence also comes at the expense of natives of the American continent who lost lives and lands at the hands of genocidal Europeans.
Oglala Sioux -- Only nation ever to defeat America military. 1 min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MME8QGBTR4
ppoweesThe U.S. is very far from perfect, but I wonder what Hawaii would have been like if Russia, England, France, or Japan would, through historical fate, been like ? I am far from believing that what happened in 1893 was Pono
but I also believe it could have been a hell of a lot worse. Just what would a Hawaiian nation look like today without any kind of outside, {help} from the outside world ?
Dear Hawaiians...if Hawaii is yours then take it back...quit waiting for someone to give it back to you.
It might look like Tahiti where no foreign ownership of land other than French citizens is allowed, no foreign development has taken place AT ALL, there is no GMO because the French wont allow it, the Tahitians still hold all the deeds to their lands, AND they still can live off the fish and farming because their ecosystem hasn't been trashed and soils stripped from years of poor farming practices (pineapple, sugar cane) of export crops that provide no food for Hawaiian citizens. Wake up. Like the Hawaiians couldn't build roads and infrastructure if their land base hadn't been stolen. How insulting.We had a100% literacy rate under our Queen and now graduate only a few less illiterate seniors from high school than Alabama and Mississippi. We had the highest literacy rate of any country in the world and our flag flew at the UN before the US flag ever did.
re; 2:57 "Just what would a Hawaiian nation look like today without any kind of outside, {help} from the outside world ?"
define HELP, as in who it helps, very tricky path to go, and 'outside world'influence is anyones guess of what could come about under different a scenario of leadership.....hawaiians/locals are smart when it comes to common sense and nature...if there is a task to be done it will be done w/ the ohana....seems that some people dont get that concept....
Kaulana Keli'i - please explain when did the Hawaiian flag fly at the UN. I could not find anything online that supports this.
The Hawaiian's surrendered their nation without even a fight.Now a mountain of words but no action. Plenty of righteous indignation but still no fight, I thought you people were warriors ?
oh yes, the French are awesome in Tahiti! Nice...
http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/tahitians-campaign-stop-french-nuclear-testing-1995
The real problem with Hawaii is not that it was colonized by a foreign power. That was going to happen, whether it was America, Russia, France, Japan, England, or any other number of colonial powers of the era. Hawaii wasn't strong enough to maintain their sovereignty, plain and simple, and regardless of right or wrong, millenia of history shows the strong conquering the weak, and most were treated much worse then the natives of Hawaii.
The problem is how Hawaiians have dealt with it. Whine, bitch, moan, cry, smoke ice, steal, fight with each other in the street, beat their women, show attitude to everyone...
But be productive? Do something worth being proud of? Nope. I don't feel sorry for Hawaiians.
5:45 and 7:35 --
The Hawaiians don't need you or anyone to feel sorry for them. But I feel sorry for you, because you're racist, imperialist and most of all, shockingly ignorant of the history and culture of this place you occupy. Can't be a good feeling to live in your ugly, small world.
History is great and everybody has their own view of what the truth is though it has been said history is mainly written by the victors.
I am more interested in looking forward and dealing with the reality on the ground. Yep, i'm one of those "get over it" folks. I know the professional victims will complain about my ignorance and insensitivity. I can live with that. Most of them are racists anyway hiding behind supposed injustices of the past.
I would suggest that instead of moaning about the past, spewing hate and poisoning your children with the same, you turn your energy to creating a more just, responsive, and harmonious society within the societal framework that we have.
You are the one trapped in the past and living in a small bitter world.
GET OVER IT!
Amen to 7:35 and 11:26.
Joan is consistent in her anti USA position. Her knee jerk reaction to anything patriotic is unfortunate but predictable. Joan you are right on with most of your public positions on most things but for some reason you don't get it on this issue. I would encourage you to examine your ideas regarding Hawaiian sovereignty. I'm sure you would agree with me that for any government to be legitimate it must have the consent of the governed. Do you believe that a majority of citizens living here today or who will be living here anytime soon will choose the restoration of an ethnocentric monarchy versus being the 50th State? Restoration seems to be the majority choice among those looking for sovereignty. Understandable I guess if you think you will have some special privilege in a new governing system.
Americans justify the overthrow of our sovereign Kingdom with the excuse of if not us than someone else. If America were "conquered" by another nation, it would be interesting to hear their dialogue then. America's defense budget is the biggest in the world, so the likelihood of that happening is miniscule, which is why they can gloat and dismiss Hawaiians who refuse to accept American superiority. The good old USA can spend trillions of tax dollars on defense but crumbs on education, poverty, healthcare and war veterans. Before the overthrow, kanaka could live on the land and take care of their families without hand outs. They had access to water and other resources to sustain themselves. Today Honolulu ranks 2nd as the most expensive city in the US to live in largely due in part to the high cost of housing/real estate. 90% of our goods are shipped here from elsewhere, driving up costs for food, utilities, etc. Being a part of the USA has been good for some put a large majority suffer and struggle. Large tracts of land are owned and controlled by a few landowners, many of them former Kingdom lands that were leased to these same entities before the overthrow. The overthrow was always about control of Hawaii's lands and resources for the benefit of American business men, and today it remains largely the same. Being against the status quo doesn't make me a whiner, a victim, a drug user or any of the other negative stereotypes mentioned previously. I am college educated, hard working, raised a family and try to live the best life I can in this world I was born into. However I do critique the history of this place and of my kupuna, and I believe if Hawaiian Independence had been retained, Hawaii would be a better place for our people and for those who choose to live here because it is Hawaii and NOT the USA.
if you don't like the benefits of being a USA citizen then why are you here? you could move to Niihau and live in a Hawaiian environment or any other island nation-we all have freedom to choose where we live and what we are willing to live with-why keep dredging up the past and living with a reverse racism-as far as I know we all came to this world the same way-we should all have the same rights and responsibilities-our higher power never said anything belongs to any one person or group be it land or values-I grew up here-as "local" as you can get- and continue to choose to make this my home-I accept others doing the same wherever they immigrated from or their families immigrated from (including Hawaiians, Tahitians, or any other places in the world-)
so I agree with "get over it"
"I believe if Hawaiian Independence had been retained, Hawaii would be a better place for our people and for those who choose to live here because it is Hawaii and NOT the USA."
Yours is thankfully a minority opinion and the march of history makes your wishes a moot point. No way was Hawaii going to remain a kingdom. It only became one because of Westerners to begin with. All your back looking thinking is a waste of time and energy. You can't turn back the clock and think that we are going to revert to some fanciful agrarian tribal society with monarchy overtones. The USA is not perfect but Hawaii is likely better off than it otherwise would be under some other form of governance or jurisdiction.
"Get over it" is often the cry of those who don't want to examine their own role in usurping the land and/or rights and freedom of others. It doesn't matter how long ago an injustice occurred. If it can be righted, it should be, and there's nothing whiny about keeping that truth alive.
Hawaii will never be the USA, regardless of whether it was made a state or is populated by 1 million people who aren't kanaka. It was and remains an independent nation that was colonized by force and bled to benefit the colonizers.
Well Joan you can live in your little fantasy world but the facts on the ground differ from your opinion. The kanakas and their children would be better off making the best of what is available to them (the same as everybody else) in their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
Hawaii will never be anything other than the USA. Thinking otherwise is borderline delusional.
Yes mine is a minority opinion because Hawaiians are a minority in their homeland and as a result are the most marginalized group in all of Hawaii. But that's good for everyone else who has taken ownership of this place and fucked over the culture that made this Hawaii to begin with. For the one who was stupid enough to tell me to leave, you obviously have no clue what it means to be kanaka...we are this land. We are rooted in this 'aina, a concept foreign to most transplants. I would never choose to move from my ancestral home where my iwi kupuna rest. I will die here as generations before me have while newcomers will come and go. Hawaii is sun and surf to them. When they tire of it they will move on or return to the continent to be closer to loved ones they so willingly left behind or to get away from a local culture they can't wrap their heads around. So you're local but you're obviously not kanaka, because one kanaka to another would never tell the other to move from their 'aina Hanau.
Like Joan said, those with a dissenting opinion don't want to face the truth of justice for Kanaka Maoli and that unfortunately goes for many so called "locals".
Reverse racism? Give me a break. More like justifiable anger at the marginalization and genocidal acts against our culture that didn't end with the overthrow, that continue today and will never end as long as we are under the thumb of America. It is the same for Native Americans and most indigenous cultures that were colonized by the white man. I cannot accept being "American" because that involves disowning my identity. If you're proud to be American, so be it, just don't impose that shit on me.
Lots of talking...again...but no action. "When" will the real Hawaiians take action ? I'm reminded of the barking dog that never bites...so when and how ?
You sound like a provocateur trying to push kanaka into violence. What business is it of yours "when and how?" You are not part of the movement and want it to fail anyway.
More barking...more posing....more claiming....more nothing.
Yea I've been to the Place of Refuge, and I've read some of the "Kapu" laws.
If any of you crybabies went back to the way life was in native Hawaii for a week, you'd all be be crying to return to the 2000's.
Let's see, accidently wear red? instant death. are you taller than the chief? instant death. did you accidently come into contact with his shadow? death. his fingernails? death. woman eat poi, bananas, or pork? death? the wrong type of fish? death.
An Ali'i breaks the kapu? death for a commoner (picked at random, could be you!) to correct the sin of the Ali'i, but the Ali'i miraculously keeps living!
Ignorant of the Kapu law? Too bad, 5 year olds were punished just the same as adults.
How will you die? Well, you could be turned into shark bait, you could be tossed into an oven and burned alive, you could have your eyes scooped out and clubbed for days in non-vital areas of the body to prolong your passing...
Not a world any of you would want to live in, unless you enjoy having your lives forfeited for...being taller than the king.
Anonymous July 7, 9:10am:
So that makes you an expert on Hawaiian history and culture? Pu'uhonua were in place to provide a place of refuge for those who had broken a kapu and they were in place all over Hawaii. That being said, who said anything about returning to that period in our history? The kapu system had been abolished before missionaries arrived. At the time of the overthrow, we were a Constitutional Monarchy.
This is about self-determination. The right to self-governance. The right to incorporate our values into a government that recognizes what is culturally important. Today we have constant conflict with the American government, whether it has to do with desecration of our wahi pana (sacred sites)or disturbance of iwi kupuna.
For the one who said "no action", there are many Kanaka Maoli on the front line fighting for these very things, either you've been living under a rock or are ignorant. Obviously this discussion is way too uncomfortable for you - your problem. The history of Hawaii is not pretty and if you choose to live here than you should accept the uncomfortable truths and the very real consequences to those truths.
Brah u guys no undastand! They have Hawaiians fight against Hawaiians. What dey do is give the slave Hawaiians money, jobs and political office to use them against the rest of the hawaiians.
The slave hawaiians that belong to the GOB then give jobs, scholarships, money, business, and other things to secure their families stay in power. This is why they don't want the rest of the Hawaiians to receive jobs and scholarships. They poison their people with drugs and GMO products.
These families is the ones the rest of the people gotta take down before you can progress as a whole. All you have to do is talk to the American Indians to show how it's done. But they are also fighting amongst each other and fight against drug and alcohol abuse.
Look at the people that are in charge just like up in the US Capitol. They playing every body for fools. Free your minds from what they want you to think.
They want to divide all so it is easier to conquer. The same families are Greedy and want to keep everything for themselves. Look at their drug addicted criminal family members get county and state jobs and you wonder why qualified people leave Kauai for better opportunities.
Gotta flip this thing upside down in order to change the status quo.
As a flown here not grown here, i chose to move to Hawaii, and in particular Kauai.
I have never found much in the way of resentment etc in the 10+ years I have lived here, in fact 99% of the people who live here, have been overtly friendly and helpful.
This issue of Sovereignty though is primarily being raised by a very small group of people who do not have the support of the "Locals" and in most cases the "Kanaka", who seem to appreciate the US and the benefits it has brought.
It has been stated that a return to a Kinfdom with a Constitutional Monarch is being sought, but due to the fact that Hawaii as a society at that time was primarily agrarian, a return to this lifestyle would be almost impossible to acheive, as almost certainly most of the current population would not be interested in that lifestyle.
The tourist & military industries that currently maintain the Hawaiian Islands, bringing in the majority of the money used by both State and County services, either directly through tourist dollars, or indirectly through paychecks, and services or goods purchased, are a direct result of the confidence that people feel when visiting that this is a US state and therefore safe.
Take away the US and you will take away that safety net, leading to a loss of the required funding that supports this state.
As mentioned in previous posts, Hawaii as a nation was not strong enough to withstand the auspices of a foreign power during th imperial age or the 1800's.
Without the US the Japanese or Russian's would have moved for control, Fort Elizabeth (Russian Fort) on Kauai is proof evident of that. We can clearly see with hindsight how either of those nations would have treated Hawaii.
Was imperialism right, maybe, maybe not, but it is what happened. The US will never relinquish the Hawaiian Islands, and the majority of current residents, both born here and those that moved would not want it.
The Kanaka (and remember it is a blood % that defines that) need to make use of the various opportunities available such as OHA housing & Kamehameha Schools to advance themselves, rather than falling back on the largest welfare State system in the US.
Consent of the governed and the Hawaii Statehood Vote.
In 1959 out of 155,000 registered voters, 140,000 votes were cast, the highest turnout ever in Hawaii. The vote showed approval rates of at least 93% by voters on all major islands in support of Statehood. Of the approximately 140,000 votes cast, fewer than 8000 rejected the Admission Act of 1959.
I am all for having another vote then maybe we can move on and the Hawaiian sovereignty people will STFU.
To: July 6, 2013 at 10:34 PM
You really should just move or get over your neolithic cultural bias. The whole aina Hanau thing does not seem to be working for you.
The outcome of the so-called Statehood vote would have been decidedly different if #1 the option of independence was placed on the ballot as was required by international law and #2 if US military personnel who were stationed in Hawaii temporarily at the time and were numbered in the thousands were not allowed to vote on a matter that was for Hawaii citizens to determine. By eliminating the option of sovereignty, many natives stayed away from the polls that day and those that did vote chose the lesser of two evils - statehood over the current oppressive territorial government that kept the same white elitist families who had initiated the overthrow in power.
Blood quantum, the racist tool of the oppressor to keep our people divided, does not determine who is native and who is not. Anyone who can trace their genealogy in Hawaii prior to 1778, is native.
You've lived here for 10 years and you "know" that the majority of Hawaiians and locals are happy to be a part of the Empire? Only some all knowing, ego-centric American can claim to know this.
Finally, to anony July 10, 2013 7:03 am: you're the one that has a problem with Kanaka Maoli who strive for justice so I suggest you move your American loving self to the continent where you will fit in just fine16 and leave Hawaii for Hawaiians.
It works fine for me, youre the one who has a problem with kanaka choosing to live a sovereign life DESPITE US occupation. You should move your American loving ass to the continent where you'll fit in fine! This American capitalistic system that puts money over people has no place in the land of aloha nor the accompaning attitude. E Ku'e na kanaka!
I love the revisionist and what if and only if history lesson but it does not change the numbers then or what they would be today. Plus you sound more like an old bitter Marxist than anything else.
"Revisionist history" is what has been taught in the Hawaii school system since Hawaii's "fake" annexation into the U.S.in 1898. Hawaiian history written in the words of the oppressor were meant to imprison our minds and keep Kanaka Maoli docile and resigned to a loss of independence. The birth of the sovereignty movement in the 1970's and the re-birth of the native language enabled scholars to dig into the archives of Hawaiian language sources and learn our history from the mouths of our kupuna. Our Queen wrote her story, our alii kept their journals and multiple Hawaiian Language newspapers conveyed daily life in the Hawaiian Kingdom from the native perspective.
There is history as you believe it to be and history as I believe it to be and then there is the reality on the ground. Keeping your culture and language alive are good things but the Hawaiian sovereignty movement has gone and is going nowhere.
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