Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of The Perfect Wave: The Hawaiian Independence Movement Gains Momentum

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's statehood, I went down to the beach at Waikiki and witnessed a lovely evening fireworks display. Only thing is, the fireworks didn't have anything to do with the anniversary -- it's something my hotel does every Friday night for the tourists. At least in Oahu, there wasn't much of anything else going on to commemorate the historic anniversary, either. A '50s nostalgia concert starring the Platters, the Coasters and the Drifters, or imitations thereof. A conference at the Hawaii Convention Center. A march and rally for Hawaiian independence.

Wait a minute, I said to myself as I read that last one in the Honolulu Advertiser. I thought Texas was the only state that wanted to secede from the Union. Why would Hawaii want out?

Turns out there was a lot I didn't know about this place when I came here with my wife for a vacation last week. Heck, we didn't even know that today was the day Hawaii became the 50th state. When we looked for ways to commemorate the event and came up dry, we figured, well, the local economy is in the crapper (which is why we got such a great deal on our hotel), so maybe the locals aren't in a celebrating mood.

But the pieces started to fall into place when we went to 'Iolani Palace, built by King Kalakaua in 1882 when Hawaii -- the only state to have ever been a legitimate, globally recognized kingdom -- was still a sovereign nation. A decade later, his successor, Queen Lili'uokalani, was forced by an American-led faction to relinquish the monarchy and was placed under house arrest there. Restored to something approaching its 19th century glory in the late '70s, the palace is now a major tourist attraction -- and a gathering place for Hawaii's many independence groups. We weren't shocked by the unabashedly pro-royal tone of the palace's audio tour. After all, the royals are the place's big selling point. But the final audio segment, in which "Prince" David Kawananakoa (a descendant of the Hawaiian royal family) advocates Hawaiian sovereignty, made us prick up our ears.

It turns out that the independence movement isn't just a nutty gambit to avoid paying federal taxes, the way it is in Texas. The Hawaiians, especially those who can trace their ancestry back to the time when Captain James Cook "discovered" the islands, have some pretty legit grievances. Apparently, the United States violated international law and treaties it had signed with Hawaii when it overthrew the monarchy and annexed and occupied the country back in the 1890s. In fact, at least one legal scholar says that when President Clinton issued a formal "Oops, our bad" apology to the Hawaiian people in 1993 for America's actions of 100 years earlier, it negated any claim the U.S. of A had to the islands.

This legal hullaballoo should delight all the birthers, who now have another weapon in their arsenal. If they can't prove that President Obama wasn't born in Hawaii, then they can try to prove that Hawaii isn't actually part of the Union. And while the odds of Hawaii becoming an independent monarchy in the near future don't seem that great, the movement has a lot of people on its side. The total number of members of various Hawaiian independence groups is estimated at about 30,000, while 13% of residents polled by the Honolulu Advertiser say that becoming a state was a negative for Hawaii. That translates to about 165,000 pissed-off Hawaiians.

The natives I've spoken with don't realistically expect revolution, secession, or any other major upheaval anytime soon. Nor do they really want it. But, said one woman, "given how much the native language and culture suffered for so long after the Americans occupied us, I think we understand where the movement is coming from."

While still representing only a small percentage of the population, the Hawaiian sovereignty movement has gained enough power and respect within the state -- er, kingdom? -- to effectively mute any celebrations of a half-century of statehood. In fact, the only event scheduled at 'Iolani Palace today was a traditional tribute to Queen Lili'uokalani, Hawaii's last reigning monarch. And while America -- led by its Hawaiian-born president -- celebrates the admission of Hawaii to the Union, Prince Quentin Kawananakoa, first in line for the monarchy, awaits his chance to regain the throne that is rightfully his.

(Please note that the above was very hastily researched -- I'm on vacation, after all -- so if there are any factual inaccuracies, please don't hesitate to post them in the Comments section.)

Follow Tony Sachs on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RetroManNYC

Comments

[manaunui]

Ai aloha kakou, I am Hoomanawanui, descendant of Kamauoha, Kauakahi, Kamalama, Kaohimaunu, Kikaha, Kealohapauole, Kahakuakoi, Hanuna, Kapule, Kaili, Poki, Umi-a-liloa, Kaoleioku, Hao, Kaohimaunu, Kuahine, Paahao, Paele, Kaioiole, Maka, Kaonohi, Niulii, Keoua, Namuo, Kama, Napahuelua, and so on for more than 1000 yrs my ohana lived in the islands. Now comes the great OZ (USA) and destroys our life on this peaceful islands in the middle of the pacific. How is it my ancestors were stripped from talking in their native tongue and stripped from being free to plant there food and fish the ocean. This was our way of life and now we cant even build our own hale (house) on our own lands because of insrrection or colonization? To make your pockets fat? Or to take by force the islands in the middle of the pacific for strategic power? AOLE This is no more a paradise you thought existed. For the warmongers of this world is destroying the last of the hawaiian culture, you will never find a community of people working together to gather fish for a luau if the USA and puppet state do not make things right. ONIPAA IMUA STANDFAST GO FORWARD MAHALO KE AKUA

[gratonite]

Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono ...
Translated into English this means, "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."

This was the motto of the Hawaiian nation, before it was illegally overthrown by the US. Ironically, these words were usurped by the US as well and made the motto for the "State of Hawaii." It's certainly a complicated issue now, and causes a lot of controversy, but the truth has to be accepted first before any healthy progress can be made. If nothing else, this movement serves to educate people about their own government, colonization, history and the way it is written, facts which are selectively included and omitted in our history books, and may also inform some haoles of reasons he may not be greeted with flower leis everywhere he goes while vacationing there. Fortunately though, people seem to be becoming more educated about this topic--especially locals and more culturally sensitive visitors. I don' think RobinSeattle is one of them yet though.

I'd encourage everyone to educate themselves as much as possible on this issue, understand what's going on, don't buy into the notion that the OHA is any more than a self-serving entity, rife with political cronyism, and support the native-Hawaiian efforts toward self-determination.

[RobinSeattle]

Hawaiian independence would open a whole can of worms and so I see this whole independence campaign as tilting at windmills.

First, if Hawaiians feel occupied by the haole and the Japanese are they going to ethnically cleanse the islands in the wake of independence? Boy, that would be ugly.

Secondly, American and Japanese corporate interests are not going to let it happen. We would just have a repeat of the Philippine civil war or the coup in Guatemala (brought to you by United Fruit!). Moreover, even if Hawaii were allowed to get away clean, you would have the usual political demagoguing over "who lost Hawaii?"

We have strategic military bases in Hawaii. That alone will ensure that Hawaii stays a state.

The native Hawaiians are currently bedeviled with educational, criminal and poverty issues. If all the non-Hawaiians are forced to "go home" (whatever that means) then you don't really have a large enough educated or entrepeneurial class in place to run the islands' economic and societal infrastructure.

Finally, there is a huge difference between campaigning and governing. Will the independence leaders actually prove to be competent leaders when they are in power? And how long will it take to hammer out a political concensus on all the ensuing political questions? Again, this would not be pretty.

[lippylaroux]

There is so much more involved with this issue than could be discussed and debated here. One thing that sticks out most is that the Hawaiian Islands were shaped politically during the unification by Kamehameha I. He used the technology given to him by the white people (Guns. metals etc.) to build his empire at the time thereby contaminating the culture ( Kind of like Star Trek's prime directive). Soon the Kapu ways were gone and the king and his monarchy found the newcomers usefull politically; which lead to the eventual loss of the kingdom. I submit that had the US not "Occupied" this Island chain the Islands would be a state of either Japan or Russia. Russia actually had a military outpost on Kauaii.

[Waihili]

There are a few historical inaccuracies here. The military technology was not originally "given" to Kamehameha I by "newcomers." Rather, it was taken from a ship captained by the son of Simon Medcalfe. Simon had insulted and manhandled an important chief and had also obliterated at least one village on Maui for no reason at all. The sonʻs ship was captured by the chief in retaliation. Two British sailors survived the shipʻs capture, and did serve as advisors to Kamehameha I when the ship and weapons ended up in Kamehamehaʻs hands. Otherwise, "newcomers" to Hawaiʻi were not that useful. They tended to decimate the Hawaiian population by bringing STIs and other diseases.

When Kamehameha III decided to shift governance to a modern constitutional monarchy, he saw the writing on the wall. He knew that Western powers wanted his country, and he wanted protection from international law.

An over-zealous British naval officer actually "took" the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1843. His superiors made him give it back. This is celebrated as "Restoration Day" - La Hoʻihoʻi Ea. Years later, when Queen Liliuʻokalani expected a similar return by the U.S. The kingdom had over 50 international treaties as a declared neutral nation. This neutrality governed her response to the "overthrow."

Finally, just because the U.S. occupies the Kingdom now, instead of Japan or Russia, doesnʻt make the occupation right. If we occupied Tibet instead of China, would that make everything okay for the Tibetans? I think not...

[Kai Landow]

Aloha ka kou,

Many times i read post like RobinSeattle and it is our struggle to get out real information on the status of the Hawaiian Kingdom government. Hawaiians do not "Feel" occupied, we are occupied! The introduction of a racist approach to governance has been and continues to be pushed by the Americans. We clearly reject a race based nation nor are we willing to punish groups punitively as in the manner of American occupation.

We have a conservative view of our nation and wish the rule of law [including the law of nations] to be the basis for what goes forward. You kind of express the "Death panel" view of what is actually happening. No where can you find this scenario of non-Hawaiians forced to "Go Home", except in comments of people who are unaware of what is really happening.

Let me tell you plainly, to continue to act as Americans do in Hawaii and that is in our sovereign country, will unravel your own constitutionally based nation!

One rule of law for the United States and a pretense of law for another will not create a more perfect union. We have always appealed to your better nature and been patient.

As for your comment about our competence to lead our nation, we say in Hawai'i "Niele" but for you "go suck an egg".

Kai Landow
Aupuni Hawai'i

[raviG]

this is really WEAK, repeated argument. the british told india that if they left india would collapse and would not know how to govern themselves. were there problems? sure, just like every other country has it's problems. but now india has the world's largest middle class, way better than being raped by the british.

americans also said that when they closed their military bases in the philippines that the island's economy would collapse. didn't happen!

odd that you mention ethnic cleansing - there's still white ppl living in jamaica, india, south africa, and mexico. where was the mass scale ethnic cleansing when they gained independence??

[gratonite]

"If all the non-Hawaiians are forced to "go home" (whatever that means) then you don't really have a large enough educated or entrepeneurial class in place to run the islands' economic and societal infrastructure. "

Wow, that sounds like something the colonizers would have said themselves back in the day. As a Native Hawaiian myself, I can assure you, there are plenty of us who are well-educated and certainly capable of governing the place as well as those doing it now. I'm no Senator Akaka, Sarah Palin or George Bush mind you.

Still, I understand why people like yourselves would question the practicalities of Hawaiian sovereignty at this juncture. It's just infuriating to listen to your strong, yet closed-minded opinions about a topic you likely first learned about today.

[Uluwehi Hopkins]

While I admire your attempt at predicting the future, nobody knows what will happen. I would suggest that, before you go announcing the demise of an independence movement, you find out the facts first. As another blogger stated, no one said anything about any kind of ethnic cleansing. We don't intend to kick anyone out.
Your comments regarding or lack of educated people to run the islands, however, is downright insulting. While our people do suffer from a larger percentage of "issues" than caucasians, it in no way means that we don't also have a large number educated and successful people here. Let me remind you that, in the American way, the ruling class is always simply a handful of people, so by your own standards, we have more than enough people who can handle the running of our country. That's not to say that we would run things that way...
On a final note, I'd like to thank Tony Sachs for writing a good article on such a little-known topic. There are a couple of facts that need a little more research, but overall I am thankful that he would choose to write about our plight, and in such an understanding and respectful way. Mahalo nui!

[lippylaroux]

Here is a great link about this; http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/hawaiiansovereignty/

I have lived in Hawaii for many years and respect both sides of this problem.

[itsmyparty]

Ask the Puerto Ricans--it is a LOT better to be a territory.

[oni baba]

http://statehoodhawaii.org/wp/index.php/2009/08/22/spectre_of_sovereignty/

Hawaii’s 50th anniversary of statehood commemoration was an event that changed the way that we think about statehood. The events inside and outside the convention center brought disparate viewpoints together in a manner where voices and histories could exist side-by-side, speaking with each other not through words, but by presence. If this presence revealed itself throughout the day as a spectre, we were later reawakened to the manifest life this land embraces. Towards evening at a separate event, the moment the chants began at ‘Iolani Palace, it was as if the words spoken by Kamehameha III on July 26, 1843 “Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka ‘Aina I Ka Pono”– The Sovereignty of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness– (also the state motto) had been spoken by the sun and its shadows.

[K.J. Dwyer - Huffpost Blogger]

I know I repeatedly refer to this book, but it really is seminal and a must read for anyone interested in American "misadventure".

Stephen Kinzer's first chapter of "Overthrow" details the overthrow of the Hawaiin monarchy and all the dirty American business interests involved. It then goes on to detail more than 100 years of similar hegemenous crap pulled by the U.S. in Cuba, Phillipines, Nicaragua, Honduras, Iran, Chile, Indonesia, etc.

http://www.democracynow.org/2006/4/21/overthrow_americas_century_of_regime_change

After reading this book, you'll see a clear if not surprising pattern of Big American Business at the forefront of subverting democracy time after time (our own, sadly, included).

[swift goat pet for truth]

I grew up in Hawaii, so, yeah. This is all true.
And I understand your references to our foreign dealings, which, BTW, also led to the strength of the communists in Central and South America, as well as in other foreign countries, like Viet Nam and China.

But you seem to have missed our adventures and escapades with our Native Americans.
You mention "Big American Business" but the pattern goes back way before that.
Before Sand Creek, before Wounded Knee, before the Trail of Tears, before the US was a nation.
Before the East Coast was settled, before Cortes and Onate, before Pizarro, before Columbus.

Well, you get the idea.

[writerjohnny]

The history of mankind IS the history of class war struggle. No matter what race or geographic location a small group of "haves" have always held dominion through force over a much larger group of "have-nots". As long a the very few continue to own and run the world whether it be within a nation or nation over other nations, greed and inequality shall flourish.
Yes Swift goat(awesome name) it goes way back before the Crusades, the Roman Empire, the Ming Dynasty or Egypt's kings. The first time someone realized he could get his way by using a club our fate was cast.
There is a sensible and humane alternative if we don't allow the rich and powerful to destroy ourselves or the planet to maintain their rule in the meantime. Based on science, history and logic and filled with a real love for all humankind.

[Waihili]

Noenoe Silvaʻs book, Aloha Betrayed, is also essential reading.

[LMPE]

This whole country is stolen land.

[dontomas]

The whole world is ruled by and large by the last conquerors of each country or continent.

[Sinick]

Can you blame them? If I were Hawaiian, I'd jump right on that bandwagon considering the current state of the Union. Imagine: freedom from mainland taxes on their lucrative tourist industry; freedom from the environmental destruction that outsiders have rained down on this precious archipelago; and freedom from the Puritanical dogma that has been rammed down their throats since the hairy big-nosed and round-eyed barbarians invaded and dominated their world by force?

On another note, I also encourage Texas to succeed from Union as it would rid this nation of a number of hairy, big-nosed and round-eyed Puritans.

Let the flaming begin. I am an online arsonist.

[Traci1965]

Texas and Hawaii aren't the only states who want to secede. Alaska has its own secessionist movement, the Alaska Independence Party. Like Hawaii, the AIP claims the US broke international law. As I understand it, international law dictates that when a territory votes on the issue, there are supposed to be four options: remain a territory, become a commonwealth, become a state, or become an independent country. The AIP argues that neither the commonweath option nor the independent country option was allowed on the ballot, so Alaska is not legally a state. So, one could argue that Sarah Palin is not a US citizen, which means she could not legally be a candidate for vice-president, nor can she legally run for president. Which is ironic, considering her husband Todd was an AIP member for over seven years.

[threegoal]

Bear in mind that Sarah Palin was not born in Alaska. IIRC, she was born in Idaho.

[Traci1965]

Ooops....my bad! I forgot about that!

[michiganms]

Well, maybe we could get Alaska and Idaho to secede. We need to get rid of that woman one way or another ...and Minnesota. Let's lose Michelle Bachmann while we're at it.

[oni baba]

Oddly enough there are some 30 states or something with secessionist movements. The difference with Hawaii however, is that it is not secessionist. Hawaii is an occupied nation, and as an occupied nation cannot secede. Quite unique situation and I/m looking forward to seeing how the State Dept. will spin this as Hawaii's history becomes better known. Both the UN fourth Committee, and the ICJ, are aware of this movement as Hawaii has a unique opportunity to apply for both de-occupation as well as decolonization in the international courts. Two very different routes,

[sociocanuck]

Quote: "As regards Hawaii, I am delighted to be able to tell you that Secretary Long shares our views. He believes we should take the islands, and I have just been preparing some memoranda for him to use at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow. If only we had some good man in the place of John Sherman as secretary of state there would not be a hitch, and even as it is I hope for favorable action. I have been pressing upon the secretary, and through him on the President, that we ought to act now without delay, before Japan gets her two new battleships which are now ready for delivery to her in England. Even a fortnight may make a difference. With Hawaii once in our hands most of the danger of friction with Japan would disappear." (Papers of Theodore Roosevelt [1897], Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, pp. 225-231)

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/trmahan.htm

So basically, before he was President, TDR was instrumental in okaying the coup and "preparing memoranda" to help coerce/swa­y/manipula­te government position. All for only perceived strategic military advantage. Republicans never change, apparently.

[oni baba]

There are two great historical frauds in Hawaii : annexation and statehood.

Hawaii was part of the family of Nations. Like the Kingdom of Belgium for example. How could the US annex Belgium without an annexation treaty between the US and the Kingdom? By the same token, show us the legitimate treaty of Annexation with the Kingdom of Hawaii-- the one that is signed and ratified by the 2/3rd Senate-- not the fake one that is merely a Joint Resolution with the Republic of Hawaii-- the missionary descendants who supported the overthrow.

Second fraud is statehood. in 1946 Hawaii was listed on the UN as non-self-governing territory. removal from this list required some basic conditions as mandated by Chapter XI of the UN Charter. Hawaii had a fraudulent plebiscite as was required by UN resolution 742. Shall Hawaii be immediately admitted into the Union as a State was the only question without any oversight as to the option for independence or any other form of governance. find our more at StatehoodH­awaii.org.

[Waihili]

Thanks for pointing this out, Oni Baba! I wish people could understand that the so-called "annexation" of Hawaiʻi was done as an internal domestic resolution, not as a nation to nation treaty. Therefore, it is not real.

[propitiousmoment]

Sounds like if we had not annexed them, Japan would have. Which would have meant no bombing of Pearl Harbor, but would have given Japan a much greater advantage in WWII, with possibly different outcome.

[sociocanuck]

Conjecture. There was no proof that Japan had such designs, so it's making a future prediction without the benefit of facts or concrete evidence.

That argument has been used many times over to justify military action without cause. If anything it's evidence that such a thing has a long history of abuse through carefully chosen wording.

[sociocanuck]

...conclusive proof, anyway. Point still stands.

[Waihili]

Again, there was no real "annexation." It was a deception based on an internal domestic resolution of Congress, not done a nation to nation treaty. It was also done in spite of strenuous protests from the majority of citizens of the captive Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

Based on this odd way of thinking, who should we annex next, simply at the whim of Congress and without any treaty agreements or consultation with the nationʻs citizens? Iraq? Afghanistan? Tibet? Cuba? Italy? Heck, the worldʻs our oyster, isnʻt it?