Na‘i Aupuni is indefensible

SUBHEAD: The idea of a blood quantum as the factor in determining Hawaiian inclusion is a dead end.

By Juan Wilson on 18 November 2015 for Island Breath -
(http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/na-i-aupuni-defends-election/article_8ff20493-a643-5223-a4b8-09b377d131bb.html)


Image above: Blood cells in a human vein. From (http://govfuturesusa.tumblr.com/post/56620667054/the-term-blood-quantum-is-used-by-the-government).

On November 14th the Garden Island News ran the story below that reported on the state's Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) defending its Na‘i Aupuni election recently held to select participation by native Hawaiians to determine self governance.

The subhead of the article states that those protesting the process ‘have not proposed alternative plan to form an effective government’. A couple of points should be made.
  1. The State of Hawaii, as a member of the United States of America is hardly the entity to determine self governance for Hawaiians. American business interests with the help of the US Marines illegally overthrew self governing Hawaiian nation for geopolitical and corporate interests. At the time the US was taking over the Pacific Ocean from the Spanish and needed a strategic naval base at its center - hence Pearl Harbor.
  2.  The United States of America, as represented by the Interior Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is not an entity that has ever, in the end, given indigenous people any true sovereignty. It has broken any treaty that came close - for oil, gas, water, military or any other interest that arose.
     
  3. Real sovereignty is self organizing. This was recognized by United States Public Law 103-150, informally known as the Apology Bill. It is a Joint Resolution of the U.S. Congress adopted in 1993 that "acknowledges that the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii occurred with the active participation of agents and citizens of the United States and further acknowledges that the Native Hawaiian people never directly relinquished to the United States their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people over their national lands, either through the Kingdom of Hawaii or through a plebiscite or referendum".
     
  4. There are a number of groups of Hawaiians that have formed differing models of a sovereign nation. One is a straight forward continuation of the Kingdom of Hawaii (hawaiiankingdom.org). Another is an independent community on Oahu living as the Hawaii Nation (hawaii-nation.org). Through the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources (and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Western Pacific Fisheries Council) an effort is under way to organize a traditional Hawaiian land management system through the Aha Moku Council (ahamoku.org). There is even a separate Kauai group that aligns itself with Polynesia as the Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi (atooikingdoms.com).     
All of these groups offer important interpretations and solutions to issues of sovereignty in Hawaii. However, only one group made the effort to meet the requirements specified in the Apology Bill for Hawaiians to achieve self governance.

The lawful Hawaiian Government remained in a state of exile Until March 13, 1999, when a government pro temp was established in accordance with public international law and Hawaiian Kingdom Domestic Law. This re-established government fulfilled the position of obligation taken by the United States of America in U.S. Public Law 103-150. This established the Reinstated Nation of Hawaii (hawaii-gov.net/reinstatement-chronology).

This legal entity has been holding elections and providing some services ever since. They are now the Lawful Government of Hawaii (thelawfulhawaiiangovernment.org).

For the last dozen or so years those interested in Hawaiian independence have had to fight the Akaka Bill and other attempts to turn Hawaiians into American Indians. We all know how well that worked out for the indigenous people now occupied by America.

My paternal grandfather was a half black and half Indian "Wilson" from North Carolina. As a one/eighth Cherokee, one/eighth Afro-American, I know a bit how it feels to be "another brown" person in America. I have felt more welcome as a citizen in Hawaii than in the United States.

The idea of a blood quantum as the factor in a determining Hawaiian inclusion is a dead end. There is an ever dwindling number of aging people that can jump through that hoop.  I don't advise Hawaiians to take the route advised by OHA. It's as stupid as saying only people born before Hawaiian Statehood in 1959 can vote on independence.

Instead I suggest that those interested in achieving Hawaiian independence seek out an existing sovereignty group and see how and if they work for you and how you work out for them.

With some effort all these parties in Hawaii, whether royalist or democratic, should come together on their own as a nation. Let's hope imperial America has the sense to get out of the way.

See also:
Island Breath: Time for Provisional Government 12/28/04
Rebuilding Hawaiian Kingdom 9/3/05
Island Breath: Sustainability and Sovereignty 11/15/07
Island Breath: Hawaii Nation Part 1 4/25/08
Island Breath: Hawaii Nation Part 2 4/30/08
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaiian Sovereignty Pane 9/26/09
Ea O Ka Aina: Case for Hawaiian Sovereignty 12/20/10
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaiian Sovereignty Issues 9/17/11
Ea O Ka Aina: Feds Threaten Hawaiian Sovereignty 2/2/12
Ea O Ka Aina: State of Hawaiian sovereignty 9/11/14
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaiian sovereignty on the line 10/28/15
Ea O Ka Aina: Guide to Hawaiian secession 11/6/15



OHA defends Na‘i Aupuni
SUBHEAD: Says protesters ‘have not proposed alternative plan to form an effective government’

By Brittany Lyte on 14 November 2015 for the Garden Island -
(http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/na-i-aupuni-defends-election/article_8ff20493-a643-5223-a4b8-09b377d131bb.html)

In response to protests against the Na‘i Aupuni election for Native Hawaiian self-governance, the nonprofit organizing the voting process is emphasizing that the end result is not predetermined.
Protesters are concerned that the planned constitutional convention in Honolulu this winter will result in federal recognition.

However, according to Na‘i Aupuni, decisions about pathways to sovereignty will be made by the elected delegates, of which there are 200 candidates vying for 40 seats.

“Leadership is about bringing your voice to the table and advocating your views to other leaders — not walking away from the table,” states a Na‘i Aupuni email. “Na‘i Aupuni has set up a process whereby elected leaders can discuss various options and issues to find a consensus so that the Native Hawaiian community may proceed forward in unity.”

The candidates’ perspectives are broad-based and most of them say that they are open-minded and look forward to debating the issues with the other delegates, according to Na‘i Aupuni.

“Proceed, just as did those who came before with strength and determination — and vote — even though others have attempted to discourage you or discredit a diverse group of 200 leaders who have bravely risen to the call as committed, caring and conscientious candidates who are asking for your vote,” the email states.

In response to assertions by protesters that the list of voters is flawed and does not represent a sufficient percentage of Hawaiians, Na‘i Aupuni leadership said that the voter roll includes 89,000 Hawaiians, which includes a significant portion of adult Hawaiians who reside in Hawaii.

“It is unrealistic to believe that a significantly larger list will ever be developed,” the release states. “No group, including the protesters, has offered an alternative plan to achieve Hawaiian self-determination or form an effective government.”

The 30-day voting period ends Nov. 30. Election results are expected to be announced Dec. 1.
“This is an historic election for Hawaiians to determine if a reorganized Hawaiian government will be formed,” said Kuhio Asam, president of the private nonprofit Na‘i Aupuni.

Mauna Kea Trask, a Native Hawaiian who is also the Kauai County attorney, said the Na‘i Aupuni election, in his opinion, marks the most pragmatic approach to sovereignty so far, and has the potential to protect and strengthen Native Hawaiian cultural and education programs already in place.
“They’re afraid to lose what they don’t have,” Trask said of those who oppose the process, “and they don’t understand that with failure to act we will lose what we do have.”

Kauai’s eligible voters — those who are Native Hawaiian, at least 18 years of age and certified by the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission — have a chance to elect two candidates to seats on the 40-member delegation.

Kauai’s candidates include Samuel Aea, a 56-year-old business owner; Kanani Kagawa Fu, Kauai County’s 34-year-old assistant to the housing director; Mai Ling Haumea, 24; Linda Ka’auwai-Iwamoto, a 72-year-old former homestead assistant for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands; and Kuuleialoha Santos, a 40-year-old descendent of salt makers in Hanapepe.

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