“The Akaka bill makes Hawaiians as free as a bird in a cage.” That statement was made at the Akaka hearings on Oahu. Why should the kanaka maoli have to beg the United States to give them federal recognition when
“The Akaka bill makes Hawaiians as free as a bird in a cage.” That statement
was made at the Akaka hearings on Oahu. Why should the kanaka maoli have to beg
the United States to give them federal recognition when they had already
achieved international recognition?
On Nov. 28, 1843, the Queen of England
and the King of France formally recognized the Hawaiian Kingdom as an
independent nation and admitted Hawai’i into the family of nations. This
international recognition gave the Hawaiian Kingdom an equal standing amongst
the other members.
By 1893, the kingdom had signed treaties and exchanged
ambassadors with several countries, including Great Britain, France, Germany
and the United States.
History reveals that there was no successful
overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893. The Lawful Hawaiian government
simply went into exile. According to international law, the kingdom on March
13, 1999, reinstated itself as the lawful government.
Hawaiians are
quickly becoming educated to their rights under laws of nations and kingdom
law. Learning that their rightful and lawful name is kanaka maoli, not Native
Hawaiian. With the approval of the Akaka bill, Native Hawaiians would be known
as Native Americans and be placed under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs.
The world is learning that the United States broke
international law, the Hawaiian Constitution as well as its own constitution
and treaties. President Grover Cleveland, after sending an investigation team
to the Hawaiian Kingdom, proclaimed to Congress on Dec. 18, 1893, that “this
was an act of war,” committed with the participation of a diplomatic
representative of the United States and without the authority of congress.
For over a century, the United States has yet to right the wrong. One step
in that direction was the signing of the Apology Bill 103-150. This bill, which
was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993, apologizes for the
illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
The following is a prophetic
letter written by Queen Lili’uokalani:
“Oh, honest Americans, as Christians
hear me for my downtrodden people! Their form of government is as dear to them
as yours is to you. Quite as warmly as you love your country, so they love
theirs. With all your goodly possessing islands that, although new at hand to
be neutral ground in time of war, do not covet the little vineyard of Naboth’s,
so far from your shores, lest the punishment of Ahab fall upon you, if not in
your day, then in that of your children, for be not deceived. God is not
mocked!”
Oh, honest Americans, as Christians please take the time to
educate yourselves on the quest for self-determination and self-government for
the kanaka maoli. As a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I challenge you
to step forward and help right the wrong.
All moral citizens who would
like to learn more are invited and encouraged to an educational forum on Jan.
13, 2001. This national rally is being held on all the Hawaiian Islands and
will serve as public notice as required by international law. On Kaua’i, the
rally will be held on the west side at Salt Pond Park. The day-long event is
open to all. There will be free food for the mind and body, along with live
music from some of Kauai’s top entertainers.
For additional information,
check out the following Web sites: www.lavanet/~hawngovt and
alohaquest.com.
History is in the making. Be a part of it. ‘A ‘Ohe Hana Nui
Ke Alu’ia ( No task is too large when we work together) May Ke Akua bless you
and your Ohana in the year.
EDNA SUMMERS
Kapa’a
