Keanu Sai, of O’ahu, and Mahealani Pai, of Hawai’i Island, will give presentations in a two-day gathering of Native Hawaiians this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, April 15 and 16. David Keanu Sai, Agent for the Hawaiian Kingdom Government presently in
Keanu Sai, of O’ahu, and Mahealani Pai, of Hawai’i Island, will give
presentations in a two-day gathering of Native Hawaiians this weekend, Saturday
and Sunday, April 15 and 16.
David Keanu Sai, Agent for the Hawaiian
Kingdom Government presently in arbitration proceedings at the Permanent Court
of Arbitration (World Court) at The Hague, Netherlands, will give a talk on
“Hawaiian Arbitration at the World Court.” Oral proceedings are scheduled
before the court this summer, in July.
Sai says, “The case involves a
Hawaiian subject, Lance Paul Larsen, who has been illegally incarcerated by a
foreign government for following Hawaiian Kingdom law.” Larsen asserts that his
government, the Hawaiian Kingdom, is responsible for his protection.
The
issue before the World Court is whether Larsen’s rights as a Hawaiian subject
are being violated under international law, and if so, does he have redress
against the Hawaiian Government.
On March 1, 1996, Sai accepted an
appointment to serve as Acting Regent by the Trustees of the Hawaiian Kingdom
Trust Company, the only general partnership at the time established by Hawaiian
statute since 1893. The company had assumed the role of the Cabinet council
which serves as the Council of Regency for the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Since his
appointment, vacancies in the Cabinet Council have been filled and in 1999 he
resumed the seat of Acting Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Council of
Regency. These appointments remain subject to approval by the Legislative
Assembly of the Kingdom.
Mahealani Pai has had his own struggles on his
ancestral homeland at Honokohau Beach, on the ahupua’a of Honokohau, the Kona
side of Hawai’i Island.
The Pai ‘ohana trace their heritage on this beach
for 14 generations, but National Park Service bought the land and called it the
Kaloko-Honokohau National Cultural Park. After several years of struggle and
attempts at negotiations, Pai and his family were evicted from the property in
February 1997.
Pai continues to take care of the fish ponds in the area, a
responsibility passed down from his ancestors. And he continues to have
problems with the National Park Service.
The two day gathering is free and
open to all. Both days will include a potluck dinner. For more information
regarding times and location, call Puanani Rogers at
821-2267.
