Hawaiian kingdom supporters speak out

LIHU’E – Sixty members and supporters of the Lawful Hawaiian Government Nation

demanded the reinstatement of the laws of the Hawaiian Kingdom at a rally at

Nawiliwili Park yesterday.

With the laws in place, the kingdom of Hawai’i

could once again operate as a sovereign nation, separate from the control of

the United States, said group spokesman Kane Pa.

Because the overthrow of

the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 and the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the

United States were illegal, the kingdom of Hawai’i has always been intact, Pa

said.

The sovereignty group sponsored the rally to discuss independence

efforts. It was one of five held by the sovereignty group across the state

this weekend.

“Everything is going on, right across the nation,” said

group member Gilbert Medeiros. “The unity is standing up.”

Pa said 85 of

110 nations — including Canada and Switzerland — have supported international

recognition of the Lawful Hawaiian Government nation as a separate and

independent entity from the United States.

Pa said he welcomes other

sovereignty leaders into the fold the group’s movement. The basic difference

between those groups and his, Pa said, is that the former is seeking

recognition from the federal government and “we aren’t.”

The effort by the

group drew support from Kaua’i County Council candidate Kauilani Kahalekai.

“I support the Hawaiian people, especially the Kanaka maoli (the

aboriginal people of Hawai’i).” she said. “It is important that they and the

government of Hawai’i work together so they can be a whole nation

itself.”

Jim Quinn, a non-Hawaiian who lives in Kilauea, said he supports

the movement because it is “based on the principle of truth and justice.”

Should a bill by Sen. Akaka, D-Hawai’i, calling for a formal relationship

between Native Hawaiians and the federal government be approved, it will not

have any impact on the work by the Lawful Hawaiian Government Nation, Pa

said.

“It won’t get in the way because we are the lawful kingdom of

Hawaii,” Pa said.

After winning passage in the U.S. House of

Representatives, a bill to recognize Native Hawaiians as the indigenous people

of Hawaii has been stalled in the Senate because of concerns it could take

money away from American Indian programs.

But Sen. Daniel Inouye

reportedly gave assurances that he would seek funds for Native Hawaiian

programs separately from Indian programs.

But some senators said Indian

programs don’t receive enough money.

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell

subsequently helped push the bill out of committee with unanimous approval.

Inouye and Akaka, who introduced the bill, reportedly are trying to

convince the opposition of the merit of the bill and get the bill passed

unanimously before Congress adjourns in a week.

The measure proposes

creation of a Native Hawaiian governing body with government-to-government

relations with the United States, similar to those with Native American

tribes.

At the rally, information was passed out on birth rights, inherent

sovereignty, international law, Akaka’s bill, registering of citizens into the

Lawful Hawaiian Government Nation and the state’s Organic Act.

The

Associated Press contributed to this article.

Staff writer Lester

Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and lchang@pulitzer.net