LIHU’E — Advocates of Hawaiian sovereignty demonstrated in front of the historic county building yesterday to denounced parts of a proposed county general plan the group says ignores the rights of the Kanaka Maoli, the original people of Hawai’i. A
LIHU’E — Advocates of Hawaiian sovereignty demonstrated in front of the
historic county building yesterday to denounced parts of a proposed county
general plan the group says ignores the rights of the Kanaka Maoli, the
original people of Hawai’i.
A section on the care of the land, water
resources and the culture of the island is too vague and fails to march in step
with state laws, the group of 30 protestors said during a rally.
About 30
sovereignty advocates, including those belonging to the Lawful Hawaiian
Government Nation, challenged the document before the Kauai County Council’s
public hearing on the plan in the county facility.
The county and the state
“need to be on the same page,” said Cheryl Lovell-Obatake, who recently retired
as a member of the Kaua’i-Niihau Burial Council. “The General Plan update is
not consistent with the state laws related to Hawaiian matters.”
The
proposed section fails to address issues that are important to Native
Hawaiians, she said, including scenic views, historical archeological
resources, water resources, coastal lands and Native Hawaiians’ rights.
Judy Naumu Stewart said the vague language in the section could result in
Hawaiians losing control over the resources in the future.
“Other chapters
in the general ;plan update are specific,” she said. “Why can’t they do that
with chapter 3?”
The chapter also sets policies for regulating uses of the
resources, particularly Kauai’s rivers and streams.
The chapter also
addresses the special rights of Native Hawaiians related to uses of water and
land.
Kane Pa, of Lawful Hawaiian Government Nation, told county planning
director Dee Crowell and consultants for the plan that the section is
faulty.
Lawful Hawaiian Government Nation has demanded the reinstatement of
laws of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Because the overthrow of the Hawaiian
monarchy in 1893 and the annexation of the Hawaiian Island to the United
States were illegal, the kingdom has always remained intact, the group
claimed.
Before the rally, sovereignty advocates waved signs or held
banners reading, “The Reinstated Hawaiian Government is the Inherent
Sovereignty of Hawai’i,” “100 percent Poor Planning” and “No
Jurisdiction.”
The council is holding public hearings to solicit public
comments before taking action on the plan.
Staff writer Lester Chang
can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and
lchang@pulitzer.net
