In connection with the US Department of Interior hearings held on Kauai in a lead editorial of TGI (7July 13) the author, Judith Fernandez, asked some very important questions about the Hawaiian Kingdom. She had attended the DOI hearing in
In connection with the US Department of Interior hearings held on Kauai in a lead editorial of TGI (7July 13) the author, Judith Fernandez, asked some very important questions about the Hawaiian Kingdom. She had attended the DOI hearing in Kapaa, but did not ask questions right there, where she could have gotten the answers right away from the kanaka maoli in attendance. It is especially so, because the Minister of Interior of the Lawful Hawaiian Government, Mr. GW Naliko Kahoalii Paki Markel, was also present. He and we, who are Hawaiian nationals and Hawaiian citizens know how the Hawaiian Kingdom would function when the American flag comes down and the Hawaiian flag rises. If the questions were asked in print I hope that these answers will also be allowed on the pages of TGI.
First of all, the moment when the Hawaiian flag replaces the American flag the Hawaiians who have faith in themselves, in their leaders and in ke Akua, will be revitalized. They will re-create a peace loving country in Hawaii Peina. The first legal step is already done, because on March 13, 1999 the kanaka maoli during their convention on the island of Oahu reinstated the former inherent sovereignty of the Kingdom in accordance with international law and the Hawaiian Kingdom Laws in response to “United States Public Law 103-150.”
Since then, this reinstated Hawaiian Government held regular conventions where the leadership was democratically elected by its nationals and citizens. And yes, there is a constitution, because the form of government is constitutional monarchy, and the Amended Constitution of Hawaii 2000, was approved by the Legislative Assembly of the Kingdom of Hawaii at its Constitutional Convention of March 10, 11 and 12, 2000 and ratified by the citizenry in a Nationwide Plebiscite Referendum on April 29, 2000. The takeover of the Hawaiian Islands from the current de facto government will be gradual and there will be a transitional period. And yes, democracy is and will always be present. The regularly held meetings of Mana Kaunwai (legislative body) will assure this. But these and other legalities can be found on the website of the Lawful Hawaiian Government. The government has a vision and goals, among them free or low cost health care for all Hawaiian citizens and nationals, free or low cost world-class education, low cost housing and many other benefits.
As to the question on advisors and citizenship I would like to add my own and my fellow citizens’ thoughts. The most important adviser in the new government is called Common Sense. Then come the kupuna, who with their local knowledge and traditional wisdom could find the solution to burning issues. If we needed more advisers we would definitely stay clear of American advisers to avoid situations like the ones the United States has created in Iraq and Afghanistan through its advisers and military. It does not mean that we will not use the good advice of other world leaders, if they serve the interest of the Hawaiian people.
For example, I hope that even the advice given by the United States to the newly independent countries at the break-up of the Soviet Union will be implemented here, too. This will take care of the citizenship question too, namely that on the first day the Lawful Hawaiian Government takes over a new law will be enacted according to which no land or real property in Hawaii might be owned by foreigners, but in order to assure a smooth transition the foreign owners of land and properties (including U.S. citizens) would be given six months to take the Hawaiian citizenship test and to pledge their allegiance to the Hawaiian nation, at the same time renouncing all of their other citizenships they are holding. If they don’t want to become Hawaiian citizens they would be free to leave Hawaii and go wherever they want to go. Is it scary? Not at all, because I am convinced that the U.S. would be very happy to take its citizens back and resettle them on the Mainland. Unsold properties of foreigners would be nationalized and the people of Hawaii would benefit from the income they can generate.
When it comes to education, health care, social services, environment, and infrastructure, the Hawaiians would be able to handle it with the help of other nations who would be eager to help the newly independent Kingdom of Hawaii. Hawaii would again establish diplomatic relations with other nations just like in the past and establish cooperation and mutually beneficial trade agreements with them setting a good example to the world and showing that peaceful coexistence is more beneficial to a country than military threats and sable rattling. And we can do it all with lots of aloha!
Is it a dream? Part of it might be, but it is a Hawaiian dream, and remember, if the Hawaiians stop dreaming their nation will cease to exist.
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János Keoni Samu is a Hawaii that lives in Kalaheo.
