There were two interesting writings in TGI recently. One on Jan. 3, 2016 — Full independence impossible, but change needed, and the other one on Jan. 20, 2016 —The truth about Hawaiian Islands sovereignty. One of the authors categorically states
There were two interesting writings in TGI recently. One on Jan. 3, 2016 — Full independence impossible, but change needed, and the other one on Jan. 20, 2016 —The truth about Hawaiian Islands sovereignty. One of the authors categorically states that full independence of the Hawaiian Islands is impossible. The other one appears to be establishing that the United States never occupied the Kingdom of Hawaii. I am convinced that both statements are flawed, and I am sure that I am not alone with my opinion.
Let’s see the question of independence first.
I agree with the writer’s statement that it is entirely unrealistic to expect the United States to internationally recognize the Hawaiian nation even if the International Court of Justice would order so. True, but only because in 1986 the U.S. government withdrew from the compulsory jurisdiction of ICJ after being found guilty of violations of international law for its covert actions in Nicaragua.
This practice seems to be the American government’s way of accepting negative judgments of any international or foreign authority. You say I guilty, I no play more — using a local slang. George W. Bush said it with different words: “The interest of the United States supersedes all international agreements, conventions and laws.” So, let me expand the statement of the writer by saying “Full independence of the Hawaiian nation presently impossible” exactly for the above reasons.
Let’s switch to the issue of sovereignty. The writer James I. Kuroiwa Jr. elaborated on it, but one has to weigh the presumed truth that this writer based his writing on. Unfortunately in modern politics truth is accepted by many if it comes from government sources, but not when it comes from elsewhere.
The sources of the writer’s statement are based on the Morgan Report, the Blount Report and the Turpie Resolution. All these reports originate from American sources. They are based on the hearings of the alleged American wrongdoers by legislative bodies and authorities that these alleged wrongdoers represented. Is it not asking the perpetrators to establish their own guilt? Yes, it is. What kind of outcome would you expect?
In 1893 the United States Minister John Leavitt Stevens raised the American flag at the Iolani Palace stating that he was acting in the interest of the United States and declared Hawaii to be the protectorate of the US. But when in 1893 President Grover Cleveland’s commission found him guilty of interfering in the affairs of a foreign power, his excuse was: “the Queen was immoral and so needed to be dethroned.”
Since he had represented the interest of the United States, no wonder that next year the U.S. Congress exonerated him saying “not guilty.” This again fits the same pattern. The perpetrator becomes the moralist, claims to have been acting in the interest of the United States and his judgment is accepted by those whose interest he had been serving. Could you imagine this any other way?
Mr. Kuriwa’s claim about the non-existing US occupation makes me wonder if the more than 70,000 U.S. military people presently in Hawaii are occupying our island nation or they are here only for a slumber party.
Now let’s combine the concept of sovereignty and the full independence.
The sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom has never been lost, because it can be lost only by surrendering it to another power through an annexation treaty, which never happened. Thus, by international law the legal successor of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the democratically elected Lawful Hawaiian Government (that happened to hold its 41st legislative convening here on Kauai last week) carries the torch.
With the overthrow of Queen Lili’uokalani’s government Hawaii lost its independence. The question is how it can be fully restored? The same way as it happened in many other countries occupied by an overzealous empire. History will repeat itself and taught us that empires are not forever. So far all of them fell apart. Yes, that will happen to the American Empire as well. There are signs of it already.
But, don’t panic please! Look at your history books again. When empires stretched too far, when immorality, greediness and corruption became prevalent they could not maintain their control and for the reason of large scale thefts and corruption they did not have the money to feed and arm their military and to take proper care of their provinces. Thus the provinces became a burden and they had to be released or disposed of. The provinces became independent countries, and slowly learnt to rebuild their own future. They found new allies, new investors and made friendship agreements with other nations. This is bound to happen in Hawaii too with the proper transition time.
The failure of the empire was bad only for the ruling 1 percent, because it stopped their immorally earned huge income and they had to be content with much less. And many times this was good for the average people on the empire’s remaining mainland too, because the money saved on reducing the military and ceasing military adventurism was channeled to social services and infrastructure development. So, for them only one thing has changed: they could no longer say “Our Empire is the greatest country of the world.”
The issue of native minority versus immigrant majority can be solved too. It is a fairy tale — especially in the United States — that majority rules. Do your elected officials carry out what the majority of their constituents want? No way! Do you think that the majority of the Americans want the U.S. to fight those wars in the Middle East? Or did they support those stupid non-working sanctions against Iran, North Korea or Russia? Do they support gay marriage? Do they support the non-working public school education programs? Do they want to give away billions of dollars every year to Israel and Saudi Arabia? No, no, and no. The government may claim that they do, but only when the government makes the statistics.
The solution is not to try to follow American politics. The world offers different and better solutions. Look at the newly independent countries where the population consisted of fewer natives than people who settled there from the mainland of the occupying power. The new independent government gave these non-native residents two years to learn the native language and take the citizenship test plus the oath of allegiance. Most of them did. And this is one of the many ways the Hawaiians could follow. Remember, not American but Hawaiian laws would be in effect without having to return 200 years in lifestyle.
I noticed that the apparent division among Native Hawaiians regarding independence and sovereignty casts doubt on the possible unity of this nation. The adjective “apparent” was intentional, because I and my Hawaiian brothers and sisters know that independence would drastically revitalize the country and the various Hawaiian groups would unite, because they would realize this being their last chance to keep their independence. And that’s Hawaiian style. So, keep your fingers crossed that this phase will come true soon.
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János Keoni Samu is a resident of Kalaheo.
