HawaiiStories: The Living Nation

January 13, 2003

The Living Nation

I just saw on the News about a group in Hawaii known as The Living Nation that wants Independence for all of Hawai'i. They say the overthrow of the Queen in 1893 was an illegal act of war and an apology from the President and Congress is not enough. The group is growing in numbers, marching and holding "rallies" this next week in Honolulu.

Hawaii was stolen right out from under the Queen, just as Alaska was illegally sold to the US government for $7.2 million by Russia. I have heard similar arguments for state independence before, especially in oil rich Alaska but it is most improbable. I would say that with what is going on today, if Hawaii was granted Independence from the US she would find herself in troubled waters.

Of course it would never happen. Any state is much safer under the wing of the Federal Government or Big Brother, Aren’t they? Could the people of Hawaii govern their own land?

Posted by James at January 13, 2003 09:35 PM

Comments

Posted by Ryan on January 14, 2003 9:24 AM:

Full and complete independence is pretty unlikely... but I don't fault the groups that seek it for steadfastly pursuing that ideal.

There are also those that seek simply federal recognition on par with that granted Native Americans. And then there are those that oppose such status, simply because accepting that deal will presumably nullify efforts to gain other rights and benefits. (See the heated debate over the Akaka Bill.)

There are those that want, specifically, land - a variation on Native American reservations - to live on, subsist on, and develop as needed to sustain an independent economy.

There are those who, given recent legal developments, aren't worrying at all about additional reparations, and seek instead to enforce and preserve existing arrangements - ceded land revenues (see the latest efforts by Lingle), Hawaiian Home Lands, and other Native Hawaiian programs.

Clearly, within the "sovereignty movement," there are as many objectives and opinions as there are people. The divergent views of activists is one of the reasons observers often cite for the lack of progress, but on the other hand, to expect any group of such widely varying demographics - including some of the poorest residents and some of the most successful - to have a single mindset is pretty ridiculous.

I support the "sovereignty movement" on a broad level, insofar as to me there is no doubt well-documented injustice was done and that recognition and reparations should continue and grow. That doesn't mean I think full independence - if it were even possible - would be a good idea.

Posted by Albert on January 14, 2003 12:46 PM:

"Full independence" is such a ludicrous fantasy.

Ask the Confederate States of America. :)

Posted by Linkmeister on January 14, 2003 2:20 PM:

There is a vast majority of non-Hawaiians who live here which wants nothing to do with the independence idea, too, and short of kicking that group out, which seems impossible, this dream seems doomed to fail.

Posted by helen on January 14, 2003 6:29 PM:

If either Hawaii can internally produce the things it needs or find a trading partner that can sell things much cheaper than the United States then perhaps an Independent Hawaii should work.

Posted by helen on January 14, 2003 9:15 PM:

just as Alaska was illegally sold to the US government for $7.2 million by Russia.

I'm confused, why was it illegally sold? Did the US pay too little or did Russia not own Alaska in the first place?

Posted by lisa on January 15, 2003 7:52 AM:

What saddens me most about these types of movements is that, far more often than not, they're so focused on righting past wrongs that they fail to look to the future, instead of the past, for answers.

Of course the past wasn't fair, but as our parents often told us when we were younger, life isn't fair.

I feel that any "solution" that attempts to go back in time is doomed to fail. A plan to help all Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians become successful through their own talents and efforts would be much more feasible and long-lasting.

Not to digress too much, but one of the reasons I have little respect for KSBE is that they've positioned themselves as a sort of "country club" school, rather than one that actively seeks out and assists the children who need the most help. It's easy to take smart, reasonably well-off kids and create success, but it would be more rewarding and better for the community if they focused their efforts on, say, improving Waianae's 12% high school graduation rate.

In my heart, I support those fighting for justice. However, I don't think sovereignty is a feasible solution in this world.

On second thought, though, if it would keep North Korea from nuking the crap out of us, maybe we could find a way to make it work.

Posted by James on January 15, 2003 4:12 PM:

Yes, Russia did not "own" Alaska so it was an illegal sale. I know it was done in the time of colonization when most European countries with any power were staking their claim to foreign lands. The sale of Alaska was illegal by today's standard but the law back then wasnt what it was today, so you can't go back. I was just using Alaska as a comparison to Hawaii, both lands were stolen from it's native inhabitants.

Back to the topic at hand..
The Living Nation wants Independance for Hawaii. I'm not sure of the specifics, what kind of an arrangement they would want with the US. Certainly Hawaii would need the protection of Uncle Sam or find themselves bait for any country strong enough to take it. Although it will never happen, I found the idea pretty interesting. So could Hawaii get by as an Independant entity?

Posted by helen on January 15, 2003 5:46 PM:

About the sale of Alaska

That being the case the bulk of the other states would be in the same situation. For example the states that were part of the Louisiana Purchase. I doubt that France informed the Native Americans in those areas that they were part of France before 1803.

Concering Independance for Hawaii

That really depends on what Hawaii is going to do after independance. Do they close the airports and the harbors so that no one comes in?

Posted by Linkmeister on January 15, 2003 8:04 PM:

Do they close the airports and the harbors so that no one comes in?

Ideally, after the last non-member of the chosen is gone, yes.

Seriously, I don't know how in the world they think they'd survive economically as an independent state. There'd have to be trade of some sort, even if they went back to an ag society (laughing uproariously at the idea of Haunani and her sister tilling fields). Trade implies contact with the outside world.

Gambling? Read the Time magazine article about tribal casinos.

Posted by Carrier on January 16, 2003 8:45 AM:

I really don't believe that these people are fighting for anything more but their ancestor's dignity. Like having an old historical document returned to its rightful country.

I believe these people will fight until their ancestor's dignity is restored. Unfortunately, being that Hawaiians of the past were not only robbed of land but of their life and culture, it is very unlikely that anything the US is willing to do will actually give the Hawaiians their culture back.

I feel for them, all they want to have if their culture, and the past they were robbed from. I don't think that they'll ever get it, not through the US government anyway.

Posted by Ryan on January 16, 2003 8:57 AM:

There are some significant distinctions between the Alaska case and the other states, though, as discussed above. Primarily, the fact that by the time of the overthrow, Hawaii had built a structured and internationally active government.

It wasn't that the U.S. came to Hawaii and declared it theirs while the Native Hawaiians just wandered around, unaware. The Hawaiian Kingdom had official diplomatic relations with several other countries as an independent and sovereign nation. In fact, prior to the U.S. takeover, other governments attempted to annex or otherwise officially colonize the islands, and were rebuffed by the international community on those grounds.

As fun as it is to talk about the lunacy of full independence, I think Carrier is closer to the truth, and that most of the genuine and promising efforts meanwhile are focusing on a comfortable middle ground.

Posted by lopaka on January 16, 2003 10:32 PM:

"Full independence" is such a ludicrous fantasy. Ask the Confederate States of America. :)

Like the Confederacy , Hawaii was overthrown at bayonet point with no concessions for diplomacy or compromise. It was not right for the Confederacy and it was not right for Hawaii. Just because so much time has passed the brutal successes of the past do not become more right.

While the mainland Confederacy will never again rise from Federal domination and oppression perhaps a Confederacy of the Hawaiian Islands would be the best idea yet. Each Island with it's own voice in the affairs of governing. Islands rights emulating States rights.

As rule number one I would strongly suggest that a minimum of 10 yrs residency requirement should be made for voting in any Hawaii elections. The fact that any mainland haole or others can just move here ,start voting as a block , and immediately and forever change the politics of Hawaii and it's future is absurd. These new people do not even know....

Posted by Melvin Kalahiki on January 19, 2003 11:42 AM:

Aloha to everyone,

My name is Mel Kalahiki and I am the chairman of The Living Nation, the topic that is currently being discussed here. I have read all of the comments and see that there is some confusion about our history. The history of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy is not widely known, and in fact was not taught in our schools until the late 1970s. This was a deliberate attempt to not educate the children about what happened.

The overthrow was masterminded by a few American businessmen with the assistance of the United States. It is in the U.S. Constitution that it is illegal to take a nation. As Ryan mentioned, we were a recognized nation with treaties around the world. In a speech before Congress, the U.S. President Cleveland called this overthrow an illegal act and called for the reinstatement of the Hawaiian Government. Unfortunately, it was at the end of his term and the new President McKinley gave his approval. He was concentrating on the Spanish-American War in the Philippines and saw Hawai'i as a base of operations.

With the loss of our kingdom, came the loss of our culture, and we were Amercanized. On the 100th anniversary of the overthrow comes the Apology Bill passed by Congress, acknowledging all the wrong done to the Kingdom of Hawai'i by the United States.

This was an illegal act, it has been declared so. Our nation still lives today. May I refer you to our website, www.livingnation.org We do plan to put online the history of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the illegal annexation that came in 1898.

Someone mentioned earlier that this all negative since we concentrate on the wrongs of the past. We know our history. Our movement is based on our history. We are who we were. We must know our history and what happened. One of our goals is to make people aware of that history. But our focus is on the future. It is on reinstating our Nation. We are concerned because the United States is the world's greatest super power. Because of that we very concerned about the military might here in Hawai'i. It makes us a prime target. We do not want to have a Hawai'i that is closed. It would be open to all. And there is no reaason why Hawaiians could not take control internal and external. We are not only speaking of native Hawaiians, but of non-Hawaiians. We do have a wide base of support amongst non-Hawaiians. Our organization is multi-racial. We have native Hawaiian doctors, lawyers, businessmen, students. We have advisors who are Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian who have graduated from the top colleges around the world. This isn't a group of beach boys talking about their rights.

95% of the Hawaiian subjects at the time of the annexation protested in a petition to the U.S. Congress to stop the annexation. The Queen was present in Washsington D.C. with her protest.

The annexation was achieved with a "domestic resolution". An illegal act.

The Living Nation continues on the road of justice. Mahalo (thank you) to those of you who offered your support and understanding.

Posted by Linkmeister on January 19, 2003 2:29 PM:

Melvin, stipulating all that you've said, how would the micro-state of Hawai'i support itself? I gather your group feels a military presence makes the islands a "prime target." Given that the military is either the second or third largest source of income for the current State, along with tourism and agriculture, if you eliminate one leg of that "stool," with what do you replace it?

Posted by Pomaikaiokalani on January 27, 2003 3:13 AM:

It's only a matter of time when Hawaii will once more be a Free, Sovereign and Independent nation that it once was prior to the "Act of War" committed by the military forces of the United States on January 17, 1893.

Many more changes will come within the next century. United States will be changed in many ways. After all, England had to change to survive from the many wars that it was involved with as the Ruler of the World. So will United States change.

With every Rally, March and gathering of the Kanaka Maoli people, Independence is the goal.

As for governing our nation, yes, we are well qualified to govern our nation. After all United States have taught us very well about Freedom, Liberty and Justice.

Posted by Kawika L. K. Awana on January 27, 2003 6:59 AM:

Aloha Kakou,

Of all of the injustices done to Na Kanaka Maoli and Non-Kanaka Maoli, it is prevalent that the demise brought upon us been shown. Before the US occupied our nation, we were independent, free and had no problems with other nations because of the backings by other countries and nations, so why can't we revert back to the same nation that we had? Our treaties with other countries still exists today, so why can't we be as independent as we once were, outside of the fact that the US would intervene and form a boycott of having anything brought to our nation! This Kingdom of Hawaii can survive because, it was surviving with out the help of the US before becoming the occupier of this free and independent Nation!

How can the US be so right when the nation that they formed was stolen from another nation? What makes them so right to assume that they are doing us justice when they're creating injustices to Native American Indians?

Don't throw the idea that they'll be doing us a good service because, we've had a 110 years of injustices, so how can they help us except to take our culture and history and bury it like they've done to the American Indian? Where is the justice, and who really are the terrorists of today and yesterday?

All things aside, I believe that full independence is way overdue, don't you?

Posted by Wendall E K Kekumu on February 21, 2003 6:05 PM:

It is time to stop talking about recognition since this islands are military occupied. The focus at this point and time is to end the occupation. I have forwarded my opposition to the Akaka bill to Ben Nighthorse Campbell who is the Chairman for Indian Affairs, Inouye is the co-chair and I didn't send anything to him or Akaka since they are driven to have the Kanaka Mauoli forfeit everything for USD to support hawaiian programs and at the same time publicly state that they support the needs and welfare of the beneficiarys of these islands. OHA have collected millions of USD and claims that they are the trustee's who will provide the necessary programs for our people!, I haven't received a check from them nor received any benefits to date, have you?

Posted by Wendall E K Kekumu on February 21, 2003 6:05 PM:

It is time to stop talking about recognition since this islands are military occupied. The focus at this point and time is to end the occupation. I have forwarded my opposition to the Akaka bill to Ben Nighthorse Campbell who is the Chairman for Indian Affairs, Inouye is the co-chair and I didn't send anything to him or Akaka since they are driven to have the Kanaka Mauoli forfeit everything for USD to support hawaiian programs and at the same time publicly state that they support the needs and welfare of the beneficiarys of these islands. OHA have collected millions of USD and claims that they are the trustee's who will provide the necessary programs for our people!, I haven't received a check from them nor received any benefits to date, have you?

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The Living Nation

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