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Box 2574 :: :: Olympia, Wa Fido Net 1:352/333 :: :: 98507-2574 206-786-9629 :: :: USA The Quarto Mundista BBS :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: This document has been submitted by: Kekula P. Bray-Crawford Executive Assistant to the Head of State Advisor on Foreign Affairs Independent Nation State of Hawaii Puuhonua O Waimanalo Post Office Box 80 Waimanalo, Oahu, Hawaii hawaii.nation@tdp.org Phone: (808) 259-5049 FAX: (808) 259-9542 [The following essay was published in the "Voices of Sovereignty" series on the editorial page of the Honolulu Advertiser on Tuesday, October 11, 1994.] SOVEREIGNTY IS COMING SOON Pu'uhonua Kanahele Head of State of the Independent and Sovereign Nation State of Hawai'i Sovereignty is real. Few now doubt that sovereignty will come to Hawaii. Still, many people are confused about what sovereignty really means. Legally the only true sovereignty is independence. The history is now well known. Hawaii was once an independent and sovereign nation state, recognized by the United States and around the world. The overthrow, the annexation, and statehood were all violations of Kanaka Maoli, American, and international law, and the United States Congress and President have now acknowledged this in Public Law 103-150, which recognizes our "inherent sovereignty" and "the rights of Native Hawaiians to self- determination." More than just an apology, this resolution opens the door for Kanaka Maoli to freely exercise their right of self-determination, which includes the right to restore Hawaii as a fully independent country. Professor Francis A. Boyle, a reknowned expert on international law of human rights and self-determination, testified last December before the Sovereignty Advisory Commission on the meaning of the Apology Resolution. Prof. Boyle stated that, "...now the United States government, after one hundred years, has finally and officially conceded, as a matter of United States law, that Native Hawaiian people have the right to restore the Independent Nation State that you had in 1893 when the United States government came and destroyed it. ...as a matter of international law, the Native Hawaiian people have the right to go out now and certainly proclaim the restoration of that State..." On January 16, 1994, at `Iolani Palace, a coalition of Kanaka Maoli and pro-sovereignty groups issued such a Proclamation Restoring the Independence of the Sovereign Nation State of Hawaii. This Proclamation empowered the 'Aha Kupuna, the Council of Elders, as the Provisional Government, to provide measures of development for the restoration of our Country, leading to a Constitutional Convention. Since that time, the restoration process has proceeded in accordance with well recognized principals of international law. Independence is coming, sooner than many may imagine. Non-Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) One of the most common fears that we hear expressed in the media and in conversations about sovereignty is that non- Hawaiians will no longer be welcome, that they will be kicked off the land and told to go home. However, this fear is truly unfounded. Remember, this is the land of Aloha, even if it has been abused for many long years. Ho'oponopono, forgiveness and reconciliation, are at the foundation of our movement and our success. There are many innocent people of all nationalities who care deeply about Hawaii. It is our responsibility to care for all these people, protect them, and include them as we develop our Country. The Proclamation of Restoration of January 16, 1994, states that: "The Independent and Sovereign Nation of Hawaii will establish procedures for according citizenship by means of naturalization to all people who are habitual residents of Hawaii as of today's date." Those non-Hawaiian residents who wish to become citizens in the nation will share the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, like any other country. Dual citizenship could also be an option for those who wish to maintain American or other citizenship, and this will be determined by treaties negotiated with the respective countries. Why Independence? It is quite clear that we have the right to restore Hawaii's independence. The next question is, Why? How will we all benefit? It is obvious that the existing political and economic system, aside from being illegal, is not working well in terms of real meaningful values, such as our quality of life and the sustainability of our environment. Discontent with the government is at an all time high, and a feeling of being out of control of the decisions which affect our lives and lands is rampant, both at a state and federal level. If we keep going in the same direction, we'll certainly end up where we're headed, which would be most unfortunate. Our society, here in Hawaii and globally, is not living in anywhere near a sustainable manner, and an evolution of values and visions is essential for the quality of our future. So we are in for a change, and we must be ready to create a positive change, before the economic and environmental circumstances force us into a more drastic negative one. We must collectively empower a form of self- government that works in a real way, with humanity's laws in deep alignment with the natural and spiritual laws that are the basis for our very existence. "Independence" means more than just political independence. Right now, we are a very "dependent" society, depending on outside sources, primarily the United States, to meet most of our basic needs. For example, we import over three- quarters of our food, and even more of our energy. Therefore we are subject to the control of outside forces. We lack self-reliance and suffer from great vulnerability. Hawaii must become more independent in many ways to ensure the future stability and security of our land and people. Once one shifts perspectives from US domestic law to international law, the range of options becomes much more broad. The opportunity exists to evolve quickly in a positive direction with independent political status. Life won't change drastically overnight, but can change steadily for the better. Economically, we could to take advantage of our unique global position in the center of the Pacific Rim, controlling our 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone, and becoming a center for international trade and the development of global ethical banking, while at the same time investing in the diversification of our local economy with innovative community based projects for meaningful employment and self-sufficiency. Do we have the will to take that opportunity? How we develop, how we move through the transition toward sovereignty, and how Hawaii's future self-governance and real independence unfolds, depends on how educated and involved each one of us becomes. If there is any place in the world capable of evolving politically, economically, culturally, and spiritually in a smooth and peaceful transition toward a truly equitable and sustainable future, it is Hawaii. In the process, we will be an example for the entire world. We must remember, the wisdom of our ancestors is essential for our success. With Aloha, we can do it. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- To have a current Center For World Indigenous Studies Publication Catalogue sent to you via e-mail, send a request to jburrows@halcyon.com FTP ftp.halcyon.com /pub/FWDP/CWIS Center For World Indigenous Studies P.O. Box 2574 Olympia, WA U.S.A. 98507-2574 BBS: 206-786-9629 FAX: 206-956-1087 OCR Provided by Caere Corporation's OmniPage Professional