what would happen if hawaii became independent
If a Native Hawaiian referendum is held and the constitution is approved, then a government would have to be elected and established. "There are definitely flaws in the way in which Hawaii and its lands were transferred to the US," Melody Kapilialoha Mackenzie, a professor of law at the University of Hawaii, says. So the only method by which an independent Hawaii could come about is outside of the law, i.e., by force. It was not until 1898 when the Spanish-American War broke out that the US Congress approved the formal annexation of Hawaii for strategic use of Pearl Harbor. After annexation, students were not allowed to speak Hawaiian in school, and the language almost died out as a result. 38. The Hawaiian sovereignty movement (Hawaiian: ke ea Hawaii) is a grassroots political and cultural campaign to reestablish an autonomous or independent nation or kingdom of Hawaii out of a desire for sovereignty, self-determination, and self-governance. [101] In 1996, in Rice v. Cayetano, one Big Island rancher sued to win the right to vote in OHA elections, asserting that every Hawaiian citizen regardless of racial background should be able to vote for state offices, and that limiting the vote to Native Hawaiians is racist. [16][18], The Blount Report is the popular name given to the part of the 1893 United States House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee Report about the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Then, the U.S. federal government could recognize it, a process that would give it similar powers to tribal governments. [23][24], On December 16, the British Minister to Hawaii was given permission to land marines from HMS Champion for the protection of British interests; the ship's captain predicted that the U.S. military would restore the Queen and Sovereign ruler (Lili'uokalani). Itwould first need to be ratified by a vote of all Native Hawaiians: Experts estimate that there are about 250,000 Native Hawaiians living in the state and about 250,000 more living in the continental U.S., and all would have the right to vote in a referendum. [94], Native Hawaiians' growing frustration over Hawaiian homelands and the 100th anniversary of the overthrow pushed the Hawaiian sovereignty movement to the forefront of politics in Hawaii. Then things got really dicey. This site tells the story with some pictures and . The date was selected because of its association with the U.S. bicentennial. The study was allowed only six months and was accused of relying on biased information from a historian hired by the territorial government that overthrew the kingdom as well as U.S. Navy historians. [83], About 70 members of one separatist group, the "Hawaiian Kingdom Government", which claimed about 1,000 members in 2008, chained the gates and blocked the entrance to Iolani Palace for about two hours, disrupting tours on April 30, 2008. [102], The year of hearings found most speakers with strong opposition to the U.S. government's involvement in Hawaiian sovereignty,[103] with opponents arguing that tribal recognition of Native Hawaiians is not a legitimate path to Hawaiian nationhood and that the U.S. government should not be involved in reestablishing Hawaiian sovereignty. When US officials came onto the stage that June night, they must have known they would be hearing from a hostile audience. Welcome to HistoryWhatIf! There are a lot of obstacles for the constitution to become a governing body.. Learn from the past, dont live in the past. In 1959, the year Hawaii became a state, fewer than 250,000 visitors came to Hawaii. Recognition would define native Hawaiians as a separate political entity - protecting many of the federal programmes currently provided to native Hawaiians, like favourable housing loans, a land trust programme, health care, educational and cultural grants. Without an explicit law, Native Hawaiians may not be eligible for entitlements, funds and benefits afforded to other U.S. indigenous peoples. American opponents argue that Congress is disregarding U.S. citizens for special interests and sovereignty activists believe this will further erode their rights, as the 1921 blood quantum rule of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act did. Crawfish, beignets, and Gumbo don't last too long as an export and you can only make so many seasons of True Detective. "Hawaiians (United States). Hawaii became a US State on August 21, 1959, after many years of business and political dealings with the US. Churchill, Ward. "It was fought for and it can be lost," she says. Largely because of this, in 1843 Hawaii became recognized by the Western powers as a sovereign nation. "[51] The organization was a part of UNPO from 1993 through 2012. [94] Congress created the Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC) in 1921. Some activists think re-creating a sovereign Hawaiian nation would help right some of those wrongs. Someone began singing the opening words to Hawaii Pono - a national anthem of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the state's official song. Sixty percent live in the continental U.S. and forty percent in Hawaii. Michigan. Students were not allowed to speak their native language in school, and were discouraged from attending beyond middle school. I don't know because this leads to a big question, would Obama become president? Despite Na'i Aupuni's reassurances, pro-independence Hawaiians feel that the 'aha is simply a vehicle to push federal recognition. The Hawaiian sovereignty movement ( Hawaiian: ke ea Hawaii) is a grassroots political and cultural campaign to reestablish an autonomous or independent nation or kingdom of Hawaii out of a desire for sovereignty, self-determination, and self-governance. In 1891, King Kalakauas sister, Liliuokalani ascended to the throne as Queen, (her brother had died), and she tried to take complete control. Your email address will not be published. Those who think any other nation would be better for natives of Hawaii are simply ignorant. Poverty set in for native Hawaiians who did not find the respect previous generations had in school and society at large. The New York Sun said: "Mr. Cleveland lacks the first essential qualification of a referee or arbitrator." If full independence for Hawaii ever happens, it would probably come generations in the future. There are savings on everyday items you already buy, and savings on the things youve been waiting for a sale on to spoil your pet with. 2. Forty delegates from across the islands will meet in February to discuss whether there should be a Native Hawaiian government and what it should look like in the 21st Century. "For a great many Native Hawaiians we feel disfranchised," said Zuri Aki, a delegate who supported independence and helped draft the constitution. Barack Obama publicly supported the last attempt to gain the recognition option through Congress. send us an email. ", Ball, Milner S. "Symposium: Native American Law,". Its unfortunate because they are negatively affecting their children with the same hatred, thereby dooming their futures to the same level of dependency they have selfishly chosen for themselves. The decision for independence Fifteen months after the beginning of hostilities, the Second Continental Congress proclaimed American independence. With the hysteria of a military assault, he staged a mock invasion with the USS Adams and USS Philadelphia, directing their guns toward the capital. Kanahele was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to eight months in federal prison, along with a probation period in which he was barred from the puuhonua and participation in his sovereignty efforts. Hawaii became the 50th state much later. Native Hawaiians began organizing groups based on their own national interests such as ceded lands, free education, reparations payments, free housing, reform of the Hawaiian Homelands Act and development within the islands. Grassroots movement to gain self-determination and rule for Hawaiians, Sovereignty and cultural rights organizations, Hawaiian sovereignty activists and advocates, Proposed United States federal recognition of Native Hawaiians, Parker, Linda S. "Alaska, Hawaii, and Agreements. [110], The election was expected to cost about $150,000, and voting was carried out by Elections America, a firm based in Washington D.C. [77] He has done extensive historical research, especially on the treaties between Hawaii and other nations, and on military occupation and the laws of war. By the 1850s, the sugar industry became a well-established sector in Hawaii. Independence Grade: C . Dudley, Michael K., and Agard, Keoni Kealoha (1993 reprint). One of its goals is to reclaim ceded lands. [12][8] In 2000, the Akaka Bill was proposed, which provided a process for federal recognition of Native Hawaiians and gave ethnic Hawaiians some control over land and natural resource negotiations. The most likely course of an independent Hawaii would be if Japan annexed it and America had to fight to liberate Hawaii from Japanese control much like how The Philippines gained independence. Many in the room at the Hawaiian state capitol began singing along. No, Hawaii isn't able to be stable as it's own independent nation in modern times. "I guess part of the sentiment is why would you want to deal with the very people who did you in?". "But right now our kingdom isn't in any place to be calling the shots.". The decision did not stop the voting itself, and a spokesman for the Nai Aupuni continued to encourage those eligible to vote before the November 30, 2015, deadline. In fact before becoming a state the population of Hawaii was on a constant decline from an estimated 300,000 in 1778, to 142,000 in the 1820's, and 37,656 in a 1900 census. The nonprofit organization Nai Aupuni will organize the constitutional convention and election of delegates using the roll, which began collecting names in 2011. Some historians now say that Hawaii was not annexed by the US but rather occupied. "I would say the majority of Hawaiians don't agree with sovereignty and independence - either they don't know their history or they think it's way too late to separate from the US," he says. Liliuokalani refused to recognize the constitution her brother had put in place in 1887, and by 1893, a coup was staged by Sanford B. Dole, who was born in Hawaii, and others. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. [47], Ka Lhui and many sovereignty groups oppose the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009 (known as the "Akaka Bill") proposed by Senator Daniel Akaka, which begins the process of federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian government, with which the U.S. State Department would have government-to-government relations. Redirecting to https://www.theyutes.com/what/nothing/16483763fb6122d-what-would-happen-if-hawaii-became-independent "That would be hugethat would be an opportunity that would benefit all Hawaiians," even non-native ones. "Hawaii pono (Hawaii's own), Nn i kou mo (Be loyal to your king).". While it may have become a State in 1959, Hawaii has been a Territory of the United States since 1898 when it was . But all of this is predicated on the idea the US government is the rightful authority in Hawai'i, something a small but increasing number of Hawaiians no longer believe. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, AI pioneer warns of dangers as he quits Google, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules'. Hawaiians have seen a cultural renaissance since the 1970s - re-establishing cultural and religious practices and the Hawaiian language. Pro-independence activists still say that federal recognition isn'tenoughthey want to leave the U.S. completely. But first things first. This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 00:13. The statehood of Hawaii has benefited the US as a whole, but some would argue that native Hawaiians have suffered from it. Here is the best forum for you wanting an open conversation. Copyright 2023 TheGardenIsland.com. Osorio, Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwoole (2002). [36], This organization existed before the overthrow to support a new constitution and was based in Honolulu. Others would say it was the beginning of the end. In 1993, the group led 10,000 people on a march to the Iolani Palace on the 100th anniversary of the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani. Report Committee Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Accompanying Testimony, Executive Documents transmitted Congress January 1, 1893, March 10, 1891, p 2144, History of later years of the Hawaiian Monarchy and the revolution of 1893 By William De Witt Alexander, p 103, US federal recognition of Native Hawaiians, Opposition to the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, opposition to the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, chained the gates and blocked the entrance to Iolani Palace, The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009 (S1011/HR2314), indigenous peoples of continental America, United States federal recognition of Native Hawaiians, Opposition to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, "Kanahele group pushes plan for sovereign nation", "The Rape of Paradise: The Second Century Hawai'ians Grope Toward Sovereignty As The U.S. President Apologizes", "As Feds Hold Hearings, Native Hawaiians Press Sovereignty Claims", "The Struggle For Hawaiian Sovereignty Introduction", "Historic election could return sovereignty to Native Hawaiians", "Civil Rights Panel Backs Federal Recognition For Native Hawaiians", "Recent Survey of Hawaii residents shows two out of three oppose Akaka bill", "The Hawai'i-United States Treaty of 1826", "Newlands Resolution Annexation of Hawaii", "Towards Hawaiian Independence: Native Americans warn Native Hawaiians of the dangers of Federal Recognition", "Way of the Warrior: Native Hawaiian lecture series reveals ancient secrets", "Spiritual connection of Queen Liliuokalani's book "Hawaii's Story" to the forming of the Aboriginal Lands of Hawaiian Ancestry (ALOHA) to get reparations from the United States Of America for the Illegal Overthrow of 1893", "Women of Hawaii; Hawaiian women chart their own path to power", "Akaka bill and Ka Lahui Hawaii position explained", "Akaka bill proponents prepare to wait for passage amid weightier concerns; But others say the bill is flawed and should be fixed before a full congressional vote", "A Century After Queen's Overthrow, Talk of Sovereignty Shakes Hawaii NYTimes.com", "United States' Compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights", "Waimanalo Blues: The political and cultural pitfalls into which Cameron Crowe's, "Bridging science and culture with the Thirty Meter Telescope", "World's Largest Telescope Faces Opposition from Native Hawaiian Protesters", "Mauna Kea and the work of the Imiloa Center", "Walter Ritte, Andrew Kimbrell address Hawaii SEED event", "Hawaii: Independent Nation or Fiftieth State? After Hawaii's admission as a state, the United Nations removed Hawaii from its list of non-self-governing territories (a list of territories subject to the decolonization process). But sovereignty groups opposed the bill because of its provisions that legitimized illegal land transfers, and it was criticized by a 2006 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report (which was later reversed in 2018)[13] for the effect it would have on non-ethnic Hawaiian populations. [60] The group ceased its occupation in exchange for the return of ceded lands in the adjacent community of Waimnalo, where it established a village, cultural center, and puuhonua (place of refuge). Fifth, no credible Native Hawaiian group to date has ever advocated a violent solution to the independence question and it is highly doubtful that one ever would (given the overwhelming superiority. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) was the result of a 1978 amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution and controls over $1 billion from the Ceded Lands Trust, spending millions to address Native Hawaiians' needs.
