/* Written 6:05 pm Jan 30, 1993 by ww@nyxfer.UUCP in igc:p.news */
Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit
10,000 DEMAND SOVEREIGNTY FOR HAWAIIANS
By J.J. Kaufmann
Honolulu
On Jan. 17, some 10,000 indigenous Hawaiians and other supporters
of Hawaiian sovereignty gathered on the lawn before Iolani Palace
here to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the illegal
overthrow of the Hawaiian government by U.S. settlers.
The demonstrators demanded sovereignty and that the U.S.
government return stolen lands. Ka Lahui Hawaii, the biggest
organization representing the Hawaiian nation, marched over 2,000
strong onto the palace grounds.
Signs read, "Honk for independence," and bore the first
indigenous ruler's motto: "Onipa'a," which means steadfast.
Protesters chanted "ea"--sovereignty. Truckers drove their rigs
around the palace honking in support of sovereignty.
It was rumored that the Hawaii National Guard had been put on
alert in case there was "trouble downtown."
Speakers at the commemoration tore into the state and federal
governments, demanding the U.S. government return stolen lands
and remove the military bases in Hawaii. Among the speakers were
the two Trask sisters, both militant Hawaiians.
Haunani Trask, director of Hawaiian Studies at the University of
Hawaii, said, "I am not an American." She castigated Christianity
as a sell-out and hit the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a state
agency elected by voters of Hawaiian ancestry, for failing to
call attention to the needs of Hawaiian people.
OF, BY AND FOR THE DOLES
In the continental U.S., the sovereignty of many Native nations
is legally recognized in treaties, although Washington mostly
ignores and violates the treaties. But Hawaiians don't have even
nominal sovereignty.
A century ago U.S. business owners--mostly in the sugar industry
and backed by U.S. Marines--overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy and
established a provisional government representing wealthy
colonists. Its president was Samuel Dole, whose name was later to
become synonymous with canned pineapples.
At the time, Hawaii's Queen Liliuokalani told her people not to
resist. She hoped to resume power later when the time was ripe.
In 1895, Liliuokalani and her followers attempted to overthrow
the Dole government. They failed. The queen was arrested and held
prisoner in Iolani Palace.
In 1898--the same year the U.S. government seized Cuba, Puerto
Rico and the Philippines--President McKinley annexed the Hawaiian
Islands. Hawaii became a state in 1959.
In 1986 John Waihee became the first Hawaiian elected governor.
This year's anniversary commemoration began on Jan. 14 when
Iolani Palace was shrouded in black and closed to visitors.
Waihee ordered all U.S. flags flying over State Capitol buildings
taken down while the anniversary ceremonies were in progress.
Pushed by the right wing, Hawaii Senators Daniel Inouye and
Daniel Akaka and Rep. Patsy Mink implored the governor to rescind
the order. Both Honolulu newspapers, the Advertiser and
Star-Bulletin, editorialized against Waihee for lowering the U.S.
flag.
-30-
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