Category: Local Campaigns

Honolulu Star Bullein:

Protesters decry overthrow of kingdom

By Kaylee Noborikawa

Aug 22, 2009

Amid a quiet celebration of the state’s 50th anniversary, loud outbursts from more than 200 protesters reminded passers-by of the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893.

Protesters gathered at Ala Moana Beach Park at 10 a.m. yesterday and marched to the Hawai’i Convention Center, where statehood festivities were being held.

Large banners were posted in front of the entrance to Ala Moana Beach Park and the convention center with messages such as, “Kanaka maoli, this is our ancestral lands! Stolen by U.S. troops! The time has come to reinstate don’t hesitate!”

The protest was organized by Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance and the Institute for the Advancement of Hawaiian Affairs, with support from Hawaii People’s Fund and Ka Lei Maile Alii Hawaiian Civic Club.

One of the organizers, Hayden Burgess, also known as Poka Laenui, spoke to the group before the march and asked demonstrators to remain peaceful and leave potential hecklers alone. Laenui said he expected only 10 to 20 people, “so it’s already a success.”

Lorenz Gonschor, a German native who has lived in Hawaii for six years, joined demonstrators at Ala Moana Beach Park after researching Hawaii’s political history.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate that the state celebrates its 50th anniversary when it’s based on an illegal occupation,” said Gonschor, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in political science at the University of Hawaii. “I’m still a little surprised at how illegal it actually was in terms of 19th-century international law. I think that makes the Hawaiian argument for independence pretty strong.”

Louella Kohler drove from Makaha to attend the protest because she firmly believes that the former Hawaii nation was taken over illegally and hopes to restore independence.

“I think we can be just as strong as we were pre-contact. We were not a stumbling little nation,” she said.

As the procession marched along a closed lane on Atkinson Drive, drivers honked in support while many held upside-down Hawaiian flags, representing a nation in distress. Protesters pushed a cardboard model of “Uncle Scam” throughout the march, as one man yelled, “Come on Uncle Scam, get out of the way! We want our freedom!”

Demonstrators even displayed their message through shirts, such as “Grand Theft Aina,” “Made in Occupied Hawaii” and “Stop Akaka Bill.”

George Hall walked alongside the procession since his brother was marching, but did not agree with its message.

“(Hawaii) has a good deal as a state now. When you look at the freedoms people have in the world, you’re not gonna get a better deal being a United States citizen,” Hall said.

Once marchers reached the convention center, Uncle Scam’s hat was removed, and “colonial feathers,” representing nations taken over by the United States, were ripped off. Jean Stavrue then grabbed an American flag out of the hat and cut out the 50th star before burning it with her fiance, Curtis Peahi, and Shelley Muneoka. The demonstration elicited cheers of “Freedom!” from the crowd and several cries of “We are not American!”

Stavrue said she supported the protest to bring Hawaiian people together and educate people about the illegal overthrow. “Everybody deserves to know the truth, whether you’re Hawaiian or not,” she said.

Source: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090822_Protesters_decry_overthrow_of_kingdom.html

KHON:

Hundreds Protest Statehood Celebration

Olena Heu, oheu@khon2.com

August 21, 2009

Not everyone in Hawaii is celebrating statehood.

An estimated one thousand protestors rallied in front of the Hawaii Convention Center Friday.

Demonstrations included setting fire to the 50th star on the American flag.

Close to a dozen Hawaiian independence groups marched together to protest the admission of Hawaii into the U.S.

From Ala Moana Beach Park to the Hawaii Convention Center about a thousand protestors marched along the sidewalk and street Friday morning.

Many people from different backgrounds and differing beliefs but all united for a few hours with one message.

“Hawaii is a sovereign nation yeah!” protestors said.

“What we are trying to say is that those last 50 years have been built on the backs of somebody else,” Hawaiian Independence Alliance Lynette Cruz said.

“Bring the truth out about the illegal overthrow of our queen,” Hawaiian Sovereignty Advocate and Musician Palani Vaughan said.

Protestors carried a figure of Uncle Sam then beat it with sticks and ti-leaves and cut out the 50th star from the American flag then burned it.

“This fight has been going on for quite a while and you know we’ve been censored and I have been from time to time, but I won’t stop,” Vaughan said.

Many say admitting Hawaii into the union was illegal and violated international law, protesters chose to express their frustrations and vent these feelings on a day they will not celebrate.

“There’s hurt there, there’s a bad history and people has forgotten about it,” Cruz said.

Many say they hope Hawaii will one day become an independent nation.

“I think not only is it possible but there’s no way that it can not happen,” Cruz said.

Including some who are not of Native Hawaiian decent.

“For myself I advocate their independence of course, who would support the suppression of any people,” Advocate for Homeless Eileen Joyce said.

“I will not till my dieing breath give up this fight,” Vaughan said.

March organizers say it was not their intention to burn the star from the American flag; they had planned to cut it out and send it to President Obama.

Chanters at palace lament statehood

By Rob Shikina

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 22, 2009

Momi Kamahele chanting to honor Queen Lili’uokalani at the ‘Iolani Palace.  Photo: Floyd Morris, Honolulu Star Bulletin (Momi is a kumu hula and a leader in the movement to protect Makua valley.)

Thirteen chanters performed about an hour of Hawaiian oli, or chants, at Iolani Palace yesterday in tribute to Queen Liliuokalani – a protest of Hawaii’s 50th anniversary of statehood.

They chanted about the queen’s glory, her loss and a desire to reclaim what Hawaiians lost. While they hold different views of Hawaiian sovereignty, they all support Hawaiian independence, said Manu Kaiama, the protest organizer.

More than 100 people listened to the oli – some lamenting, others defiant – by the performers, who were dressed mostly in black on the steps and lanai of the palace.

“Even though people don’t realize it, we, of course, believe statehood was based upon the illegal overthrow of our queen,” Kaiama said. The event’s purpose was to remind people that a wrong needs to be corrected, she said.

“The best way to take opposition is to do something celebratory and enriching,” said Judy Talaugon, an American Indian attending the event who also opposed statehood.

The oli were selected from Hawaiian newspapers, books and family genealogies, and chanters applied their own melodies. They practiced for six months, said Kaiama, who is also a University of Hawaii business professor.

“At times, more subdued protests such as this one can be more powerful,” said Makainai Mehana, 26, daughter of Kaiama. “Oli is a part of our culture.”

Another attendee was Lynette Cruz, who organized a protest at the Hawai’i Convention Center earlier in the day.

Hawaiians need to gather to celebrate their history and culture, and the solemn palace protest was a proper setting, she said. She said it contrasted the earlier political protest, where a lot of rage was released.

“The focus needs to be put back on the culture,” said Mana Caceres, 33, a musician and salesman. “It brings it almost right back to the scene of the crime for me. It brings it almost full circle.”

Source: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090822_Chanters_at_palace_lament_statehood.html

Joan Conrow had a great post on the counter-statehood demonstrations today.  Here’s the article from the Honolulu Advertiser:

August 21, 2009

Native Hawaiian protesters end march, burn 50th star on U.S. flag in protest

The protesters joining in on the Native Hawaiian rally swelled to more than 300 people when they reached the Convention Center today following their march from Ala Moana Beach Park.

They lined the sidewalk shouting and blowing conch shells as passing motorists honked their horns.

Some protesters then carried the effigy of a 12-foot-tall Uncle Sam to the water-giver statue outside the Convention Center and knocked off its hat that carried colonial feathers representing countries that fell under the imperialism of the U.S. There was no Hawaii colonial feather. They then pulled out a U.S. flag from the hat and cut off the 50th star, setting it on fire.

The march was put on by the Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance, which represents numerous Native Hawaiian factions with varying political perspectives. But they do agree that they want self-determination and independence for Hawaiians. They also do not recognize the legality of the state of Hawaii.

The flag with the missing star was paraded in front of the Convention Center.

Hayden Burgess, who goes by the Hawaiian name Poka Laenui, spoke in detail about how the Hawaiian monarchy was illegally overthrown and taken by the United States.
Other protesters were seen carrying upside-down Hawaiian flags.

Lynette Cruz, one of the organizers of today’s event, said, “We’re trying not to engage in hate speech. That’s not it. This is not driven by hate.”

What they are trying to do is establish a discussion, a dialogue, she said.

“We have not had the discussion about what is the future – what is the next step.”

We hope to get that discussion started, she said.
Another aspect is to get people to understand the facts of the history of the overthrow, Cruz said.

Hawaiçi’s statehood is predicated on an illegal action, she said.

“It’s illegal, it’s immoral, and it’s not real,” she said.

Source: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090821/BREAKING01/90821053&s=d&page=4#pluckcomments

Updated at 8:59 a.m., Thursday, August 20, 2009

Protests planned when Hawaii marks 50th anniversary with festivities

By MARK NIESSE
Associated Press

HONOLULU – Protesters will march the streets and Hawaiian chants will echo from the sprawling lawn of Iolani Palace on Hawaii’s 50th anniversary of statehood, as high-minded panelists ponder the Islands’ future at a daylong conference.

While lacking much in the way of public parties or parades, Hawaii’s official statehood day festivities will feature entertainment by local musicians and panel discussions emphasizing tourism’s future, alternative energy and Native Hawaiian rights.

About 1,000 demonstrators who would rather see Hawaii’s independence restored are expected to rally outside the conference at the Hawaii Convention Center.

“We want to show how U.S. imperialism has spread across the Pacific and across the world,” said Lynette Cruz, an organizer of the Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance. “It’ll be fun.”

The protesters will be allowed inside the convention center lobby, but they can’t get into the individual conference rooms without purchasing a $30 ticket.

“We’re trying to set a standard that embraces dialogue over physical conflict, and that’s the hope for Friday,” said Trisha Kehaulani Watson of Honua Consulting, one of the Hawaiian panelists. “We can show people that we can have concerns and be emotional without losing control.”

Previous statehood anniversaries haven’t always been peaceful.

American-flag-waving Statehood Day celebrants and Hawaiian sovereignty advocates clashed in 2006 at Iolani Palace, the heart of the Hawaiian monarchy where officials declared in 1959 that Hawaii had joined the union. The conflict turned into a shouting match between those trying to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and others who used a public address system to drown them out.

Last year, police arrested 23 members of a Hawaiian pro-sovereignty group that broke into the palace, locked its gates and posted signs that read, “Property of the Kingdom of Hawaiian Trust.”

“The state is very cognizant of Hawaiian protests, and I think they don’t want to have any bad press,” said Dean Saranillio, a student who wrote his dissertation on how statehood came at the expense of Hawaiian self-determination. “There’s a very vibrant and vocal Hawaiian community that’s well-versed in the history. They know statehood was a product of the overthrow.”

The Hawaiian kingdom was overthrown in 1893 when a group of white businessmen forced Queen Liliuokalani to abdicate while U.S. Marines came ashore.

About 94 percent of Hawaii voters supported statehood in 1959, but opponents argue the vote was tainted because the only choice on the ballot was to become a state or remain a territory – independence was not an option.

At sunset Friday, 18 Hawaiians will recite chants in memory of Queen Liliuokalani from the balconies of Iolani Palace, said Kippen de Alba Chu, chairman of the Statehood Commission. He said the chanters and the conference discussions will help set the stage for Hawaii’s future.

“The tone is reflective. We’re looking back where we came from and looking at our accomplishments, but perhaps also the things we need to do better,” he said.

Back at the convention center, Hawaii’s commemorative 50th anniversary postage stamp will be unveiled. The stamp, available nationwide Friday, will show a painting of a longboard surfer and two paddlers on an outrigger canoe.

The day’s events will end with a ’50s-style concert by The Platters, the Coasters and the Drifters.

Other statehood events included a walking tour focused on the overthrow, with costumed guides and role-players along the way; a statehood mosaic unveiled earlier this month at the Honolulu airport with artwork from more than 8,000 students nationwide; TV and radio ads with “50 Voices of Statehood” interviews; and 50 time capsules buried around the state to be opened on the state’s 75th anniversary in 2034.

State lawmakers allocated $600,000 for statehood events.

Source: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090820/BREAKING01/90820032/Protests+planned+when+Hawaii+marks+50th+anniversary+with+festivities

Check out the “Statehood Countdown” at StatehoodHawaii.org.  Arnie Saiki has dug up interesting historical documents about the discussions and politics of Hawai’i being designated a state of the U.S.   The countdown begins with the August 1st, 2009 post and continues for 21 days.  Anti-communism was one of the big factors shaping U.S. policies regarding Hawai’i and Alaska.