With today’s 109th anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, Hawaiians across the state remain split over their loyalty to the United States.
Die-hard sovereignty groups advocate independence from the United States. But some older Hawaiians who grew up in the American political system are reluctant to break way from it, unconvinced a new government led by Hawaiians would be good.
Some Hawaiians on Kaua’i aren’t waiting for the issue to be settled.
The Anahola Homesteaders Council, co-founded by Anahola community leader Jimmy Torio, has launched Project Faith, a proposed $16 million-plus commercial and cultural center in Anahola. Supporters claim the project could be a model for other Hawaiian communities.
Proponents describe the undertaking as a one-of-a-kind project that would enable Hawaiians in Anahola to achieve economic self-sufficiency and to build stronger ties to Hawaiian history, culture and traditions.
Also planned is a Hawaiian-based charter school in Anahola, which plans to open this fall as one of 12 authorized in Hawai’i.
Employing Native Hawaiian approaches to education, proponents of the school hope to dramatically raise academic skills of Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian students and teach them “core family values and traditions” of Hawaiians, including protection of the land and resources and respect for one another.
In support of the public school, Kanuikapono, a nonprofit group from Anahola, has teamed educators, cultural practitioners, the elderly and students to develop a curriculum that meshes Hawaii’s past and its future.
In the meantime, Hawaiian sovereignty groups remained steadfast in their efforts to break away from the United States and to resurrect the Hawaiian kingdom.
The groups contend the kingdom is intact because the United States’ 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and the annexation of Hawai’i in 1898 were illegal.
A group called Lawful Hawaiian Government Kingdom claims to be at the forefront of the independence movement.
Sovereignty groups have bitterly opposed a bill proposed by U.S. Sens. Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye of Hawai’i allowing Hawaiians to create their own semiautonomous political status similar to American Indian and Alaskan tribes.
The bill also has drawn opposition from some non-Hawaiians who say granting Hawaiians special rights will make non-Hawaiians second-class citizens.
The bill evolved after federal legislation signed by former President Clinton in 1993 apologized for the overthrow and proposed a remedy. But in the wake of last September’s terrorist attacks, Congress has not taken action on the bill, focusing instead on matters of national security and international issues.
The first bill was introduced in 2000 but failed for lack of support in Congress, which at the time was preoccupied with Florida’s presidential election recount.
A new version of the recognition bill defines Hawaiians and their eligibility for benefits under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921. Congress did not act on the bill by the end of last year, but Inouye and Akaka have said they will put it before the Senate next spring.
If approved, the bill would open the way for Hawaiians to create a government, but under the auspices of the federal government. That’s a result sovereignty groups are committed to foiling.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
