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a young Native Hawaiian mother recounts the stories of her ancestors. The original, one-of-a-kind work is composed of bronze figures, black lava and slate. The hand carved lava base is not from Hawaii, as it is not allowed to leave the islands. Hawaiian legend speaks of curses on those who remove lava form the islands. The lava rock used for the base is from Utah and is customarily used for landscaping. The original work stands 50" high X 12" x 12" with its stone and mahogany stained maple pedestal. A limited edition of twelve patinated all bronze reproductions are offered. On January 16, 1994, less than one month after a speech by Professor Francis Boyle, International Law expert and advisor to Hawai'i, The 'Ohana (Family) Council organized a "Spiritual Solidarity March". The topic of Prof. Boyle's speech was Bill Clinton's Presidential Apology Bill, its interpretation and implications. All inhabitants of Hawai'i were encouraged to become "fully informed of the truth regarding the political relationship between Hawai'i and America." The march was an invitation to all Native Hawaiians to help coordinate peaceful, non-violent action toward the U.S. Government. Similar to the plight of the Native American Indians, Native Hawaiian owned land became occupied by America. In the process, Native Hawaiians were no longer permitted to practice their cultural beliefs and traditions, nor were their children allowed to speak their native language in school. Traditional Hawaiian culture was repressed and natives were gradually sequestered to one of the northern most islands as the only place they could participate in ancient traditions. This all began in 1893, when Queen Lilliokalani was forced at gunpoint to surrender to American military forces. In President Clinton's Apology Bill, the United States of America is, according to Prof. Boyle, "...admitting that the invasion, overthrow, occupation, annexation, starting in 1893, on up, violated all the treaties, violated basic norms of international law, and the United States Constitution... the overthrow of a lawful government... Under international law, when you have a violation of treaties of this magnitude, the World Court has ruled that the only appropriate remedy is restitution. "... 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. ...Congress has given you everything you need right here to do it, if that's what you want to do. The United Nations Charter provides the rest of the authority to do it." "Congress is effectively conceding now that the (statehood) vote is meaningless, as a matter of international law and United States domestic law. So you're not bound by it. Rather I'm suggesting you're now free to determine your own fate pursuant to the principal of self-determination." "The State of Hawai'i, the federal government, are... the civilian arms of the military occupation authority, and... do not have sovereign powers. THE SOVEREIGNTY RESIDES IN THE PEOPLE." "Who's land is it? Well, from what Congress seems to be saying, it's the land of the Native Hawaiians. The Native Hawaiian people still have sovereignty... You can't trespass on your own land. The trespassers then become the State of Hawai'i, and the land developers, and the golf courses, and the resorts. You are simply the Native Hawaiians asserting your rights under international law... this reversal of positions, between who is the criminal and who is the victim, who is asserting their rights and who is violating their rights, has been effectively conceded by Congress." "As a litigator before the International Court of Justice, I would be able to take this law to the World Court, and say, 'The United States government has now officially conceded that it illegally invaded and occupied the Kingdom of Hawai'i, and for this reason the native people of Hawai'i would be entitled to a restoration of their independent status as a sovereign nation state.' " "I could not predict how long this would take, what would be the consequences, how many states will recognize you, but I will take it that the plight of the Hawaiian people is generally well known in the world, and there's a great deal of sympathy ...it might be that you would be able to obtain recognition quickly. And especially if you pursue this process in accordance with peaceful, non-violent struggle. And I submit that's the most effective technique you have today... Gandhi threw the mighty British Empire out of India without using force. ...I submit that the Native Hawaiian people would be able to do the same thing, moving in this direction and adopting the techniques of peaceful, non-violent action, which is what Gandhi called for. "I would certainly caution you against trying to seek the same type of treatment that the federal government has doled out to the Native Americans. Moreover, on the basis of this statute, you're entitled to a lot more..." "...an Independent Sovereign Nation State is one way a people who are threatened with extermination by means of genocide can attempt to protect themselves... What is the best way to protect the existence of a people, as a people? ...to proclaim your own State, and then, ultimately seek international recognition and finally UN membership... it's your future and that of your children and your children's children that is at stake." This information was circulated to every inhabitant of Hawai'i by the 'Ohana Council, working with "Spirit and Aloha." Their offices are supplied with documentation of their history and are available to all. Perhaps elsewhere in the world, Professor Boyle is correct in his opinion that the "plight of the Hawaiian people is well known". Certainly here, on the mainland, most everyone is aware of the political relationship between the U.S. government and the Native American Indians, but it is questionable as to how many tourists know about Hawai'i and how it came to be part of the United States. During my stay in Hawaii, upon first arriving, I noticed the graffiti on the walls of a restroom. It read: "Aloha Howlie, now GO HOME!" When I asked what h'aole' meant I was told it was a derogatory term for "whites". |
