Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 January 1983 — THOUGHTS ON MAKUA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THOUGHTS ON MAKUA

During Hawaii's Monarchy, therewas noquestion that the \ation ol Hawaii was the title holder to the heaches at Makua (except l'or Kuleanas parceled to native tenants). But treason vvas hrewing. I he llnitcd States. through its "diplomatic" minister on one side. and mostly Ameiiean husincssmen in Hawaii on thc othcr. conspired to have U.S. Marines invade Hawaii. overthrow the populai' government and turn powei' o\er to a provisional government whieh would e.\ist lor the explicit purpose ol'giving Hawaii to the l S. (See Blount's report: Cleveland's Address to Congress I)ec. 18. 1893.) l lie plan was lor the l S. to huild ;t military and trade tortress in the Paeilie. In return. the U.S. would givethese husinessmen ahsolute control over Hawaiian politics and husiness. Cleveland exposed the conspiracy and relused to take a hand in it. While C"leveland remained in oll'iee. however. thesham government was husy at work in Hawaii preparing l'orthe da\ he would he replaced. Sant'ord I)ole and l.onin I hurston. attempting to clothe the sham government \vith greater "legitimacy" than a mere American puppet. l'ormulated a plan h\ whieh they could impress the international community ol'their right togovern Hawaii. 1 hey created a new scheme called the Kepuhlie ol' Hawaii. First. a constitutional convention was ealled hy Dole eonsisting ol' 37 delegates. nineteen selected hy Dole and the remaining 18 elected. hut only hy those who signed a declaration disavowing any loyalt\ to I.iliuokalani. l.ess than 20 ' < would dignit'y this scheme h\ \ oting. I 'he eon\ention met and adopted almost in total the constitution proposed h\ Dole and I hurston. I hat document crcated the kepuhlie ol' Hawaii and declared all Hawaiian govcrnment lands (as well as all citi/ens ol' Hawaii) to now helong to the Kepuhlie ol' Hawaii. On July 4. 1894. while Americans in Hawaii lired t heii arms to celehrate their day ol' independcnce and remind the Hawaiians ol'their continued presence. Dole stood at lolani palaee and declared this "C'onstitution" into l'ull l'orce (also ntaking him theautomatic President). \'o vote h\ Hawaii's people was ever taken to endorse this "constitution." When McKinley replaced C'leveland as President. Dole's Kepuhlie ol' Hawaii rushed to Washington. presented their "Constitution" whieh deelared ownership ol all government lands. and ollered all Hawaii to the U.S. ("Treaty ol Annexation") I he U.S. accepted the oller. made Hawaii its militar\ l'ortress and trading post in thc Paeilie and in return. made Dole governor ol Hawaii. Dole. in turn. estahlished a regime in Hawaii whieh wasa eomhine ol' the Repuhlican part\ and thc Big 5 to take ahsolute control over ull husinessand politics in Hawaii. I heii" conspirac\ was I u 1 1 i I led . Makua \vas now considered owned h\ thc Unitcd States as part ol the land ceded h\ the Kepuhlie ol Hawaii. Since that time until 1964. alllhe Kuleana parcels were conl'iscated l'or military purposes. In 1964. the U.S. "returned" Makua in an agreement calling lor an immediate 65 year lease-hack to the U.S. militar\ l'or a dollar. reser\ing to the State the heaeh areas. Thus. the State claims it has titlc to the heaeh and therelore the right to throw residents ol'l'. But the kepuhlie ol' Hawaii has no rightl"ul elaim to Makua's government lands in the l'irst plaee. Howeoukl they give something the\ did not properly own? \ow ean the recipient ol hogus title elevate it to good titlc h\ another transfer. To do so is international thievery. Continued on Page 8

TRl STKK'S C()RNKR I his eolumn is open to all OH A Trustees as a vehicle for them to express their mana'o. The opinions expressed are the personal views of eaeh individual frustee and do not necessarily represent the official position of the()HA Board of T rustees.

Turstee Hayden Burgess discusses his decision not to lake the puhlie oalh of office. (Photo hy \\ illams Photography)

Continued from Page 3 Proper title bclongs to and reniains with thc Nation ol' Hawaii for the benelit ol all Hawaii's people in accordanee with the law l ki Mau Ke Ea o Ka Aina 1 Ka Pono. ln this battle o\er Makua, an appeal to reason rather than a resort to physical confrontation should be the method of settlement. I he residents haveasked again and again. to submit this contro\ersy to an impartial trihunal ol international jurists selected b\ both themselves and the State. I he State has ans\vered with its hea\y equipnient. dogs. guns and men to lorce the residents out, destroy their homes. and arrest those refusing to leave. I he Makua residents are raising issues going to the \ ery

heart ol the cause ol' Hawaii's land predicament affecting every keiki o ka aina of whatever racial background. issues whieh ean no longer be ignored and whieh deserve the thoughtful consideration of a 1 1 who love truth and justice irrespeetive ol who.se interest it implicates. Ilayden I Burgess Trusiee OP/iee of Hawaiian Affairs