Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 7, 1 July 1993 — Hui Na ʻauao [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hui Na ʻauao

Sovereignty & Self-Determination A Community Education Project

Editor' s note: This monlh begins a series ofarticles contributed by the Hui Na'auao sovereignty education organization and presented by Ka Wai Ola O OHA as a service to our readers. What is Hui Na'auao? Hui Na'auao is a coalition of more than 40 kanaka maoli organizations cooperating to provide education about sovereignty and self-determination. Hui Na'auao operates a threeyear, federally funded eommunity education project, administered under the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) since September 1991. Hui members range from volatile, action-oriented eommunities to conservative, nonpolitieal groups — from King's Landing village on the island of Hawai'i, to the statewide Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. Goal of Hui Na'auao The stated goal of Hui Na'auao is "to increase and enhanee the understanding and awareness of na kanaka maoli (indigenous people of Hawai'i) relative to their explicit and implicit spiritual, his-

torical, civil, political, legal, social, eeonomie and cultural uniqueness, and understanding and awareness relative to selfdetermination and sovereignty for na kanaka maoli ... providing a strong basis for full and enthusiastic participation in all processes indispensible to the successful restoration and recognition of na kanaka maoli sovereignty." Definition of sovereignty Webster defines sovereignty as "supreme and independent politieal authority." The Ho'okahua ("to lay a foundation") curriculum of Hui Na'auao considers definitions of sovereignty from indigenous sources, including: AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS: "The power to make decisions politically, socially, economically and legally for the benefit of the community with total ability to implement those decisions without fear of veto or interference from others." GUAM: "Today, we formally proclaim to a candid world, the 'Declaration of a Chamorro Naūon.' For it is our inalienable right to exist as a people whose ancestors were brought into this

nation to live on this land, and survive off its resources. As descendants of the original inhabitants, we proclaim the inheritance of these inalienable rights to all crown lands and natural resources. We assume these

rights with the promise to sacrifice our lives to protect and preserve our land and resources." W A R M SPRINGS TRIBES OF OREGON: "We, the members of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, eomprised of the Wasco. Warm Springs, and N o r t h e r n Paiute tribes,

hereby declare our national sovereignty. We declare the existence of this inherent sovereign authority — the absolute right to govem, to determine our destiny, and to control all persons, land, resources and activities, free from all outside interference, throughout our homeland and over all our rights, property, and people, wherever located. ..." PRO HAWAIIAN SOVEREIGNTY WORKING GROUP: "By kanaka maoli (indigenous Hawaiian) sovereignty, we mean that we kānaka maoli accept no higher human authority over our lives, our lands and oeean resources, and our future than ourselves. We are sovereign. No other human is sovereign over us." "This authority is in our 'iwi, our bones. It is inherent. It was transmitted to us by our kūpuna mai ka pō mai, our ancestors. Our kūpuna exercised undisputed control over our land, the entire kanaka maoli pae'āina (archipelageo), as the first people in these mid-oceanic islands since time immemorial" (statement by Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell, Aug. 24, 1991). Models of sovereignty The Ho'okahua curriculum also studies elements and models of sovereignty. Elements of sovereignty include indigenous membership, land base, spirituality, government, laws and judiciary. It includes domestic and intemational relations, revenues, eommerce, monetary system, tax powers, and indigenous defense. Sovereignty models, such as "nation within a nation," the American Indian model, "nation within a state," free association, and restoration of the Hawaiian nation are explained in the book, A Callfor Hawaiian Sovereignty,

written by Keone Kealoha Agard and Kioni Dudley, and published by Nā Kāne O Ka Malo Press, 1990 ($19.95 hardback, $12.95 paperback). The authors conclude, "The nation many propose would truly

be a Ha-wai-ian nation, distinctly different in the world: a sovereign nation composed of people of many races who felt themselves a part of the islands and who sense a oneness with the native people; a citizenry that supported the revitalization of Hawaiian culture with its traditional world view

and approach to life. A Hawaiian nation ruled by Hawaiians." Likewise, the Ho'okahua curriculum considers sovereignty models proposed by various kanaka maoli organizations, and models of other indigenous peoples. For example: KA LĀHUI HAWAI'I: Favors nation within a nation model: equity with other native Americans (with an eventual return to the United Nations' list of non-self-goveming territories). A democratic constitution provides for initiative, referendum and recall by the native blood electorate residing in Hawai'i, and for an elected executive, unicameral legislature, and judiciary. Current following is claimed to be 19,000. Eeonomie self-suf-ficiency would be based on the trust assets of ceded and Hawaiian Home Lands. LA EA O HAWAI'I NEI (now 'Ohana Family Council): Favors full independence, with 'ohana system: a network of families living on homestead lands would replace the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Title to lands would be retumed to native Hawaiians, who must understand their responsibilities. STATE COUNCIL OF HAWAIIAN HOMESTEAD ASSOCIATIONS: Favors state to state model: self-governance with an executive branch, and statewide executive board. Hawaiian Homes commissioners would be elected instead of appointed. Populaūon base is 30,000, land base is 187,400 acres. A co-oper-ative economy would have homestead farmers and ranchers distributing their produce and livestock via O'ahu. AMERICAN SAMOA: Unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States.

Population 42,000. Gross national product is $190 million. Economy strongly linked to the United States. INDEPENDENT SAMOA: Constitutional monarchy under native chief. Population 186,000. GNP $112 million. Economy dependent upon nationals sending money home and on foreign aid. PUERTO RICO: Commonwealth associated with the United States. Population three million. GNP $18 billion. Economy encouraged by duty-free access to the United States and by tax incentives. PHILIPPINES: Republic. Populahon 66 million. GNP $41 billion. Economy: agriculture, forestry and fishing employ 50 percent of the work force and provide 30 percent of the GNP. As nā kānaka maoli move toward an indigenous sovereign nation, it behooves everyone "to increase and enhanee the understanding and awareness relative to self-determination and sovereignty." As A Call for Hawaiian Sovereignty says, "To be a part of the birth or rebirth of a nation is a privilege given to few humans." Therefore, Hui Na'auao encourages all Hawaiians and other interested persons to: • Review Senate Bill 1028. For copies, eall 586-6470. • Participate in sovereignty education events, such as Ka Ho'okolokolonui Kānaka Maoli, The Peoples' International Tribunal Hawai'i in mid-August. For information eall 595-6691. • Register for the University of Hawai'i Summer Session/Hui Na'auao classes on Hawaiian sovereignty by calling 956-7221. The remaining schedule of free public lectures scheduled at UH Kuykendall Auditorium, from 79 p.m. is as follows: — July 6, "Traditional and customary rights" — July 13, "Native Hawaiian Spirituality" — July 20, "Hawaiian Language" — July 27, "Hawaiian Heahh" — Aug. 10, "Self-determination and Self-governance." • Inquire about Hui Na'auao's public workshops by phoning 671-6699. • For other information about Hui Na'auao eall 947-6322. Next month: "Ho'āla" (to awaken), and additional models of sovereignty.

Membersof Hui Na'auao: AJx)rigina! Nafive Hawaiian Association 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu Chapter I of Honolulu Aloha 'ĀLna Educaticm Center Alu Like, ine. Assoc. of Hawaiian Civic Clubs CounciI of Hawaiian Organizations Free Association ■ Friends of Kamehameha and Kamehameha Schools Hā Mana HACPAC iHawatian Affairs Civic/Polifical Action Comraittee) Hoa Hawaiians Hui Ho'opakele ' Aina "lli Noho Kai O Anahola Ka 'Ohana O Kalae Ka Pākaukau Kahana 'Ohana Unity Courtcil Karaeharaeha SchooIs Alumni Association, O'ahu Kānaka Maoli Kapili Entertainment Group Kaua'i Island Council/Hui Na'auao Ke Kua'ama Hanauana Hou King's Landing ViJlage Kona Advisory Councii/Hui Na'auao LaEa O Hawai'i Nei Make'e Pono O Lāhui Hawai* i Maui Island Council/Hui Na'auao Nā Kāne 0 Ka Malo, ine. Na Koa Ikaika Nā Maka O Ka 'Āina Native Hawaiian Advisory Council. ine. Nati ve Hawaiian En vironmental Defense Pund, ine. Nafive Hawaiian Legal Corporation Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce Nohili Coalition Office of Hawaiian Affairs 'Onipa'a O Ka "Āina Pa'a Pono O Miloli'i Pāhe'ehe'e Ridge Association Pele Defense Fund Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana Royal Order of Kamehameha

NEM HL 1 ADDR£SS: Hui Na'auao has moved from its home in Nu'uanu to; 1585 Kapi'olaai Boulevard, Suite 1638, Box 33, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96814. Phone 947-6322. FAX 941-