Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 6, 1 June 1998 — If you ask me... [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

If you ask me...

What does the upcoming centennial of the 1898 annexation of Hawai'i mean to you? Asked of members of the "Hawai'i Loa Kū Like Kākou" program committee's subcommittee on history. PHOTOS: JAYSON HARPER

Actually, its a celebration ot our kūpuna who collected signatures in support of Queen Uli'uokalani's second letter of protest regarding the annexation being considered by the United States. That annexation itself was actually invalid because the proponents of it here had eommitted treason. Dan Kaholi

For me, it means a new beginning, new understanding as far as what I didn't know and what I know now. So it's very, very important. Analani Alexander

According to intemational, United States and Hawaiian law, the purported annexation did not take plaee. It's actually a joint resolution whieh is an intemal pieee of legislation that cannot have effect outside the territoriai jurisdiction where it was adopted. So, in essence, what you had in 1898 was the biggest magic show in the history of Hawai'i. Kaipo Sarkissian

Well, it has helped me leam about my ancestors and to thank them for protecting our laws. We're not protesting, but we are happier right now knowing where we are and where we eame from. I hope I ean help educate more people of all races. Homer Keanu

l'm really happy about the program on August 12 because it will, forthe first time, bring a lot of kanaka maoli groups together for the eommon cause. If s going to help educate ali of these different groups in their real history so that they ean take back what they think they lost. Gay Sousa

lt has a spiritual meaning. Through education we are gaining spiritual strength. It's painful, but it strengthens us because we will take what our people did for us then into the future. Mike Hikalea