Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 8, 1 August 1998 — Declaration of Hamaiian National Interity and Affirmatian [ARTICLE]

Declaration of Hamaiian National Interity and Affirmatian

Editor's note: The following Declaration was drafted by the Hawai'i Loa Kūlike Kākou Committee, and is currently being circulated throught the community for support. On Wed., Aug. 12, 1998, at 'Iolani Palaee, the Declaration will displayed for all to read, affirtn and sign. MHEREAS. AUGUST 12, 1998, marks the eentennial of the purported annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States; , immediately following a treasonous attempt to overthrow the Constitutional Govemment of the Hawaiian Kingdom on January 17, 1893, enemies of the Kingdom, calling themselves the provisional governmenL departed for Washingtoa D.C., and signed a treaty of annexation with the United States on Febmary 14, 1 893; Whereas, on February 15, 1893, the treaty of annexation was submitted to the United States Senate for ratification in accordance with United States Constitutional law; Whereas, before the United States Senate could ratily the proposed treaty of annexation, newly elected President Grover Cleveland, conlfonted wilh the facts of the illegal overthrow, withdrew the treaty from further consideration. Whereas, in a message to the United States Congress on December 1 8, 1893, President Grover Qeveland concluded that "the United States could noL under the circumstances disclosed, annex the islands without justly incurring the imputation of acquiring them by unjustifiable methods, I shall not again submit the treaty of annexation to the Senate for its consideration." Whereas, having failed at this first attempt to obtain a treaty of annexation with the United States, the provisional govemmenL on July 4, 1 894, declared iLself to be the Republie of Hawai'i, and maintained its opposition to the restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom Govemment as called for by United States President Grover Qeveland; Whereas, on June 16, 1897, with Grover Cleveland now out of office. a second effort to annex the Hawaiian Islands to the United States was attempted, and a treaty was signed in Washington, D.C., between representatives of the self-pro-claimed Republic of Hawai'i and the newly elected President of the United States, William McKinley; Whereas, on the following day in Washington, D.C., Her Majesty Queen Lili'uokalani filed a formal letter of protest in the State Department of the United States, asserting that the

proposed treaty of annexafion violated the existing Treaties helween the Hawaiian Kingdom and the United States and was therefore in violation of Intemational law, and aLso requested President McKinley to withdraw the treaty ffom consideration in the Senate and asked the Senate to decline to ratily said treaty: \\hereas, the men and women of the Hawaiian Patriotic League, through the efforts of many loyal and dedicated Hawaiian subjects, launched an aggressive petition drive intending to document opposition to the proposed treaty of annexation, in support of Queen Lili'uokalani's formal letter of protest; Whereas, by November of 1897, īheHawaiian Patriotic League, also known as the Hui Aloha 'Aina, had successfully gathered the signatures and support of 2 1 ,269 Hawaiian subjecLs and residenLs of the Hawaiian Kingdom; Whereas, in a joint effoit, the Hawaiian Political Party, also known as the Hui Kālai'āina, also gathered through their petition drive 17,285 signatures, culminating in the collection of 38,554 signatures nationwide; Whereas, on November 20, 1897, James Kaulia, President of the Hawaiian Patriotic League. and David Kalauokalani, President of the Hawaiian Political Party, together with John Richardson and William Auld traveled to Washington, D.C., to deliver the petitions to the United States Senate; Whereas, the United States Senate failed to obtain the required two-thirds vote as mandated by the United States Constitution to ratify the treaty of annexation; Whereas, in violation of United States constitutional law a joint resolution to provide for annexing the Hawaiian Islands to the United States was introduced in the United States Senate, also known as the "Newlands Resolution;" Whereas, the "Newlands Resolution," was then passed by a simple majority in eaeh house of Congress and signed by President McKinley on July 7, 1898; Whereas, according to Intemational law and practice, the Newlands Resolution did not have the power and effect of a treaty of annexation; Whereas, without a treaty of annexation, American sovereignty does not exist in the Hawaiian Islands, and since 1898 the acts of American sovereignty in the Hawaiian Islands have been invalid; and Whereas, nothing has transpired whieh could legally affect the lawful existence of the Hawaiian Kingdom and its subjects: Now, therefore,

We the undersigned, being Hawaiian subjects, residenLs and supporters of the Hawaiian Kingdom on the occasion of 100 yeais since the purported annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States of America on August 12, 1898 - (1) acknowledge and embrace the historical significance of the achievements of Her late Majesty Queen Lili'uokalani and the men and women of the Hawaiian Patriotic League and the Hawaiian Polilieal Party, whieh contributed to the defeat of the treaty of annexation; (2) acknowledge and alfirm our civil and political as well as our eeonomie, social and cultural righLs as native Hawaiian subjecLs (Kanaka Maoli), secured under the Constitution and Laws of the Hawaiian Kingdom and under Intemational law; (3) acknowledge and commend United States President William Clinton and the 103d Congress in its enactment of Public Law 103-150, also called the "apology law," on November 23, 1993, whieh confirms Ihe United States' eommitment to acknowledge the ramifications of the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, in order to provide a proper foundation for reconciliation between the United States and the Hawaiian Kingdom; (4) declare our commitment and support for all peaceful efforts of redress under loeal, national and intemational jurisdictions that ultimately lead to the restoration of the Hawaiian govemment; (5) urge all Hawaiian subjects to participate in the political processes of loeal, nalional and intemational jurisdictions to contribute to the challenges of the day, to further the cause of Hawaiian interesLs and to seek the restoration of the Hawaiian government; (6) observe the unique role that Hawaiian culture assumes in Hawai'i's economy, and urge Hawai'i's business leaders to understand, examine, and explore the commonalities, options, and multitude of opportunities Hawaiian governance provides; (7) believe Hawai 'i has valuable insights to contribute to the global society, and will participate under terms that are responsive to our island environmenL and to the families who have chosen to make Hawaigi their home; and (8) recognize the life giving force of Hawai'i nei as a fundamental and inseparable element of Hawaiian govemance, and as we embrace the values of our island heritage and its universal applications, we recognize that We Are who We Were. M