Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 1, 1 January 2002 — Sovereign Sunday [ARTICLE]

Sovereign Sunday

Jan. 13 will be declared Joseph Nawahī Day by organizers of the annual Sovereignty Sunday event at 'īolani Palaee, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The life of the courageous but uneelebrated Hawaiian patriot's life will be dramatized. Born Jan. 13, 1842, in Puna, Joseph Nawahī attended Hilo Boarding School, Lahainaluna Seminary and Royal School, A selftaught practicing attorney, Nāwahī served in the Kingdom Legislature, in the Queen's cabinet and ehampioned her efforts to replace the

Bayonet Constitution forced on King Kalākaua 1887. After the Provisional Government declared themselves in power in 1893, Nawahī founded a native resistance group, Hui Aloha 'Āina to protest Hawai'i's annexation in 1898 and to restore the Queen to power, Nāwahī and his wife Emma published the newspaper Ke Aloha 'Āina, ehallenging the unlawful government and, later the Republic of Hawai'i, For these activities, Nawahī was jailed twice in 1894 and 1895. Nāwahī contracted tuberculosis upon his release and died at the age 54 on Sept, 14, 1896. Held annually since 1975, Sovereign Sunday will also feature a debate on the Akaka Bill, mele, hula and a forum with updates on the continuing Kanaka Maoli struggle for self-determination, Sponsors include Sacred Times/Sacred Places, Pacific Women's Network, Ka Pākaukau, Kanaka Maoli Tribunal Kōmike, Pro-Kanaka Maoli īndependence Working Group, ,Ahupua'a Action Allianee and American Friends Service Committee, For information, eontact Kekuni Blaisdell at 595-6691, fax 595-0156, or Lynette Cruz at 738-0084.