Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 12, 1 December 2002 — Kingdom descendant [ARTICLE]

Kingdom descendant

I love Hawai'i, Native Hawaiians and ihe Hawaiian culture. Nevertheless, I have been a vocal opponent of Hawaiian sovereignty. As a descendant of citizens of ihe Hawaiian Kingdom at ihe time of

ihe overthrow, I am ihe subject of racial prejudice for excluding my entire race from participation inlhe establishment of such an entity. The Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and others wereinvited to eome to Hawai'i to blend wilh ihe Hawaiian race. King Kalākaua went around ihe word and his representative told Japanese government officials that ihe Japanese should eome to Hawai'i and blend with Hawaiians to become "one cognate race." MIy grandparents were born in the Kingdom during its existence. Their parents were invitees of ihe Hawaiian blooded leaders of ihe Hawaiian nation. Someone please explain why I am being excluded. If it would be just, I would support sovereignty, but ihe revolution removed ihe rights of my ancestors just as it removed ihe rights of Native Hawaiians. Please convince me ... I would love to be on your side. Paul M. de Silva Via the īnternet