Not many people are aware, but Hawai'i is to America as Tibet is to China- an internationally recognized country illegally overthrown. A country that wants its rightful independence. A bill is going before congress, the Akaka bill, which grants Hawaiians the sort of "sovreignty" Native Americans have now: the right to live on reserves and build Casinos. This is not the kind of deal they want or deserve. So all you with "Free Tibet" bumper stickers stuck on your back packs, think a minute about America's own Tibet. Write to your congressmen now and ask them not to support the Akaka bill, which, incidentally, has behind-the-scenes connections to Alaskan oil interests.

Oh yeah, not to mention that Hawaii's climate is almost constantly perfect. No hurricanes to ruin your day.

Yes North, hence the

And just to note, there were at least a hundred, maybe a few hundred tourists that tried to hike out to the active lava while I was there.

It was hilarious, the terrian was some of the worse I've ever hiked over, and it took us an hour to cover a mile. And we hiked probably 6 or 7 miles over this broken, undulating basalt. Insanity. Best part was I saw dozens of poor bastards out there in flip flops carrying coolers, stranded about two hours away from the road. And it was getting dark. Somebody tried to buy my headlamp off me for 50 bucks.

I've never seen so many bloody tourist feet in my life. The rangers must pull scores of stranded tourists off of the lava feilds every night.

quote:

Yeah because Puerto Rico has unique volcanoes like the ones in Hawaii.

Oh please, you think that the average tourist is so interested in the natural sciences that they will go to Hawaii to see valcanoes? They go to get drunk on the beach and get laid by islanders.

quote:

We would just find a way to force Puerto Rico to become the new 50'th state, and the tourism which once was in Hawaii would be redirected there.

Yeah because Puerto Rico has unique volcanoes like the ones in Hawaii.

Hawaii has been taken over by a superior power and has acheived full statehood and rights. Any arguements about giving them soveriegnty are no more supported than any ideas about slavery reparations. It's over and done with, Hawaii is part of the US.

I don't think that Hawaii should be a part of the country, but Euterpe is right. To try and gain independence would be the end of a prosperous Hawaii. We would just find a way to force Puerto Rico to become the new 50'th state, and the tourism which once was in Hawaii would be redirected there.

It's not getting national attention because nobody can understand what Hawaii is complaining about. If they want their independence or "sovreignty", and they get it, there will be backlash. Most of their tourism comes from the United States, and what if we decide to boycott? I never underestimate the power of fanatical patriots. What happens to them in 5 years? You can't rely on pineapples.

I agree how we took their land is unethical, but they are a state in our United States. They get taken care of just as everyone else does, with some exceptions considering how freakin' far they are. And who's the first country to help them if a volcano erupts and destroys an island? We would.

Is this Bill still in Congress, and if it is why hasn't it been brought to national attention?...Until some action takes place Hawaii is still the 50th state of the union. And my favorite as well, I may be getting stationed there in late 2006 or 2007 at Pearl Harbor.

I think one of the key and extremely CRUCIAL points that is being overlooked in the passing of the Akaka Bill is that it gives Native Hawaiian people an indigenous status. This may not seem like much, but what would then happen is that we could then petition under the Draft Feclaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2004) a recognized charter of the United Nations. This bolsters the Native Hawaiian cause on a global level for we would then be recognized by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights these organizations are key because the purpose of these institution is to affirm the fundamental right of self-determination of all peoples, by virtue as indigenous cultures may freely determin their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Furthermore, the Declaration of the Rights of Persons Belongong to National, Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities (1993) - another U.N charter is committed to as stated in Article 1 Protect the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic or linguistic minorities. Article II Encourage intergovernmental organizations to contribute to the promotion and protection of these rights. Not to mention, Native Hawaiians could further their stance on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The latest revision I read on the Akaka Bill was in 2004, I know that it was revised once more in 2005. There was a televised hearing on the bill as well as an endorsement from the OHA. I know that many groups, although diffrent in perspective, share one common goal - enough already. Corporations along with military continue to stronghold our land as well as our people. if this bill can put a stop or temporary halt to the injustice of it all, then I must support it. theres more to it them casinos and proverbial wardship, read the bill not the flyer.

Ummm, this is interesting. What gives you the idea that the Hawaiian people 'willingly sought annexation?' They never did.

The following are excerpts a flyer that is in circulation. I hope this will help clear some things up!

"TOP REASONS WHY NO KANAKA MAOLI SHOULD SUPPORT FEDERAL RECOGNITION/THE AKAKA STEVENS BILL OR THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS' ATTEMPT TO ENROLL NATIVE HAWAIIANS:

1. Passage of the Akaka bill would signify the first time in history that the Hawaiian people acquiesced to the illegal, US backed overthrow of their quen and their country in 1893.

2. If Hawaiians agree to federal recognition they are agreeing to give all power over their supposed "self-determination" to the US Secretary of the Interior and the US Congress FOREVER. In other words, "self-determination" as promulgated by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and others REALLY MEANS the Hawaiian people agree to become subject to the needs and desires of whoever happens to get elected to US Congress, and whoever the President of the United States assigns as Secretary of the Interior.

3. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is an agency whose loyalty is subject to the best interests of the state, not of the Hawaiian people.

4. The Akaka Bill intentionally denies our inherent sovereignty as people and is in essence only a transfer plan of wardship status in the name of "trust relationship." In other words, Hawaiian people would be considered wards of the federal government.

5. Hawaiian Sovereignty and self-determination are already inherent: as acknowledged by the U.S. Apology Resolution, and, therefore, CANNOT BE LEGISLATED BY THE UNITED STATES."

MAY I BE PERMITTED TO ADD, the Akaka-Stevens bill takes its name from two Senators, one Hawaiian, one Alaskan. STEVENS IS INTO OIL DRILLING! Akaka and Stevens have essentially agreed to swap votes.
ALSO: The Akaka Bill has undergone many, many revisions WITHOUT HEARINGS, or with hearings accessible ONLY BY INVITATION!

A'OLE PONO AKAKA BILL!
NO JUSTICE IN THE AKAKA BILL!
KU'E! HO'OKU'EKU'E!
RESIST! STIR UP RESISTANCE!


--- Catilina

Hawaii is unlike any other place in America in so many ways. I think the attitude of the Hawaiians (and by that I mean all Hawaiian, not just the Native Hawaiians) is that they will be separate from us, even if we still want to call them part of our country, they don't mind the extra cash.

It's a very different place, that seems basically sovereign either way. It's so cool and relaxed there.

The thing with texas is that we'd gladly give it up... damn moochers...

While I've been aware of this since US History 2 in high school, You can hardly compare this to the Chinese invasion of Tibet.

The difference being, The US did not simply roll into town, brutally opress the culture of the country, and establish totalitarian rule.

Instead, the change in power occured when US troops, without authority from congress or the president, were used to aid the overthrow, which was mainly composed of immigrant farmers and other non-natives. In the end the US only annexed the coutnry after everything had already gone to heck and the established republic willingly sought the annexation.

According to this history, if Hawaii is America's Tibet, then so are Texas and California.

P.S.- Julia Butterfly Hill is an ignorant elitist hypocrite. But that's another story.

I have no idea what the heck that is and i've never ever heard of it.

i do know what your talking about.

Never heard of it!

haven't heard of the bill actually. there are kind of reserves on the islands already... not quite like other native american ones of course. not all hawaiians would want total emancipation, if that's what you're getting at. agree with your comparison to tibet though... in some ways...

"A strong nationalist, Liluokalani tried to replace the Bayonet Constitution with one which would favor native Hawaiians, but was intimidated her into letting the old constitution stand. In 1892 the Hawaiian Legislature passed a law permitting the import and sale of opium. The bill favored Chinese businessmen, and Americans were enraged when the queen signed it, although according to the Bayonet Constitution she had no choice but to sign every bill the legislature passed. She was also castigated for signing a bill that legalized the lottery.

U.S. minister John L. Stevens conspired with other non-Hawaiians to overthrow the queen. In January 1893, armed troops were sent ashore from a warship in Honolulu Harbor, and Liliokalani was forced to surrender her throne. A provisional government took control of Hawaii.

The queen's heir, Princess Kaiulani, went to Washington to appeal for help. Her dignity impressed President Cleveland, who ordered an investigation of the revolution. The report he received convinced Cleveland that the queen should be returned to her throne. He made a speech to congress condemning the overthrow of the monarchy, calling it "a misuse of the name and power of the United States." Cleveland refused to annex Hawaii because the majority of Hawaiians were not in favor of it.

In 1894 the Republic of Hawaii was established with Sanford Dole as its president. In 1895 native Hawaiians, led again by Robert Wilcox, revolted in an attempt to return the queen to power. After 10 days of fighting, Wilcox and most of the other royalists were captured. They were sentenced to death, but saved by intervention of the U.S. government.

Firearms were discovered buried in the queen's flower garden, and she was arrested. For eight months she was held prisoner in one room of the Iolani Palace. She was charged with misprision of treason (knowing about treason and not reporting it). Her trial by military tribunal was held in the former throne room of her palace. The queen was found guilty and sentenced to a $5,000 fine and five years of hard labor. The sentence was not carried out, however.

On New Year's Day, 1896, Wilcox and the other royalists were released. Queen Liliuokalani was not freed until later that year. Upon her release she went to Washington and was warmly welcomed by President Cleveland. But Cleveland was unable to help her. "I am ashamed of the whole affair," he wrote later.

The queen's heir, Princess Kaiulani, died in 1899 at the age of 23. Liliuokalani continued to live in Hawaii. She regained some of her crown lands, received a pension from the state, and also had income from the properties she owned. She attended most state occasions. But she didn't attend the ceremonies marking the U.S. annexation of Hawaii because she didn't want to see the Hawaiian flag lowered and the American flag raised."

"In 1898 Hawaii was finally annexed by the United States, and in 1900 it became a U.S. territory. On August 21, 1959 it became the 50th American state. In 1993 Congress and President Clinton formally apologized for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii."

http://www.royalty.nu/America/Hawaii.html

I wrote a paper that had a bit to do with this for a college course I took last semester. I knew a bit about it from taking hula. Most people know nothing about it.