LEO 'ELELE - TRUSTEE MESSAGES

The coming storm

Vice-Chair Walter M. Heen Trustee, O'ahu

I'm sure you are all aware that the Akaka Bill, S. 1011 and H.R. 2314, has been reintroduced in the United States Congress and H.R. 2314 has had a hearing in the House of Representatives. The bill is intended to express the United States' policy regarding its "relationship with Native Hawaiians" and also "to provide a process" for the United States to recognize "the Native Hawaiian governing entity." President Barack Obama has stated that he will sign the bill if it is passed by Congress.

Upon passage, the procedures outlined in the bill will move forward. When they do, I anticipate considerable turmoil in our Hawaiian community. I expect that there will be resistance to the process from the very beginning and from the same individuals and groups who loudly and stridently opposed the concept some 10 years ago. In particular, those groups oppose the basic concept of, and here I paraphrase, having the United States tell Native Hawaiians how they must "establish" a government that the United States will recognize. Those protesters believe in the inherent right of Native Hawaiians to re-establish our own sovereign entity. Additionally, there were, and are, groups who claim to be the restored sovereign government (think "occupation" of 'Iolani Palace).

Those groups and individuals have not gone away and, in fact, since those early events, have gained other allies. They will resist any and all attempts to establish the governing entity envisioned by the Akaka Bill.

They will protest the establishment of the United States Office for Native Hawaiian Relations as provided for in the bill because it continues a "subjugated" position for Native Hawaiians. They will proclaim that the only thing that needs to be reaffirmed is the inherent sovereignty of Native Hawaiians. Thereafter, Native Hawaiians will determine for themselves the form of government to be re-established.

I also anticipate that there will be considerable complaint made about the formation and appointment of the commission that will determine who is eligible to participate in the reorganization of the governing entity. The protesters will carry forward the theme of their complaint about the concept of the Akaka Bill and will insist that a law passed by Congress cannot declare who is or is not a Hawaiian. They will declare that the establishment of a "roll" of Hawaiians eligible to participate in the "reorganization" is simply contrary to their inherent right as Native Hawaiians.

The irony of the Akaka Bill is that it supports the basic premise of the protesters. Section 2 (22) (B) states that, "Native Hawaiians have never relinquished their claims to sovereignty or their sovereign lands[.]" One can easily argue from that statement that the United States recognizes the illegality of its occupancy of the Hawaiian Islands and should restore Native Hawaiian sovereignty. That, of course, is more easily said than done. It is one thing for the United States to acknowledge the claim; it is another to agree to restoration of Hawaiian sovereignty.

So, where are we? In spite of the storm that is coming we need to continue to support the passage of the Akaka Bill, because it is the only viable step forward for Native Hawaiians toward eventual restoration of sovereignty. As Shakespeare said:

There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood,
Leads on to fortune,
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

And as Kehau Watson has said, "I will take every little bit by every little bit, because I know that in the end I will get it all."