Running head: HAOLEWOOD TO HAWAII

Haolewood to Hawaii
Jasmine Lopez
ECPI University
Paper Three
January 20, 2015

Haolewood to Hawaii
Haole a person who is not a Native Hawaiian; a foreigner, specifically a white
person. In the start of the 1800s, Hawaii was known as a kingdom, a country ruled by
Hawaiis kings and queens. They commanded their people, adapted to the changing
environment and developed skills to survive. Hawaiians were evolving within their
language, religion and culture way before the days of Captain Cooks arrival. Aloof to the
reality surrounding them, their kingdom was the secret target of reform formed by certain
camouflaged organizations. Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaiis last monarch, was their last
victim of their cruel intentions. Eventually convicted of treason by the American military
commission, the queen was held prisoner, confined to her upstairs bedroom for eight
months. As a result, on August 12, 1898, the Hawaiian flag slowly lowered while
listening to the sultry words of Hawaii Pono I, the Hawaiian Kingdoms national

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anthem. With the same swing of the arm, followed the rising of the American Flag,
dancing to the beat of The Star Spangled Banner. This was a sad day, the day where
Hawaii as sovereignty was taken over by the United States. The ultimately goal is to gain
Native Hawaiian sovereignty, or the right for Native Hawaiians to self-govern. In order
for this to happen, the U.S. needs to federally recognize Native Hawaiians as a political
authority. This recognition creates a legal relationship between Native Hawaiian and the
U.S. government. Having this affiliation, allows the U.S. government to deal with Native
Hawaiians, just like Indian tribes, as they would deal with any other state government.
Hawaii should be federally recognized by the United States because of the potential
prosperity it will generate, other past cases and the fact of it being an illegal abduction.
The prosperity resulting from federal recognition will greatly increase. Once
federally recognized, Native Hawaiians will be able to control more Hawaiian land, the
cost of living would decrease and the opportunity for Native Hawaiians to come back
home would be possible. For example, the federal government had no respect for Hawaii
and destroyed the island of Kahoolawe. Under the U.S., this islands majestic shoreline
became target practice for Navy submarine torpedoes, the land was marked as mock
target bases and bombed, and 500-ton TNTs were detonated for exercises. It wasnt until
aircrafts missing their targets and bombing habitable islands next to Kahoolawe, when
an investigation took place and eventually resulted in the cease of military weapons
training (Protect Kahoolawe Ohana, 2013). Hawaiian filmmaker and journalist, Anne
Keala Kelly, adds that military bases occupy more than 20% of Hawaiis land. Most of
that occupied land, amusingly, was once owned by Hawaiian monarchy (Kelly, 2015).
According to the defense base closure & realignment act of 1990, land gets given back to
the State once military bases close down (Cowan, 2012 February 7). If recognized, land

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would go to the Native Hawaiian government rather than to the State. Tourism is another
big issue dealing with the fight of independence; it is Hawaiis major contributor to
revenue, receiving over six billion visitors each year (Knox, 2004). The building of
multimillion infrastructures, luxury resorts and hotels annihilate prized Hawaiian land. Is
tourism a valuable part of Hawaiis economy? Does it continue to bring in millions of
dollars? Yes, but with that, comes the decline of Hawaiian cultural values and integrity
(Knox 2004). Sacred Areas are slowly replaced with IHops, and yes, of course, thats
what tourist coming to Hawaii want to see! Tourism is also the reason why prices rise.
According to pay scale, a web-based company who provides salary insights and data for
various publications, claim the cost to live in Hawaii is 65% higher than the national
average (PayScale, 2015). Senior correspondent for CNBC, Scott Cohn, reported that in
Vermont, for example, an average home sells for $396,146; Hawaiis average: $742,166.
In California, a half a gallon of milk costs $2.39, compared to Hawaii, $3.41 (Cohn, 2013
June 10). In 2013, Hawaii was ranked number one on the list for Americas most
expensive states (CNBC, 2015). Maybe thats the reason why Native Hawaiians are a
minority in their very own state. Native Hawaiians are outnumbered thirty-to-one; in fact,
the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that only 26% of Native Hawaiians
incorporate the islands of Hawaii (CDC, 2013). It is important to federally recognize
Hawaii first because if Hawaii were to become sovereignty now, outnumbered by
foreigners, Hawaii would be in the grasp of foreign power, ending up at the same place
where they were before the overthrow. Surprisingly, Hawaiians started to emigrate in the
1700s because of the economy and continued through the 1800s, due to the European
arrival (City of Albuquerque 2004-2013). Today, many Hawaiians now live in the

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mainland trying to keep the link between them and their Hawaiian culture back home, but
cultures and traditions are slowly diminishing due to the mainland influences (Halualani
2003). Homestead programs are in place to help approved Native Hawaiians through
provisions of land, providing leases for $1 a year, up to ninety-nine years. Hawaiian
homestead lease grants are difficult to obtain because of the limited amount of land
available, so having a Native Hawaiian government will help distribute the use of
Hawaiian land appropriately. Correspondingly, with this government, teachers
specializing in Hawaiian studies, language and traditions will be obtainable, and
Hawaiian studies would be taught throughout the education path, not only U.S. and
World History.
The United States, at one point, submitted that Hawaii be removed as a non-selfgoverning territory, via United Nations (Podgers, 1997). They also supported the rights of
indigenous peoples, including Native Hawaiians, determining that indigenous peoples
have the right to self-determination. American Indians and Alaskan Natives, both
indigenous peoples, benefit from being federally recognized. If Alaska, which was
purchased for $7.2 million by the U.S., became federally recognized (US department of
State), why not Hawaii? According to the National Indian Education Association, an
association to unite brothers and sister through race, there are 562 federally recognized
tribes occupying the United States (National Education Association). With more and
more indigenous peoples recognized, again the question arises, why not Native
Hawaiians?
Nonetheless, the most compelling evidence is clear, Hawaii was taken without
permission. In 1893, the U.S. conspired to overtake the Kingdom of Hawaii and prepared
for annexation. With the permission of President McKinley and the Spanish-American

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war beginning, the United States proceeded with the annexation and illegal overthrow
with no regard to the Native Hawaiian opinion (Hawaiiankingdom.org). President Grover
Cleveland, who preceded McKinley, subsequently wrote, I am ashamed of the whole
affair (Pitzer, 1994 MAY). Grover, who refused to approve the annexation, also briefed
the congress in December 1893 saying that a wrong had been done without regard to
national character and without the authority of congress (Sforza, 1996 November 9). The
illegal overthrow by the U.S is furthermore recognized with the Apology Resolution,
passed by congress and signed by former president William Clinton, in 1993. Congress
apologizes, in the law, to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the people of the United States
for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii on January 17, 1893... and the deprivation of
the rights of Native Hawaiians to self-determination. (103rd Congress, 1993). Equally
important, the Queen relinquished her power temporarily. With her people and their lives
in mind, Queen Liliuokalani briefly surrendered her authority and the sovereignty of
Hawaii to the superior force of the United States of America (Pitzer, 1994 May). After all,
she was entrusting the U.S. to return her power to her throne.
Many people probably believe that without the U.S. government, Hawaii cannot
survive. Without the mainland support, Hawaii will be lost and sabotage their
civilization. It is important to know that before the occupation of the U.S., sugar, coconut
and pineapple plantations sustained ancient Hawaii. Before the invasion, Hawaii was
perfectly justifiable. Hawaii is not asking to isolate itself, but to become a self-governing
state with the assistance, to an extent, from America.
The process of reconciliation needs to start with recognition. Hawaii should be
federally recognized as a Native Hawaiian government because of potential prosperity,
past cases and illegal abduction. The dignity and culture of Hawaii is diminishing,

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something needs to be done to get the rights and land back into Hawaiian hands. On
flights to the islands of Hawaii, movies are played for entertainment, earphones are
handed out to pass time by and a magazine comforts the back of the seat pocket. Spirit of
Aloha, an inflight history book, details the harsh truths that the Native Hawaiians had to
endure along with the promises they were never granted. Give the Hawaiian people back
what they were pledged, not some Haolewood showcase.
References
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2013, July 2). Native Hawaiian & other
pacific islander populations. Center for disease control. Retrieved by
http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/populations/REMP/nhopi.html
City of Albuquerque. (2004-2014). Pacific islander Americans and native Hawaiians.
City of Albuquerque. Retrieved by http://www.cabq.gov/humanrights/publicinformation-and-education/diversity-booklets/asian-and-pacific-island-heritage-innew-mexico/pacific-islander-americans-and-native-hawaiians
Cohn, S. (2015). Americas most expensive states: where does your state rank?. CNBC.
Retrieved by http://www.cnbc.com/id/100876442?__source=yahoo%7Cinstory
%7C&par=yahoo#.
Cowan, T. (2012 February 7). Military base closures: socioeconomic impacts.
Congressional research service. Retrieved by
https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22147.pdf
Halualani, R. (2004). Discover more: aloha on the mainland. PBS. Retrieved by
http://www.pbs.org/pov/americanaloha/special_aloha.php
Hawaiian Kingdom. (no date). The U.S. occupation. Hawaiiankingdom.org. Retrieved
byhttp://www.hawaiiankingdom.org/us-occupation.shtml
Kelly, A. (2015). Military occupied areas in Hawaii. Noho Hewa. Retrieved by
http://www.nohohewa.com/occupied-areas/

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Knox, J & Associates. (2004 July). Planning for sustainable tourism. Hawaii.gov.
Retrieved by http://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/visitor/sustainabletourismproject/drafts/Native-Hawaiian-Impact-Report.pdf
National Indian Education Association & National Education Association. (No date).
Native education 101: Basic facts about American Indians, Alaska natives, and
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http://www.niea.org/data/files/policy/nativeeducation101.pdf
PayScale. (2015). Cost of living in Hawaii: Honolulu. PayScale. Retrieved by
http://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Hawaii-Honolulu
Pitzer, P. (1994, May). The overthrow of the monarchy. Spirit of aloha. Retrieved by
http://www.hawaii-nation.org/soa.html
Podgers, J. (1997 June). Greetings from independent Hawaii. Hawaii-nation. Retrieved
by http://www.hawaii-nation.org/abaj.html
Protect Kahoolawe Ohana. (2013). History: protect Kahoolawe ohana. Protect
Kahoolawe Ohana. Retrieved by
http://www.protectkahoolaweohana.org/history.html
Sforza, T (1996 November 9). Hawaiis annexation a story of betrayal. Hawaiination.org. Retrieved by http://www.hawaii-nation.org/betrayal.html
U.S. Department of State. (no date). Milestones: 1866-1898. U.S. Department of State.
Retrieved by https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/alaska-purchase
U.S. Department of Interior.(no date). Benefits and service. U.S. Department of Interior.
Retrieved by http://www.doi.gov/tribes/benefits.cfm