Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 1, 1 June 1981 — An Editorial on Reparations [ARTICLE]

An Editorial on Reparations

In 1893 President Cleveland stated to the U.S. Congress that the U.S. Govemment committed itself to what was clearly an act of war without Congressional authority by participating through its diplomat in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. This statement was made in light of the urgency expressed by Queen Lili'uokalani to restore her throne. President Cleveland further urged that Congress uphold its honor and sense of justice by providing "reparations" through all possible means.

In 1980, eighty-seven years later, U.S. Congress enacted the Native Hawaiian Study Commission to study: (1) the eulture (2) needs (3) and concerns of native Hawaiians. This is a far cry from the "Reparations Commission" envisioned by Louise Rice and A.L.O.H.A., and that whieh was advocated vehemently by President Cleveland. Clearly, the Native Hawaiian Study Commission is a poliheal compromise. The issue of the illegal over: throw and reparations were purposely deleted to assure passage of the Commission's enabling legislation. Now what? Will the Native Hawaiian Study Commission's purview include the illegal overthrow and reparations? Is is realistic to think that the U.S. Government of 1981 will repair illegal wrongs committed against aboriginal Hawaiians in 1893? Will the U.S. Government provide another opportunity to resolve these issues? These are some of the gut questions that must be answered. OHA's AdHoc Committee on Reparations is in the process of identifying such issues. It is operating under the assumption that the illegal overthrow and

reparations should be within the purview of the Commission irrespective of who Pres!dent Reagan intends to appoint. This assumption is reviewed as a logical and necessary approach to thoroughly understanding the plight of aboriginal Hawaiians in contemporary Hawaii. Initially, President Reagan saw the Native Hawaiian Study Commission as suspect in light of President Carter's appointments to the Commission during the final days of his administration. Before the nine commissioners were able to organize their first meeting, President Reagan discontinued their services. However, through the efforts of Representative Kinau Kamali'i and the other members of OHA's Ad Hoe Committee in Reparations, President Reagan reconsidered his initial view towards the commission, and indicated that he intends to appoint the commission. The question is when? The law states that the President shall eall the first meeting of the commission within 90 days of its enactment — March 22, 1981. The president is clearly in violation of this Congressional mandate.

As an indication of President Reagan's posture towards minorities, on June 29, 1981, President Reagan, in a major address to the NAACP, stated that "Government is no longer the strong draft horse of minority progress. I ask you if it is not the time to hitch up a fresh horse to finish the task." Where do aboriginal Hawaiians fit into this scenario? Is President Reagan intimating that native Hawaiians, as a minority and aboriginal people, cannot expect the support of his government?