Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 9, 1 Nowemapa 1984 — Addressing WCIP Delegates [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Addressing WCIP Delegates

By Hayden Burgess Trustee, Oahu Editor's Note: FolIowing is a shortened version of an address delivered by the writer in September before the General Assembly of the World C ouneil of Indigenous Peooles in Panama Citv. Panama.

Let me give you a brief description of the events whieh brought to Hawaii's indigenous people the present conditions of repression. At one time, our people were truly rulers of our own homeland. We were a sovereign, independent nation, one recognized through

treaty and executive agreements with almost every other nation of the world. On Jan. 16, 1893, the U. S. minister in Hawaii, John L. Stevens, landed the U.S. Marines, fully armed and ready for war. The minister had previously conspired with American citizens in Hawaii to take over the legitimate government and plaee a puppet government in power. OnJan. 17, 1893,thisconspiracy wascarried out. The U.S. Marines forced the surrender of Hawaii's Queen Liliuokalani to a puppet government composed mainly of these American citizens who had previously conspired with Stevens.

After a few years, this puppet government then handed Hawaii over to the U. S. The American citizens were appointed loeal rulers over Hawaii and held absolute control over Hawaii. A handful of wealthy Americans became known as the "Big Five," so called because these Five corporations held almost total control over Hawaii's intemal affairs.

On the other side of this conspiracy. the U. S. military took possession of 25 percent of Hawaii's main island (Oahu) and created their military bases called Pearl Harbor, Hiekam Air Force Base, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Air Force Base, Camp Smith (headquarters for the U. S. Pacific fleet), Lualualei ammunition depot, etc.

From 1900 to 1959, Hawaii underwent a social upheaval that saw the killing of the Hawaiian language, culture, religion and tradition. Hawaii's territories were infiltrated with American politicians, settlers, militia and traders. It forced us to use U. S. currency and applied its laws over Hawaii's citizens.

ln 1959, after attempting to erase from our minds the fact that Hawaii was onee an independent nation before the U.S. invasion, the U.S. placed a "referendum" before the people to seal Hawaii to the U.S. as a State. Only Americans could vote in this referendum. The only choices were to become a State of the U.S. or remain its possession. The American citizens flooded the ballot boxes and naturally voted for statehood.

Today, the people of Hawaii are awakening to the fact that the U.S. has simply used Hawaii for Amenean eeonomie, political and military gains with no sense of loyalty or love for Hawaii. We are the outer armor to take the first fire in case of war. Should that happen, our children would roast in a nuclear holocaust and Hawaii would disappear by a nuclear ehain of explosives across these islands. We are gathering our forces and are beginning our own march for liberation from the Americans. We are marching in many forms today. We are recapturing our language, our history, our dances and traditions. We are entering their institution and learning their ways. We are peeling the U.S.A. brands off our minds and are finding we are instead Hawaiians.

1 hope to discuss with you in mueh greater detail Hawaii's march for liberation during this conference and look forward to hearing of your struggles. May we be able to enrich eaeh other as we share our dreams for human justice and self-determination of indigenous peoples across the world.