Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 1993 — Uniil Justice is Done [ARTICLE]

Uniil Justice is Done

The betrayal of the Kingdom of Hawai ' i is one of the darkest chapters in American history. Throughout the 19th century, the United States and Hawai'i shared formal relations based on numerous treaties of friendship and trade. By 1890, both were recognized as independent nations by more than 30 countries around the w orld. And in Hawai'i, the U.S. was generally regarded as the Kingdom's strongest and closest ally. But the United States betrayed its allianee with Hawai'i on January 16, 1893, when its troops invaded Honolulu in support of a small band of revolutionaries plotting against the Kingdom. The U.S. forces landed on the pretext of "protecting American lives

and property," most of whieh were located in the Nu'uanu area of the city. Instead. the main detachment of these forces camped less than a block from 'Iolani Palaee. When Hawai'i's Queen Lih 'uokalani looked out the second floor window of the Palaee, she could see their eannon pointed at her. Two blocks away in Honolulu Harbor, the battle

cruiser USS Boston also aimed its deck guns at the Palaee. The shock and alarm the Queen must have felt when she realized the gravity of the situation ean only be imagined. She knew her force of 252 polieemen was no match for U.S . troops and heavy artillery. And she was aware that the U.S. minister to Hawai'i had made it quite clear the American troops would

act in support of the revolutionaries, if necessary. Faced with this terrible predicament, she yielded her authority to the U.S. governmentthefollowingday. Shedid so under written protest, to "avoid any collision of armed forces and perhaps the loss oflife." But the Queen also believed the American ideal of independence and

self-determination would prevail, and the U.S. government would restore her authority onee it understood the extent of its own culpability. After the overthrow, the revolutionaries petitioned immediately for annexation to the U.S. But then-President Grover Cleveland withheld the annexation request and ordered an investigation of the American role in the overthrow. Based on the findings of this

report, he concluded the U.S. acted contrary to established American foreign policy. It also acted contrary to morality and international law. In an eloquent message to Congress late in 1893, President Cleveland said: "...if a feeble but friendly state is in danger of being robbed of its independence and its sovereignty by a misuse of the name and power of the United States, the United States ean not fail to vindicate its honor and its sense of justice by an earnest effort to make all possible reparation." But the pleas of President Cleveland and the Queen were ignored by Con (continued on page 4)

The United States betrayed its allianee with Hawai'i on January 16, 1893, when its troops invaded Honolulu.

Americans now, Native Hawaiians share the proud ideals and qualities of U.S. justice through law.

Until Justice is Done

(from page I ) gress; the unprovoked act o/waragainst the Kingdom of Hawai'i was allowed to stand. As a consequence, a centuries-old kingdom was destroyed, and the sovereignty. independence and more than a million acres of land were stolen from a proud and noble people. Americans now, Native Hawaiians share the proud ideals and qualities of U.S. justice through law. They also take heart in one of the United States' greatest strengths — its ability to rededicate itself to principles of justice and fair play whieh were compromised in the past, and to correct resulting wrongs. Hawaiians know that over the last half century some 300 Native Ameii-

ean groups have been granted settlements of sovereignty and compensation by the U.S., in response to aeknowledged breaches of treaties and territorial rights. These settlements have been supported by a host of decisions in Ameriean courts, upholding the most basic principle in Native American law: NativeAmericans have certain unique and inherent rights whieh ean never be extinguished (See "Nations WhhinA Nation, " page 13). Among these rights is sovereignty, whieh includes the power to determine and adopt a form of government of their own choosing, wherein Native Americans may (1) define conditions of their own membership, (2) regulate domestic relations of members, (3) prescribe

rules of inheritance, (4) levy taxes, (5) regulate property within their jurisdiction, (6) control the conduct of members and (7) administer justice. United States courts have consistently recognized and protected the right of self-determination among Native American tribes and nations. But this recognition neverhas been extended to Native Hawaiians. Like other Native Amenean groups, Hawaiians are entitled to recognition of their sovereignty by federal, state and county governments. They also deserve settlement of their land claims and fulfillment of their trust agreements. Only these actions will repair the betrayal of a century ago and vindicate American honor. Americans must not rest until justice is done. ■