Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 9, 1 September 1993 — Message to President Clinton: We look to you for justice [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Message to President Clinton: We look to you for justice

by Ciayton Hee, Chairman Office of Hawaiian Affairs

(Editor's note: the following open letter to U.S. President Bill Clinton was published in the July 12 Honolulu Star-Bulletin at the

time of Clinton's Hawai'i visit.) Dear President Clinton, As you take your well-earned vacation and enjoy our weather, beaches, mountains and our traditional hospitality, take time to

consider the people who first made these islands their home. Our Hawaiian ancestors sailed across uncharted oeean, navigating by stars, waves and cloud formations to reach these fabled islands. The society our ancestors created thrived, free of foreign disease, and was estimated to be about 300,000 when Captain Cook arrived in 1778. From the very beginning, the

Kingdom of Hawai'i was widely recognized as a sovereign nation. By 1893, Hawai'i had diplomatic corps stationed at 23 outposts throughout the world. One hundred years ago the kingdom was illegally over-

thrown by a small | band of Americans who sought to annex Hawai'i to the United States. President Cleveland rejected the attempt to annex Hawai'i and concluded "If a feeble but friendly state is in danger of being robbed of its inde-

pendence and its sovereignty by a misuse of the name and power of the United States, the United States cannot fail to vindicate its honor and its sense of justice by an earnest effort to make all possible reparation ..." Unfortunately, he was succeeded by President McKinley, who supported annexation. In the transaction, America obtained

1.75 million acres of government and crown lands whieh had been held for the benefit of the Hawaiian people. Since then, the rights of Hawaiians have never been fully repaired. Today, a century after the ille-

gal overthrow, the Hawaiian people look to you for leadership. We look to you for compassion. Most importantly, we look to you

for justice. Like other Native Americans our lands were taken, our culture destroyed. Yet, unlike other Native Americans, the United States has ignored the rights of Hawaiians. Even though President Cleveland admitted our sovereignty was taken "by a misuse of the name and power of the United States," the Reagan and Bush administrations both denied that America had any trust responsibility to the Hawaiian people. When you ran for president you pledged to support sovereignty and self-determination of Native Americans and ensure trust obligations are respected and fulfilled. Hawaiians ask that we not be the forgotten Native Americans. Give us self-governance over Hawaiian Home Lands. Allow us to seek damages in federal court for breaches of trust by the govemment. Pay us a fair rent for use of Hawai'i lands by the military. Let all America, and the world, know there is justice for all.

As you take your well-earned vacation and enjoy our weather, beaches, mountains, and our traditional hospitality, take time to consider the people who first made these islands their homes.