Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 1993 — U.S. Congress says it's sorry [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

U.S. Congress says it's sorry

House and Senate aooloaize on behalf of Amenean oeoole for Overthrow

by Patrick Johnston As Ka Wat Ola went to press, a resolution acknowledging the 100th anniversary of the overthrow of the Kinedom of Hawai'i

and offering an apology to native Hawaiians on behalf of the United States awaited signature by President Clinton after passage by the United States Congress. The resolution, introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka, was

similar to one passed unanimously last year in the Senate but never voted on by the House. In addition to the acknowledgment and apology, the resolution also commits the U.S. to "acknowledge the ramifications of the Overthrow ... in order to provide a proper foundation for reconciliation between the United States and the native Hawaiian people." Sen. Akaka said in a statement after its passage in the Senate that he hoped the apology would educate members about American involvement in the Overthrow and encourage them to make

amends. "Though the goal of this specifie resolution is to secure a formal apology, I am also seeking redress for wrongs committed

against Hawaiians by the federal government. This resolution ācts as a powerful tool in that regard, as it serves to educate many of the members of Congress who are unaware of juSt how egregious an action the Overthrow was and how profound its ramifications were."

Commenting on the resolution, OHA Chairman Clayton Hee said, "The most important aspect of the passage of the resolution is that they recognized that what happened was illegal - and they used the word illegal. If something is illegal then this acknowledges it was wrong. It then follows that a correction needs to be made." Trustee Klna'u Kamali'i added that, while the apology is a good first step "We must move forward in completing our land claims for sovereignty." This year the measure faced considerably more opposition in the Senate than last year as a

large number of senators rallied behind Sen. Slade Gorton, RWash., in his attempt to block passage. Gorton's primary objection was that he felt the apology - if it was eventually tied to providing speeial treatment for Hawaiians and the return of lands - would send a divisive message to the people of Hawai'i, separating residents with Hawaiian blood from those without, and ultimately lead to the independence of the state. The consequences of the bill, he argued in the Congressional debate on the bill, "do in fact, provide a basis, perhaps even a legal basis, for some kind of demand for special treatment or for the return of lands. It is for that reason, ... whieh this Senator believes to be very divisive within our society, that this Senator regretfully opposes the resolution." He compared the positive situation in Hawai'i with ethnic strife around the world and said preferential treatment for Hawaiians would upset the relatively healthy racial relations that exist in the state. He said, "The combination of ethnic politics and claims to particular pieces of land is literally lethal across stretches of Eastern

Europe, throughout mueh of Africa, and in many nations in Asia. ... this resolution is a signpost pointing toward that dark and bitter road." Sen. John Danforth, R-Mo., echoed these concerns adding that people should put divisive elements of the past behind them and work towards a eommon good. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who, as chair of the Committee on Indian Affairs played a pivotal role in getting the resolution to the Senate floor, assured Gorton and his group that the resolution did not attempt to elevate native Hawaiians to a special position

within Hawaiian society and was nothing more than an apology. "As to the matter of the status of native Hawaiians, ... from the time of statehood we have been in this debate. Are native Hawaiians Native Americans? This resolution has nothing to do with that. This resolution does not touch upon the Hawaiian homelands. ... It is a simple apology." Sen. Hank Brown, R-Co., brought up the issue of property rights and democracy in his objections, questioning whether the resolution was asking the United States to apologize for continued on page 3

Sen. Daniel Akaka

The lowering of the Hawaiian flag after the 1898 annexation. Photo courtesv of BishoD Museum

Kaho'olawe

from page 1 ods for preventing damage to the island's cultural resources. A. Frenchy DeSoto, OHA trustee, KICC commissioner, and Protect Kaho'olawe member, praised the work of Hawai'i's congressional delegation in getting the legislation passed. "I don't believe we could have gotten this far without our Senators

Inouye and (Daniel) Akaka shepherding it through the Senate, of course Inouye designing the vehicle for this to happen, and also (Rep.) Patsy (Mink) and (Rep.) Neil ( Abercrombie) shepherding it through the House. I think it would be

really bad manners if we don't acknowledge Sen. Inouye for his commitment to the Hawaiian people and the state of Hawai'i, his love for our culture and for the people of Hawai'i. ... Having said that though, there are so many many people who need to be acknowledged. The kūpuna who held fast and were eonvinced of the efforts of the

Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana, and all those who supported those efforts." During the last legislative session the state established a Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission whose duties will be to oversee the federal government's eleanup efforts, the island's conveyance to the state,

and subsequent use of the island reserve. The eommission will be oversee use of the island until "the State shall transfer management and control of the island and its waters to the sovereign native Hawaiian entity upon its recogni-

tion" by the U.S. and the state. The law establishing the eommission mandates that Kaho'olawe be used for traditional cultural. spiritual and subsistence purposes and for education. This mandate fulfills the spirit of traditional healing ceremonies held on Kaho'olawe in August 1992: "E Kaho'olawe, e ho'omālamalama hou ana ka

mauli ola Kohemālamalama," (Kaho'olawe, the quality of native lifestyle will again shine forth at Kohemālamalama). To DeSoto, the federal legislation's passage is all the more impressive because congressional representatives from the other 49 states, she said, have no idea what Hawaiians are and what they are all about. Future use of Kaho'olawe may provide a

means to enlighten them, along with the rest of the world: "Maybe one day they ean eome and go over there and see who we really are, deep down in our na'au. And that's exciting." In a statement released the day Congress passed • the legislation, Sen. Daniel Inouye said, "For some, the return is long overdue and the waiting for this

momenl has been nainful. However.

though it may have taken many years, the government of the United States has finally acted. I believe it would be appropriate to acknowledge the contribution made toward this end by thousands of concerned native Hawaiians, and particularly the ... Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana. "There are many other steps that must be taken before the full return of the island ean be accomplished. While the title of the island will be immediately transferred to the people of Hawai'i, the eleanup of this island will take many years. The state govemment and the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana now have important responsibilities to perform. "I would be remiss if I did not recognize the sensitive leadership the United States Navy has provided over the years to bring this about. 1 believe it is appropriate to acknowledge the special eontributions of leadership and guid-

anee provided by the Commander-in-Chief Pacific, Admiral Charles Larson." PKO leader Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli said, "Now that the bombing is stopped, we ean focus all of our work for Kohemālamalama O Kanaloa on her healing and restoration. The island will be the first Hawaiian culture reserve. It will be a center

for the practice of and education in Hawaiian cultural, subsistence, and spiritual beliefs and customs — for Hawaiians and for all of Hawai'i's people. The island is ideally situated for training in the arts and skills of traditional navigation and pathfinding. The Polynesian Voyaging Society has been invited to reopen the navigational training sites on Kaho'olawe for their training program. The island is ideal for training in restoration and management of marine life and resources. It ean be a center for training in Hawaiian archeology" Aluli credited Pat Saiki with halting the bombing, whieh she was able to accomplish as a Republican member of Congress during the Bush Administration, and also sang the praises of DeSoto. "She embraced Kaho'olawe as her own offspring and dedicated the past three years of her life to its safe return to our

people." Said Gov. John Waihe'e, "It is with a great deal of pleasure and anticipation that we witness these final steps for the return of Kaho'olawe to the people of Hawai'i. For many, the journey has been a hard-fought one, and one whose end is finally near at hand." Waihe'e, like DeSoto and Aluli, has his sights on the tasks

to eome: "The eleanup and restoration will generate new technologies and hundreds of jobs-within a whole new eontext for culture, ecology and technology," he said. DeSoto, a 1 t h o u g h e x t r e m e 1 y

happy about Congress's

action, said she has mixed feelings about the victory because many of those involved in the long struggle are no longer alive. "Obviously there is a lot of mixed emotions (in) that the people who have gone already are not here to celebrate the final product of their work," DeSoto said, mentioning Parley Kanaka'ole, George Helm and Kimo Mitchell, and kūpuna Aunty Mary Lee, Aunty Emma DeFries, Papa Kalahikiola, Aunty Edith Kanaka'ole, Unele Homer Hayes, and others. "That's the sadness I feel, that they not here, but I am also very happy that we now have an opportunity to prepare something for tomorrow, for the children coming and never born yet, never hānau. So that makes me feel like there's more work to do. And as long as there's more work to do, that's why I'm here."

Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli

Kaho'olawe Map courtesy Kaho'olawe lsland Conveyance Commission