Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 1998 — TRUSTEE MESSAGES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TRUSTEE MESSAGES

Moving forward

Mueh has been displayed, spoken and wrilten about the annexation of Hawai'i by the United States 100 years ago. A film produced by Tom Coffman, based on his book, was shown on teievision and the petition against annexation was displayed at the state capitol and Bishop Musuem. The United Nations also announced that a report by Miguel Alfonso Martiriez confirmed annexation was an illegal act. The point is no one refuted the claims that Hawai 'i was illegally annexed by the United States 100 years ago. But what does this all mean? What this means to me is not mueh will change for the presenL More importandy the people of Hawai'i - Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian - have an unprecedented opportunity to move forward together to achieve what is

possible and practical. Andcreative and reasonable minds are required. Attaining sovereignty is a reasonable, already accepted and proved altemative and opportunity. Thereare those who believe OHA is sovereign, but it really isn't. Sure, OHAhas recenūy had the privileges and prerogatives of engaging in financing, building houses and funding grants, but that in and of itself does not constitute a sovereign organization. Unlikethe county, state and federal governments, OHA is unable to make rules and jx)licies to govem itself and its beneficiaries. And lest we forget, those fitnding opportunities eame only after years of lawsuits and negotiations wheiein the State of Hawai'i held all of the cards and asserted its own sovereign propriety over the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The idea of OHA's supporting eom-munity-based organizations in producing a fomm for a sovereign organiza-

tion is well within the realm of reason, practicality and possibility. It'sbeen done throughout the worid and within the United States by many Native Americans. By democratic action,

| such a creation, via a constitutional | convention, is absolutely possible. The fact is part of OHA's function is to facilitate the dialogue and debate in I providing a forum such as a constitutional convention. And there's been | farmorethanenoughtalk. It's titne for action, in fact, it is past time for | aeūon. Reparations from the federal gov- | emment are also within the realm of reason, practicality and possibility. As President Qinton and the United States Congress freely admit, rights, privileges and prerogatives were unilaterally taken away by the illegal overthrow of 1 893 conducted by the United 1 States. CongressionalResolutionSJ19 approved Nov. 23, 1993, known as Public Law 103-150 and, more eommonly, as the "Apology Resolution," clearly articulates the wrongful acts committed against the Kingdom of Hawai'i. And like the United Nations woiking report, the Apology Resolu-

tion is a giant political step in moving forward within what is possible and what is practical today. The illegal overthrow and the subsequent illegal act of annexation eannot change the facts of histoiy, for the eloek cannot be turned back 100 years. These acts will not be reversed. However, understanding history ean and will help us make better and more informed decisions that affect our lives. While history does not necessarily provide answers for us today, putting history in its proper context and seeking reasonable solutions and justice within the circumstances of the realities of today and tomoirow is paramount to our successes as Hawaiians moving forward. There are many opportunities to seize and problems to solve. And therein are the ehallenges and promises for us - to do what is right today for our children tomorrow. ■

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