Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 1, 1 January 1999 — The consent of the governed [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The consent of the governed

By Kīna'u Boyd Kamall'1 The Hā Hawai'i process is not the breath of hfe, but possibly the kiss of death to Native Hawaiian self-govern-ment. Only one other example of such blatant manipulahon of democratic processes exists in the history of Hawai'i — the creation of the Republic of Hawai'i in 1894. Then, as now, a small group of unelected individuals decided the process and drafted a constitution — ready or not, wanted or not. Leaders of Hā Hawai'i assert that they are following the will of the people. If that is true, then Hā should formally adopt and adhere to the following "conditions for determing the consent of the governed," the foundation of self-deter-minahon: That a majority of ehgible voters (approximately 55,000 OFIA voters) participate in the eleelion; That all delegates will be elected and vacancies will not be appointed; and That if these conditions are not met, Hā Hawai'i will declare the process rejected and nulhfied by the Hawahan people.

Framers of the Repubhc of Hawai'i did not meet these minimal standards for assuring the "consent of the govemed." My prediction is that neither wih Ha Hawai'i. Does that mean I want the genuine process for self-determination to stop? No. We need to keep discussing our choices. To provide that opportunity, "Ho'omalu ma Kualoa" is sponsoring a Sovereignty Summit at Kapi'olani Community CoUege on March 20 and 21. Protect your rights. Boycott the Hā election. Come to the Sovereignty Summit. Let's forge a traly self-determined process for rebuilding the Hawaiian Nahon. ■