Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 2014 — Should OHA sponsor o referendum? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Should OHA sponsor o referendum?

Trustee 's note: Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp, who contributed this month 's column, is a young Hawaiian whose thought-provoking comments I feel need to be widely disseminated and discussed in the Hawaiian community. Any legislation or other action that would impose a political solution on the Kanaka Maoli and other Hawaiian citizens would be no more

legitimate in the eyes of the Hawaiian people than the Republic of Hawai'i. I don't think that a majority of Hawaiians wants independence. If a referendum was held tomorrow on independence, the vote would fail. I also don't think that a majority of Hawaiians wants a nation-within-a-nation status, and a referendum on that issue would also fail. But a vast majority is unhappy with the current relationship that exists with the Federal and State governments. The only real, legitimate way to a political solution is through a free and fair referendum. But before a referendum occurs, it must be through a fair and free choice. Sovereignty is inherent in the people, not the M5'I and not the form of government. The principle that sovereignty resides with the people, and not a former ruler or regime, has been internationally recognized since World War I. The Hawaiian community is not simply composed of the kingdom groups, UH professors, the Civic Clubs, the Ali'i Societies, Kamehameha Schools grads and OHA trustees. The Hawaiian community is on seven islands, 23 Hawaiian towns and cities, and more than half are now scattered in nearly every major U.S. city and over 20 states plus those working internationally and serving in uniform. The reason why there's been no political progress is because the majority is ignored or told halftruths by the powers that be and the powers that claim to be. Sovereignty belongs to the

people collectively. It is their right to select a government of their choice to represent them. I also think that the process that the State Legislature and OHA's nation building is undergoing is undemocratic and is in direct violation of the U.N. Charter, U.N. Resolution 1514 and the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In addition to that, I also think that if we move toward independence without careful planning and without

the active participation of the Hawaiian public, we would set ourselves up for economic and social problems that would take decades to fix. Independence must be a collective process by the people, of the people, for the people and from the people. I understand the logic that a nation- with-in-a-nation status at least would provide us with a mechanism to negotiate further, but I think that the Hawaiian political situation has gotten to the point where any "tribal" government would be seen as illegitimate. In addition, we have more than two political options. There are several other options Hawaiians could pursue that are still within the American political framework, including a Commonwealth status like the Northern Marianas. There's also the Free Associated State status like Micronesia and Palau, but there are some major issues with that status. A covenant or Commonwealth agreement similar with the Northern Marianas where their government has brought control over immigration, land laws, trade, environmental laws, but are still considered U.S. citizens (though they don't pay Federal taxes and don't vote in Federal elections), might be more favorable to a majority of Hawaiians. But any agreement would need to have a referendum approved by the majority of the people in order to have any legitimacy or chance of success. ¦

Peter Ape Trustee, O'ahu