Hawaiian convention
will offer details of
sovereign nation

Hawaiians consider independence
vs. integrated self-rule

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By Pat Gee
Star-Bulletin

NATIVE HAWAIIANS will have one of the first opportunities tomorrow to hear about two draft constitutions for re-establishing a sovereign nation.

The Native Hawaiian Convention (Aha Hawai'i O'iwi) will make presentations on proposals for independent and integrated nations.

The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Makalapa Community Center near Halawa Stadium in the Honolulu Community Action Program building, located on the corner of Kalaloa and Kohomua streets.

Arthur Hoke, chairman of the convention, said the major difference between the two proposals is that an independent nation would not be a part of the United States, but a totally different nation. An integrated nation would "fit within the legal boundaries of the United States, and is created under domestic law," an arrangement similar to one used by American Indians, he said.

According to Lela M. Hubbard, a convention delegate from the Ewa district, an independent nation would be open to all citizens. An integrated nation, also called a "nation within a nation," would be open only to Hawaiians.

The convention's 77 delegates have been working on these drafts since being elected Jan. 17, 1999, said Hubbard, who has been working with the Hawaiian sovereignty movement for 15 years.

"This is the most exciting thing to happen to us in over 100 years," she said.

Ha Hawaii, which created the convention, has been criticized for representing only 9 percent of Hawaiians, who cast ballots in favor of the convention in the 1999 election. But it still represents more Hawaiians than any other group, more than 21,000 people, she added.

"We are the only entity elected worldwide," Hoke said. "Every Hawaiian living throughout the world had an opportunity to participate. We have a mandate from the portion of the electorate that did participate."

When it comes time to ratify a final document, "I'm sure we will have much larger numbers," said Hoke. He estimated the constitution should be completed before 2003.

Hoke said one of the major problems facing the convention is the great confusion over the "proliferation of different opportunities being discussed" concerning sovereignty, namely Sen. Daniel Akaka's Hawaiian recognition bill. Most people think it is the only official alternative for the creation of sovereignty, but the people who "put the bill together don't represent any more people than the Native Hawaiian Convention does."

Opponents of Ha Hawaii have also questioned the ability of the nonprofit agency to maintain its independence because it was created and partially funded by the state. It received funding through the now-disbanded Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council, which conducted the Native Hawaiian Vote in 1996.

Hubbard said when the final vote is taken, she is hoping there will be more than two options from which to choose. For example, she would like to see a "compact (contract) for free association" offered that may appeal to more Hawaiians because it retains their U.S. citizenship but "gives them much more power" than under the policy provided for American Indians.

Many Hawaiians consider themselves "Americans in general, we've been so integrated," Hubbard said. The independent nation would offer the following features:

>> A republic form of government, with legislative, judicial and executive branches, would be represented by a voting electorate as the United States is currently. The Hawaiian nation of Queen Liliuokalani was a constitutional monarchy, Hoke said.

>> The nation's territory would include the Hawaiian archipelago, as did the original kingdom, and would reach beyond the eight islands in the state of Hawaii, he said.

>> Citizenship would include anyone Hawaiian worldwide, and others who would be able to will apply for it.

>> Elections would be open to all citizens 18 years and older, though some seats would be reserved for Hawaiians only.

>> Government would consist of two governing bodies, like a bicameral legislature, one for the general public, which includes non-Hawaiians and native Hawaiians; and another for only native Hawaiians, Hoke said.

An integrated nation would offer:

>> A republic form of government.

>> The nation's territory would include trust lands, Hawaiian Homes Lands, all other properties except those privately owned, Hoke said.

>> Citizenship would include anyone Hawaiian worldwide.

>> Elections would be open to Hawaiians only.

Hubbard said the public may call the Ha Hawaii office at 521-3829 to request additional presentations on the drafts.