Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 1, 1 January 2013 — Preparing for self-governance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Preparing for self-governance

Ever since the independent Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown by the military forces of the United States in 1893, Hawaiians have sought a way to restore our people to nalional sovereignty. These efforts began in the 1960s and eonlinue to the present. Several efforts have been made to propose corrective legislation in the U.S. Congress, and years have been spent lobbying to no avail.

This article will discuss and consider some of the important issues relating to self-governance that I think need to be considered as we travel down the road to self-determination. If we are to have one unified effort for sovereignty, a process must be created to ensure that all Hawaiian perspectives and proposals are given the opportunity to be aired and thoroughly discussed before any Constitutional Convention ean be convened. Some Hawaiians believe that the monarchy must be restored. Others want to return to the time before western contact when the ali'i ruled the land under traditional kapu practices. Many Hawaiians support the right of our people to vote democratically for representatives from districts comprised of the individual islands. A while back, Hawaiian groups eonvened a coalition to work on some of these issues. OHA provided funding for the effort that included Hawaiian participants from all islands. One working group addressed a process for a Constitutional Convention that allowed Hawaiians to choose representatives based not only on residency, but on political preference as well. Under this model, referred to as "The Seven Step Process for Hawaiian Self-determination," Hawaiians voted first (the political-status initiative) for polilieal preference and structure (restoration of the kingdom, nation within nalion, democratic bicameral, etc.) and also identified their preference for status in relationship to the U.S . (independence, free association, integration). The Hawaiian preference on these matters was then used to allocate seats for delegates at the Con Con in order to ensure that delegates attending the Con Con would reflect the

desires of their people. If 10 percent of Hawaiians support free association, then 10 percent of delegates would also support free association. These delegates would be elected "at large." Hawaiians would also be able to elect delegates based on populalion in districts. The combined number of delegates would be convened for the Con Con. In this way, Hawaiian representation would reflect not only the choices of Hawaiians

for district representation, but Hawaiians could also choose delegates who supported political views like independence or free association. Another issue that Hawaiians should consider is what should be the qualifications of those Hawaiians who are delegates and of Hawaiians voting. Many Hawaiians feel that the Hawaiian nation should be created by Hawaiians residing in the state. Hawaiians living in Hawai'i are aware of the issues and problems affecting our ceded lands and resources, including land, energy, water and other critical resources. Hawaiians in Hawai'i will be impacted directly by decisions made in the Constitution because they live in Hawai'i. In Hawai'i there are many areas that are distinctly Hawaiian; these are the Hawaiian homelands communities. If participation in the Con Con is restricted to resident Hawaiians, these homestead communities will have a significant voice and hand in drafting a national Constitution that is reflective of the traditional knowledge and practices retained by these communities. If, however, the voting is opened to all Hawaiians residing on the continent and elsewhere, the voting power of the homestead eommunities will be severely limited as their population is small in comparison to the thousands of Hawaiians residing in Las Vegas or Los Angeles. As we move forward in our quest for nationhood, we need to seek inclusive processes while ensuring that the integrity of the vote is protected. ■

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Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey Trustee, Maui