This blog is about Hawaii's status as an independent country under prolonged illegal occupation by the United States, and the history, culture, law & politics of the islands.

By Scott Crawford, Hana, Maui

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Hawaiian Convention delegates named; motion filed to block

According to the Star-Advertiser, “A total of 152 people were named Wednesday as delegates to a February constitutional convention that will discuss Native Hawaiian self-governance.” Here’s the participants list (PDF) from the Na’i Aupuni website.

The Lahaina News interviews some delegates, including Bumpy Kanahele:

Representing the island of Oahu, Hawaiian leader Pu’uhonua Dennis Keiki “Bumpy” Kanahele accepted the invite the day it was received.

He is optimistic and steadfast in his actions to restore the sovereign nation.

“It moves our 2015 political process into the limelight for the world to truly see the suppression of the national sovereignty of the Hawaiian people,” he said.

Since the early 1990s, Kanahele and other Native Hawaiians have consulted with Francis A. Boyle.

Boyle is a professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Chicago; a Juris Doctor Degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Harvard Law School; and Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Political Science from Harvard University.

He authored the book “Restoring the Kingdom of Hawaii, The Kanaka Maoli Route to Independence.”

The international human rights advocate was specific in outlining his strategy. He views the constitutional convention as an opportunity.

“I am saying everyone should go there – all kanaka maoli – and the delegates and everyone else should vote to restore the Kingdom of Hawaii and make it clear at this conference you want the kingdom restored, and you don’t want an Indian tribe,” he noted.

To this end, Kanahele and another delegate have agreed on tactics.

“I was advised by Francis A. Boyle, that on the opening day of the ‘Aha, to make a motion on the floor to proclaim the Restoration of the National Sovereignty of the Hawaiian People. The motion would need a second by another delegate or more, and that will not be a problem,” Kanahele said.

“Now the motion,” Boyle advised, “would be on the floor of the convention for further discussion and education. This move would protect the national sovereignty of the Hawaiian people and return to them their international status as an independent country once again.”

Meanwhile, from the Star-Advertiser article:

On Monday, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit — including Kelii Akina of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii — filed a motion asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hold Na‘i Aupuni and other agencies in civil contempt. The motion accuses the group of violating the letter and spirit of the injunction.

On Wednesday, the Public Interest Legal Foundation filed a brief on behalf of the American Civil Rights Union supporting the appeal and arguing that these kinds of elections should be declared unconstitutional. The libertarian Cato Institute also joined the brief.

The motion is expected to go to the full Supreme Court for consideration at a future conference.

SCOTUSblog gives some procedural background on the motion.

1 comment to Hawaiian Convention delegates named; motion filed to block

  • Christopher Sorrell

    I did not originate this saying, and I want to thank the person who said it and it is, “You cannot dismantle the Master’s house with the Master’s tools”. I think this applies to Na’i Aupuni on the whole. Why not join the Coalitioon of Hawaiian Nationals? Aloha kakou a me Mele Kalikimaka hau’oli Manawa Iule!

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