The fear associated with the possible secession of part or all of Hawaii is not that a small portion of a small state in the union might break away. The real fear is that it legitimizes the act of secession and that others might follow Hawaii's lead, thus leading to the breakup of the American union. Whoever said the union was meant to last forever? Fear of the breakup of the union is something that should only be found in the hearts of those who clamor for empire, not those that cherish freedom.

If Hawaii eventually attempts to leave the union, they should be allowed to do so. It is their right to do so, just as it was the right of the colonists in 1776 to separate from the British Empire and form their own association/union, and the South in 1861 to do like wise. To deny Hawaii, or any state, the right of self-determination and force them to remain in the union is like insisting that a battered wife should remain in her marital union, even if her husband continues to beat her, simply because 'that's the way it's always been.'