Road map is needed for Hawaiian independence

Allen W. Wooddell writes a very interesting letter in the Advertiser proposing a roadmap towards Hawaii's independence. This is a must read... While one may not agree with every detail, it is a serious and practical outline of a plan that provides ideas worthy of much discussion. Just the fact that this kind of letter is published in Honolulu's major daily says something about the level of awareness and acceptance that is emerging.

(There's also a letter about the "Loveline" incident.)

Wednesday, January 14, 2004
The Honolulu Advertiser
Letters to the Editor

Road map is needed for Hawaiian independence

One of your readers expressed to me interest in the concept of independence for Hawai'i but questioned whether it was achievable.

Since the end of World War II, there have been many new countries formed from the breakup of the European empires to the breakup of the Soviet Union and of Yugoslavia. There are also areas like Bermuda and Greenland, which, though nominally part of Great Britain and Denmark, respectively, are for all practical purposes independent.

The reasons for the formulation of these new countries were almost always geographic, ethnic, cultural, economic and/or religious.

I suggest a road map. Hawaiian residents interested in independence meet and develop a proposed separation treaty. They negotiate a separation treaty with the help of former American officials, people like former President Jimmy Carter or former Sen. George Mitchell.

While such a separation treaty would be unofficial, it would allow residents of Hawai'i to be informed of the nature of an independent Hawai'i. (This is similar to the method used to negotiate the recent unofficial Geneva Treaty between Israel and Palestine.)

After a period of education and discussion, a vote by all residents of Hawai'i of either Hawaiian blood or whose ancestors were in Hawai'i at the time of the overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani would be held on the concept of an independent Hawai'i.

If that group of voters voted in favor of independence, then, after a further period of education and discussion, a second vote for the concept would be taken of all people resident in Hawai'i (including the first group) for at least 20 years. If this second voting group approved of independence, then an election of commissioners to negotiate a formal separation treaty with the United States would be held and the negotiation of an official separation treaty with the United States would commence. Obviously, concurrently, a constitution for the nation of Hawai'i would have to be drawn up, but we have a starting point with the present state Constitution.

A word of warning: I strongly believe that any action that results in Native Hawaiians becoming another American Indian tribe is a sellout and will be forever regretted by Native Hawaiians. That result is not our destiny.

Allen W. Wooddell
Waimea, Hawai'i

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jan/14/op/op10a.html/?print=on

Posted: Wed - January 14, 2004 at 12:58 AM

getBlogName(); > getCategoryName("C1126750129"); >

Road map is needed for Hawaiian independence

> >