Occupations of Iraq, Hawaii


Eric Po'ohina has a letter in the Maui News today comparing the occupation of Iraq with the occupation of Hawaii, the main difference, according to him, being the duration.

I would like to comment, though, on his use of the term "Hawaiian nationals" which he equates as synonymous with "kanaka maoli... the aboriginal people of Hawaii."

In common vernacular, we often use nationality to mean ethnic heritage. One might ask "What nationality are you?" And the answer might be given as Hawaiian-Chinese-Portuguese-Filipino or whatever. But in the context that Eric is using it, from a legal perspective, nationality actually means citizenship. Nationality and citizenship describe the legal relationship between a person and a country. (There are some differences between nationality and citizenship in some countries, but in Hawaiian kingdom law they are essentially the same, and term "Hawaiian subject" is also used, because of the constitutional monarchy form of government.) I am of Irish-German-Swiss ethnic heritage, but I am a U.S. national.

Anyone who reads here regularly knows that I try to emphasize this point a lot, in one way or another, and I'm sorry to harp on it. I just think it is a common misunderstanding, and it is so important to frame the discussion properly and use terms accurately as much as possible, so we can overcome the inaccurate perception that independence/occupation is just a "Native Hawaiian" issue when it actually isn't.

I know Eric is well meaning, but...

Not all Hawaiian nationals are aboriginal Hawaiians, and the terms are not synonymous.


Posted: Wed - November 23, 2005 at 02:36 PM    
   
 
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Published On: Dec 27, 2005 10:17 PM
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