Hawaiian Studies Unit 12 Review: Native Hawaiian Rights and Sovereignty

Historical Context

• Pre-contact Hawaiian society organized around complex social, political, and economic systems
• Polynesians settled the Hawaiian Islands between 300-800 AD establishing a thriving civilization
• Hawaiians developed a sustainable land management system called the ahupua'a which divided the islands into self-sufficient land divisions running from the mountains to the sea
  • Ahupua'a provided resources for the people living within its boundaries (fresh water, farmland, forest resources, fishing grounds)
• Hawaiian culture centered around a deep connection to the land and a belief in the interconnectedness of all living things
• Hawaiians had a strong oral tradition passing down knowledge, history, and cultural practices through chants, songs, and stories
• The kapu system, a set of sacred laws, governed Hawaiian society and maintained social order and balance with the natural world
• Contact with the Western world, beginning with Captain James Cook's arrival in 1778, led to significant changes in Hawaiian society

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Aloha 'Āina: love and respect for the land, a fundamental value in Hawaiian culture
• Ea: sovereignty, independence, or life force
• Kuleana: responsibility, right, or privilege
• Mālama: to care for, protect, or maintain
• Mana: spiritual power or divine energy
• Mō'ī: supreme ruler or king in traditional Hawaiian society
• Pono: righteousness, balance, or harmony
  • The concept of pono emphasizes the importance of maintaining proper relationships and living in balance with the natural world and others
• 'Ōlelo Hawai'i: the Hawaiian language, an essential aspect of Hawaiian identity and cultural preservation

Traditional Hawaiian Governance

• Hawaiian society organized around a hierarchical structure with the Mō'ī (supreme ruler) at the top, followed by high-ranking chiefs (ali'i), lesser chiefs, and commoners (maka'āinana)
• The Mō'ī held ultimate authority over the land and people, but governance was decentralized with chiefs overseeing their respective ahupua'a
• Chiefs were responsible for managing resources, distributing land, and ensuring the well-being of their people
• The kapu system, a set of sacred laws, governed social interactions, resource management, and religious practices
  • Violations of kapu could result in severe punishments, including death
• Hawaiians practiced a form of restorative justice called ho'oponopono, which focused on resolving conflicts, restoring relationships, and maintaining harmony within the community
• Decision-making often involved consultation with advisors and community members, taking into account the impact on the land and people
• Traditional Hawaiian governance emphasized the importance of stewardship, responsibility, and maintaining balance between the people and the natural world

Impact of Western Contact

• Captain James Cook's arrival in 1778 marked the beginning of significant changes in Hawaiian society
• Introduction of new diseases (smallpox, measles, influenza) decimated the Hawaiian population, reducing it by an estimated 90% by the late 1800s
• Western influence led to the breakdown of the traditional kapu system and social structure
• Missionaries arrived in the early 1800s, introducing Christianity and Western education, which significantly impacted Hawaiian culture and language
  • The Hawaiian language was discouraged in favor of English, leading to a decline in the number of native speakers
• Western demand for sandalwood and later whaling led to shifts in the Hawaiian economy and land use practices
• The Great Māhele of 1848 introduced a system of private land ownership, which differed from the traditional Hawaiian concept of communal land stewardship
  • Many Hawaiians lost access to land, leading to increased economic and social disparities
• The influence of Western advisors and business interests in the Hawaiian government grew throughout the 1800s, leading to the erosion of Hawaiian sovereignty

Overthrow and Annexation

• In 1887, a group of Western businessmen and Hawaiian elites forced King Kalākaua to sign the "Bayonet Constitution," which stripped the monarchy of much of its power and disenfranchised many Native Hawaiians
• Queen Lili'uokalani, who succeeded Kalākaua in 1891, attempted to draft a new constitution to restore power to the monarchy and Native Hawaiians
• In response, a group of American businessmen and plantation owners, with the support of U.S. military forces, staged an illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893
  • The overthrow was led by the "Committee of Safety," which consisted primarily of American businessmen and plantation owners
• Queen Lili'uokalani was forced to abdicate the throne under duress, and a provisional government was established
• Despite protests from Native Hawaiians and Queen Lili'uokalani's appeals to the U.S. government, President Grover Cleveland's efforts to restore the monarchy were unsuccessful
• In 1898, the U.S. annexed Hawaii through the Newlands Resolution, which was passed by Congress without the consent of the Hawaiian people
• The overthrow and annexation of Hawaii by the United States had devastating consequences for Native Hawaiians, leading to the loss of land, political power, and cultural identity

Legal Frameworks and Treaties

• The Hawaiian Kingdom had a series of treaties with foreign nations, including the United States, which recognized Hawaii as an independent nation
  • The U.S.-Hawaii Treaty of 1826 established peace and friendship between the two nations
  • The U.S.-Hawaii Treaty of 1849 provided for the protection of American interests in Hawaii and recognized Hawaii's independence
• The 1851 Hawaiian-British Treaty was another important agreement that recognized Hawaii's sovereignty
• The 1887 "Bayonet Constitution," forced upon King Kalākaua, greatly diminished the power of the Hawaiian monarchy and disenfranchised many Native Hawaiians
• The 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom by American businessmen and plantation owners, with the support of U.S. military forces, was illegal under international law
• The 1898 Newlands Resolution, which annexed Hawaii to the United States, was passed without the consent of the Hawaiian people and violated international law
• The 1993 Apology Resolution (U.S. Public Law 103-150) acknowledged the 100th anniversary of the overthrow and apologized for the U.S. government's role in the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom
  • The Apology Resolution also recognized that the overthrow resulted in the suppression of the inherent sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian people
• The legal status of Hawaii and the rights of Native Hawaiians remain contested, with many arguing that the U.S. annexation was illegal and that Hawaii remains an independent nation under international law

Modern Sovereignty Movements

• The Hawaiian sovereignty movement seeks to restore self-determination and independence for the Hawaiian people
• The movement gained momentum in the 1970s with the Hawaiian Renaissance, a cultural and political resurgence that emphasized the revitalization of Hawaiian language, arts, and traditions
• In 1978, the Hawaii State Constitutional Convention established the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to address the needs of Native Hawaiians and manage Hawaiian trust lands
• The 1993 Apology Resolution (U.S. Public Law 103-150) marked a significant milestone in the sovereignty movement, as it acknowledged the U.S. government's role in the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom
• Various sovereignty groups have emerged, each with different visions for Hawaiian self-determination
  • Some groups advocate for complete independence and the restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom
  • Others seek a form of self-governance within the U.S. federal system, similar to the status of Native American tribes
• The Akaka Bill, first introduced in 2000, aimed to establish a process for Native Hawaiians to gain federal recognition and form a governing entity, but it has not been passed into law
• The Hawaiian sovereignty movement continues to advocate for the rights of Native Hawaiians, the return of ancestral lands, and the restoration of self-determination for the Hawaiian people

Cultural Preservation and Revitalization

• The Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s marked a significant turning point in the revitalization of Hawaiian culture, language, and identity
• Hawaiian language immersion schools, such as 'Aha Pūnana Leo, were established to revive the Hawaiian language and ensure its transmission to younger generations
  • As a result of these efforts, the number of Hawaiian language speakers has increased significantly since the 1980s
• Cultural practitioners have worked to preserve and promote traditional Hawaiian arts, such as hula, chant, and voyaging
• The Polynesian Voyaging Society, founded in 1973, has played a crucial role in reviving the art of traditional Polynesian navigation and voyaging
  • The Hōkūle'a, a traditional double-hulled voyaging canoe, has completed numerous international voyages using traditional navigation techniques
• The restoration and protection of sacred sites, such as Mauna Kea and Kaho'olawe, have been important issues for the Hawaiian community
  • Protests against the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Mauna Kea have brought attention to the need to protect sacred lands and respect Hawaiian cultural practices
• Hawaiian cultural values, such as aloha 'āina (love and respect for the land), mālama (to care for and protect), and pono (righteousness and balance), continue to guide efforts to preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian culture
• The ongoing cultural preservation and revitalization efforts aim to ensure that Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions remain vibrant and resilient for future generations