SOVEREIGNTY RESTORATION DAY:

Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian) nationalists and supporters will gather at Thomas Square east of downtown Honolulu this Sunday, July 27, 2003, from 11 am to 4 pm to celebrate Ka La Ho`iho`i Ea, Sovereignty Restoration Day. This will be the 18th consecutive annual observation of this historic event since 1985 by those who support the independence of the Kanaka Maoli nation.

In February 1843, during the reign of Kamehameha III, British Lord George Paulet and his troops invaded, occupied and ruled the Hawaiian Kingdom. Kamehameha III protested. In July, after five months, British Admiral Richard Thomas arrived in the islands to implement his London government’s September 1842 policy that “native governments be treated with great forbearance and courtesy, and their laws and customs be respected.” On July 31, 1843, at the site now bearing his name, Admiral Thomas ordered the Union Jack lowered and Ka Hae Hawai`i, the Hawaiian Kingdom flag, restored. As cannons roared, the admiral saluted the King, on behalf of Queen Victoria, as “Independent Sovereign”.

In response, the King declared a 10-day national holiday and led a procession to Kawaiaha'o Church where he uttered the words that became the official motto of the Kingdom: "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono." (The life, integrity, sovereignty of the land is restored and continues with pono [right, just] behavior.) Four months later, on November 28, 1843, after more than a year of diplomatic negotiations abroad, the U.S., France and Britain, for the first time, officially recognized the sovereign independence of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Upon receipt of this news, the King declared November 28
"Independence Day," another national holiday.

The person most responsible for negotiating the official recognition of the Hawaiian Kingdom by the three great western powers in 1842-1843 is almost forgotten. He was 36-year-old Timoteo Ha'alilio, who died at sea on December 3, 1844, of pulmonary tuberculosis.

On July 27, Sunday, at noon, mindful of Ka Pae‘aina’s pre-colonial history as an independent nation and the struggle with the British in 1843 to regain recognized sovereignty, Kanaka Maoli will lower the U.S. flag and raise the Hawaiian Kingdom banners. As annually, in the past 18 years, the U.S. will be called upon again to withdraw, as did Britain 160 years ago, from its military occupation of Ka Pae'aina, the Kanaka Maoli homeland. After 110 years of U.S. military invasion and occupation, the Kanaka Maoli people remember and continue to call upon the U.S. to make right its wrong committed over a century ago.

The U.S. also will be reminded that on November 23, 1993, the US Congress Apology Resolution (PL 103-150), signed by U.S. President William Clinton,acknowledged that in 1893, the U.S. conspired and invaded Ka Pae'aina,assuring the haole settlers’ overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy; the U.S.then recognized the usurping Dole Provisional Government, in violation of treaties and international law.

Since the 1993 U.S. Apology Resolution also admits that these acts suppressed the inherent sovereignty and right to self-determination of the Kanaka Maoli people, the U.S. Congress will also be called upon to reject the pending Akaka-Stevens Federal Indian Tribe recognition Bill (S 344).

For this legislation violates the US Apology Resolution, U.S. Constitution, international law and Kanaka Maoli law, by formalizing, without Kanaka Maoli initiation, input and ratification, Kanaka Maoli wardship and creation of a native puppet government with permanent surrender of Kanaka sovereignty and lands to serve US neocolonial/imperialistic economic and nuclear/military globalization.

All are invited to join in the July 27, Sunday, program which will include traditional mele (music), hula (dance), ‘awa protocol, guest speakers, and the flag ceremony.

Sponsors include: Kanaka Maoli Tribunal Komike, Ka Pakaukau, the Living Nation, Kanaka Maoli Allies, `Ohana Koa, Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Ka Pae’aina Affiliate, American Friends Service Committee, Country and Kingdom of Hawai`i, Protect Keopuka `Ohana, and Protect Kaho`olawe `Ohana Kaua`i.
For more information call Kekuni Blaisdell at 595-6691 or Lynette Cruz at
738-0084. but you will have to look up the Hawaii prefixes!