(c) Copyright 2015-2016
Kenneth R. Conklin, Ph.D.
All rights reserved
On this page is the history of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe during the 114th Congress (January 2015 through December 2016), including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. The time period may be extended through January 20, 2017 because that is the final day of President Obama's term of office when he could still unilaterally proclaim an executive order.
The history includes a collection of all significant news reports, editorials, commentaries, letters to editor, cartoons, excerpts from the Congressional Record, etc.
The index for the entire 2 years of the 114th Congress is shown below, in chronological order, subdivided into several time periods as events unfold. Full text of each news report, commentary, etc. is provided on the subpage for the appropriate time period.
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Summary of the history of the Akaka bill from 2000 through 2014, including efforts to create a state-recognized Hawaiian tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, Congressional legislation, or stealth maneuvers by Senator Inouye. Links to detailed history for each 2-year period of time for 106th, 107th, 108th, 109th, 110th, 111th, 112th, and 113th Congresses, including full text of all versions of the Akaka bill, news reports, commentaries, U.S. Senate floor debates and votes, etc.:
https://big11a.angelfire.com/AkakaHistSummary2000to2014.html
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January 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015: History of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe, including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs forms partnership with Hawaiian Homestead group and Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to push the creation of a federally recognized Hawaiian tribe, including concept that Hawaii remains a sovereign independent nation because Treaty of Annexation was never done properly. Judicial Watch and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii jointly file lawsuit against the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission (Kana'iolowalu) to compel disclosure of its financial transactions and the list of names of enrollees, with special attention to the fact that tens of thousands of names were added without their affirmative consent to a document that describes them as affirming the unrelinquished sovereignty of Native Hawaiians, and that numerous prisoners were enrolled, and that a racial classification is being created illegally. OHA releases check register showing detailed expenditures of over $4 Million for racial registry containing only 20,000 new names.
INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES FROM JANUARY 1, 2015 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2015. Full text of each item can be found at
https://big11a.angelfire.com/AkakaHist2015JanThruMar.html
January 1, 2015: Newly elected OHA trustee at-large Lei Ahu Isa column in monthly OHA newspaper for January says Act 195 (2011) and the Kana'iolowalu racial registry were morally wrong and a waste of money because it's up to the ethnic Hawaiian people and not the legislature to decide how to pursue self determination, and because modern technology would allow people to register and genealogy to be verified through electronic devices rather than hardcopy paper.
Jan 13: OHA revamped website indicates that OHA is explicitly abandoning its pretense at neutrality and actively seeking federal recognition through executive rule-making; and is gretly downplaying the effort to use the kana'iolowalu process to convene a convention of certified ethnic Hawaiians who have signed the racial registry. OHA acknowledges it seeks to change a racial group into a political entity, get federal recognition of it as a tribe, and then transfer OHA's land and money to the tribe.
Jan 15: Associated Press "news" story "Some key moments in the history of Hawaii and its indigenous people" focusing on race-based nation-building
Jan 16:
(1) Associated Press "news" story "Native Hawaiians debate best path to sovereignty"
(2) "The Nation" radical leftwing magazine publishes article by Hawaiian independence activist "Is Hawai'i an Occupied State? As the campaign for full independence gains momentum, a new view of Hawaiian history is taking hold."
Jan 17: Two Honolulu TV stations report on events commemorating the 122nd anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.
Jan 21: Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs forms partnership with Hawaiian Homestead group and Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to push the creation of a federally recognized Hawaiian tribe.
Jan 22:
(1) Free Hawaii blog attacks Civic Club partnership pushing tribal concept, on grounds that it was done without consent of members and is contrary to recently adopted position asserting continued existence of sovereign nation of Hawaii.
(2) OHA trustee Peter Apo first article in an expected series recalls overthrow of monarchy and urges "Both Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians need to work on making Hawaii whole." Online reply from Ken Conklin protests label "non-Hawaiian", emphasizes full partnership, unity, equality.
Jan 25: Hawaii Free Press: "OHA Hides Secret Budget from Legislators: $2.3M for 'Consortium' to Push Fake Indian Tribe"
Feb 4, 2015:
(1) Letter to editor says Hawaiians-only voting to create OHA-sponsored tribe would be illegal (Rice v. Cayetano), but instead the vote should be for all descendants of Hawaiian kingdom subjects.
(2) Article in Wall Street Journal headlined: How Space Aliens Could Advance Cause of Hawaiian Independence -- Hawaiian Sovereignty Group Sees Lava Field as Perfect Spot for Extraterrestrial Encounters
Feb 5: OHA trustee Peter Apo Part 2 of his series on Hawaiian sovereignty, including dialog with Ken Conklin
Feb 16: Two alerts from FreeHawaii (an independence group) warn that the consortium for nation-building will be asking OHA for $3.5 to $5 Million; and that a resolution introduced in the legislature asks OHA to help the legislature move forward with nation-building.
Feb 18: Judicial Watch and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii jointly file lawsuit against the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission (Kana'iolowalu) to compel disclosure of its financial transactions and the list of names of enrollees, with special attention to the fact that tens of thousands of names were added without their affirmative consent to a document that describes them as affirming the unrelinquished sovereignty of Native Hawaiians, and that numerous prisoners were enrolled, and that a racial classification is being created illegally.
Feb 24: Hawaiian independence activist asks Justice Antonin Scalia face-to-face whether annexation of Hawaii by joint resolution instead of treaty was OK.
Feb 26:
(1) Hawaii Governor Ige, attending Governors' conference in Washington, had conversation with Dept of Interior Secretary Jewell, who said the department is working on sorting out legal issues regarding whether Native Hawaiians could be federally recognized. "I had expressed to her that I believe that it's very important that the Native Hawaiian community be given the time to determine what the nature of their sovereign nation should be," Ige said.
(2) OHA trustee Peter Apo, 3rd essay in his series in Honolulu Civil Beat, describes his view of Hawaii history leading to establishment of OHA; and the nature of OHA's work today.
Feb 27: Koani Foundation (Hawaiian independence activists) sends action alert notifying people to support the lawsuit by Judicial Watch and Grassroot Institute to compel Roll Commission and OHA to disclose their financial information and also the names of people on the roll, and also to protest to the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs that they have partnered with other groups to work toward federal recognition of Hawaiian tribe even though membership did not consent.
March 1, 2015: Commentary in OHA's monthly newspaper by 'Umi Perkins says that reconciliation among factions of ethnic Hawaiians, and reconciliation between Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians, will be necessary for nation-building.
March 5: Grassroot Institute file demand under Hawaii's Information Act, seeking evidence from the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to substantiate chairman John Waihe'e's claim that 80,000 names transferred from Kau Inoa list actually agreed to have their names transferred.
March 7: Williamson Chang, professor of law at University of Hawaii and longtime independence activist, says student who challenged Supreme Court Justice Scalia (Feb 24) was correct and Scalia wrong. Chang perpetuates the falsehood that the U.S. reached out and grabbed Hawaii, ignoring the fact that Hawaii had first offered the Treaty which the U.S. then accepted; and that it is up to each nation to decide for itself what method it will use to ratify a treaty. Online comment by Ken Conklin provided proof of what really happened.
March 22: Hawaii Free Press: "In response to an open records request from Grassroot Institute, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has released the complete non-payroll check register for the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. The NHRC Expenditures report from inception to February 28, 2015 shows total expenses of $4,030,525.85. The check register totals only $2,999,969.69. The source of the discrepancy is not clear." Details with names of recipients are provided.
March 30: Pacific Business News reports OHA trustee Peter Apo's concept that five major institutions focused on serving ethnic Hawaiians should combine their political and economic power like the "Big Five" corporations did during the Territorial period.
END OF INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES FROM JANUARY 1, 2015 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2015. Full text of each item can be found at
https://big11a.angelfire.com/AkakaHist2015JanThruMar.html
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April 1, 2015 through July 31, 2015. U.S. Department of Interior publishes notification of Proposed Hawaiian Home Land Rules Governing Land Exchanges and Amendments to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and Grassroot Institute officially comments that it looks like authorization of backdoor federal recognition of Hawaiian tribe. Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch successfully sue Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to release its list of about 123,000 names on the racial registry. Senator Brian Schatz says Congress won't take up tribal question but Obama administration will work on it. A notice of election was mailed to all people on the Kana'iolowalu racial registry whose contact information was up to date; the purpose is to begin a process of electing 40 delegates to what might be described as a Constitutional convention to build a Hawaiian tribe. PBS-Hawaii broadcasts panel discussion with 2 supporters of tribal concept vs. 2 supporters of total independence but no supporters of unity and equality. Roll commission finally publishes online a certified list of 95,690 names, alphabetized on 957 pages.
INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES FROM APRIL 1, 2015 THROUGH JULY 31, 2015. Full text of each item below can be found at
https://big11a.angelfire.com/AkakaHist2015StartApril1.html
April 13, 2015:
(1) News Release: A request by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for information about the expenditures of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission has led to additional questions about the Commission's possible violation of the state procurement code. Former Hawai'i Attorney General Michael Lilly has requested that the Directors of the Departments of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Accounting and General Services review whether the expenditure of over $800,000 on two vendors by the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission without public bid violated the State's procurement code. Such a violation of the code is subject to possible criminal and civil penalties.
(2) [Ethnic] Hawaiians and the Law
45 minute YouTube video conversation between Keli'i Akina, President of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and Michael Lilly, Former Attorney General of the State of Hawaii.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tb6H-Uwe64&feature=youtu.be
May 8, 2015:
(1) U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, publishes notification of Publication of Proposed Hawaiian Home Land Rules Governing Land Exchanges and Amendments to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act;
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser article about item #1: "First-ever regulations will clarify Hawaiian Homes law"
(3) Russia Today (official government propaganda newspaper) reports on a coalition of Alaska and Hawaii independence activists pushing for United Nations intervention to declare the statehood plebiscites of 1959 were illegal.
May 10: Andrew Walden, Hawaii Free Press: "Draft DoI Rules Create Path for Fake Indian Tribe to Take Over DHHL"
Tuesday, May 12, 2015: Proposed rule published in Federal Register by U.S. Department of Interior, regarding Land Exchange Procedures and Procedures To Amend the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920. 60-day comment period ends July 13, 2015. See published articles on May 8 and May 10 summarizing expectations for the proposed rule and its possible relevance as a backdoor stealth maneuver to create a Hawaiian tribe.
May 14-15: Beneficiary of both OHA and Department of Hawaiian Homelands asks question which OHA CEO answers, regarding whether OHA is engaged in Washington D.D. on issues related to Dept of Interior regulations for Department of Hawaiian Homelands, and whether Robin Danner is authorized to speak on behalf of Native Hawaiians.
May 16: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii takes note that Native Hawaiians who oppose the Kana'iolowalu racial registry are making use of the GRIH/JudicialWatch success in forcing OHA to disclose unsavory expenditures and in challenging the transfer of names onto the registry despite unwillingness of those people to have their names enrolled.
May 27: OHA news release announces creation and funding of the Na'i Aupuni committee to oversee a Native Hawaiian election of delegates; a convening ("ʻaha") of those delegates to draft a proposed governing document; and a ratification vote by which Native Hawaiians will collectively approve or disapprove of the draft governing document.
May 28: Hawaiian secessionist online newsmagazine provides its slant in reporting yesterday's OHA news release.
May 29: Honolulu Star-Advertiser finally gets around to publishing a news report based on OHA's news release from May 27 announcing creation of nation-building committee "Na'i Aupuni."
June 3, 2015: Group of 3 TV stations reports that "Judicial Watch and Grassroot Institute score a victory for government transparency" when a judge rules that the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission must release its list of about 123,000 names on the racial registry.
June 4:
(1) Yahoo finance section news report: "Judicial Watch Wins Court Fight for Release of State Records Regarding Hawaiian Racial Separatist Campaign"
(2) Grassroot Institute news release: Court Orders Release of Native Hawaiian Roll
Judicial Watch and Grassroot Institute score a victory for government transparency
(3) Honolulu Civil Beat online newspaper reports: Native Hawaiian Roll Commission Must Release Voter Records. The Grassroot Institute calls it a victory for transparency, but the commission's chair says it's "a big commotion over really nothing."
June 5: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, silent for 3 days, finally publishes news report: "Court orders airing of Hawaiian names on sovereignty list"
June 7: Hawaii Free Press commentary: Can OHA Keep Na'i Aupuni from Stealing $2.6M? After the Kanaiolowalu Roll Commission burned most of $3M on girlfriends, and old boys, OHA has cobbled together a new plan to satisfy the remnants of the Akaka Gang clamoring for more money to steal while pretending to create a fake Hawaiian Indian tribe.
June 24: Proposed Interior Department rules creating a path to administratively turn Hawaiian Homelands into a fake Indian Tribe parallel a year-long Obama administration push to take the tribal recognition process in the other 49 states away from Congress.
June 25: OHA trustee Peter Apo has lengthy article in Honolulu Civil Beat identifying three main political approaches to dealing with the question of nation-building [Akaka bill or tribal concept established through regulatory executive order; vs. total independence; vs. rejection of both concepts] and noted four definitions of "Hawaiian." Three of the definitions separate [race-defined] Hawaiians out as a special class of people and provides them access to government-driven entitlement programs. Online comment by Ken Conklin rejects both concepts and rejects the notion that people with no native blood are merely guests in a homeland where ethnc Hawaiians are the hosts.
July 5, 2015: Honolulu Star-Advertiser published 2 editorial commentaries describing the process and the schedule whereby ethnic Hawaiians will certify a racially exclusionary roster of voters to elect delegates to a Constitutional convention, create a governing document, and put it to a vote; all before Obama is out of office.
July 6: Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial says the process for creating a race-based ethnic Hawaiian government is the "best hope for aspirations of Hawaiians"
July 9:
(1) Grassroot Institute press release re testimony to U.S. Dept of Interior re proposed new rule regarding Department of Hawaiian Homelands;
(2) Grassroot Institute testimony to DOI RE: Proposed Rule -- Land Exchange Procedures and Procedures to Amend the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920 (Regulation Identifier Number 1090-AA98);
(3) OHA trustee Peter Apo another installment in his series in Honolulu Civil Beat: "Whose Nation Is it Anyway?" describing 3 competing scenarios for Hawaiian sovereignty;
(4) Ken Conklin online comment criticizing Apo characterization of 3 scenarios.
July 10: Kaua'i newspaper reports interview with Senator Brian Schatz, who says Congress won't take up tribal question but Obama administration will take up native Hawaiian recognition.
July 15: A notice of election was mailed today to all people on the Kana'iolowalu racial registry whose contact information was up to date. The purpose is to begin a process of electing 40 delegates to what might be described as a Constitutional convention to build a Hawaiian tribe. Article includes description of and link to webpage providing timetable and contracts with service providers.
July 16: PBS-Hawaii had a 60-minute panel discussion on Hawaiian sovereignty, broadcast live. Panelists were 4 well-known Hawaiian sovereignty activists. Links are provided for anyone wanting to watch the video. Ken Conklin comments on its significance.
July 22: An examination of the bylaws for the Na'i Aupuni group who are running the racial registry under contract with OHA confirms that it is organizing a government election of the State of Hawaii, which would violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Rice v. Cayetano (2000) that elections for OHA trustee and all government agencies must be open to voters of all races.
July 23: Grassroot Institute news release describes how it obtained the racial registry list of I23,l60 people on 2020 printed pages, and how it can be downloaded in pdf format from
http://tinyurl.com/nua86aa
July 24: Honolulu Star-Advertiser publishes news report about Grassroot Institute publication of racial registry
July 27: Honolulu Star-Advertiser mini-editorial chastises Native Hawaiian Roll Commission for the obstructionist way it delivered the 2020-page unalphabetized hardcopy of the list of registrants pursuant to court order.
July 28: Certified Native Hawaiian roll posted online with 95,690 names. Alphabetized list on 957 pages.
July 29, 2015: "Free Hawaii TV" (independence activists) 4-minute video warns ethnic Hawaiians their names might be on the Roll Commission racial registry without their permission; and the video notes how the Roll Commission tried to obstruct the release of the list of names.
July 31: News release from Na'i Aupuni announces that an election notice will be mailed on August 3 to all certified voters on the Native Hawaiian Roll; and announces timetable for election of delegates to an assembly where a governing document will then be created.
END OF INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES FROM APRIL 1, 2015 THROUGH JULY 31, 2015. U.S. Department of Interior publishes notification of Proposed Hawaiian Home Land Rules Governing Land Exchanges and Amendments to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and Grassroot Institute officially comments that it looks like authorization of backdoor federal recognition of Hawaiian tribe. Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch successfully sue Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to release its list of about 123,000 names on the racial registry. Senator Brian Schatz says Congress won't take up tribal question but Obama administration will work on it. A notice of election was mailed to all people on the Kana'iolowalu racial registry whose contact information was up to date; the purpose is to begin a process of electing 40 delegates to what might be described as a Constitutional convention to build a Hawaiian tribe. PBS-Hawaii broadcasts panel discussion with 2 supporters of tribal concept vs. 2 supporters of total independence but no supporters of unity and equality. Roll commission finally publishes online a certified list of 95,690 names, alphabetized on 957 pages.
Full text of each item above can be found at
https://big11a.angelfire.com/AkakaHist2015StartApril1.html
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INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES FROM AUGUST 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. Groups funded by OHA begin process for certified members of racial registry to hold elections to create a Hawaiian tribe. Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch file federal lawsuit and motion for temporary injunction to block election. U.S. Dept of Interior proposed rule for Department of Hawaiian Homelands draws criticism as trojan horse for creating a tribe. Online debate over whether Kingdom laws recognized natives as indigenous and granted them special rights. U.S. Dept of Interior publishes official Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to facilitate creation of Hawaiian tribe, including some responses to oral and written testimony from Summer 2014 regarding Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, plus full text of proposed rule and solicitation of comments. Nai Aupuni releases list of 209 candidates for election of 40 delegates to create governing document for fake Hawaiian tribe, including biographies of each.
Full text of each item below can be found at
https://big11a.angelfire.com/AkakaHist2015StartAug1.html
August 03, 2015: Only about 18% of ethnic Hawaiians counted in Census 2010 are on the certified Kana'iolowalu racial registry, and those NOT on the roll include many members of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, most of the trustees of Kamehameha Schools, and an OHA trustee.
Aug 5: Notices are arriving in the mailboxes of more than 95,000 Native Hawaiians this week as the first step in the election of delegates to a constitutional convention that will consider options for Hawaiian self-determination.
Aug 7: Native Hawaiian attorneys are skeptical about Nai Aupuni and the Kanaiolowalu Roll. That's the takeaway from a July 29, 2015 forum featuring Nai Aupuni Chair J Kuhio Asam speaking to about 40 members of the Native Hawaiian Bar Association. Transcribed excerpts from an audio tape, and link to download entire audio (54 Megabytes).
August 12, 2015 was the extended deadline for filing comments on the new rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Interior for regulating management and land transfers on the Hawaiian Homelands to further implement the Hawaiian Homes Commission act passed in 1921. Civil rights activists who opposed the Akaka bill and who continue to oppose creation of a Hawaiian tribe view the proposed DOI rule as a trojan horse for using the Hawaiian Homelands as a base for creating a federally recognized tribe. Many testimonies were submitted in opposition to the proposed rule. The two most powerful testimonies were filed by attorney Paul M. Sullivan; and by Keli'i Akina as President of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
Aug 13: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and Judicial Watch file federal lawsuit to block OHA and Native Hawaiian Roll Commission and their minions from conducting a race-based election to begin building a Hawaiian tribe.
(1) Grassroot Institute news release includes summary of the 33-page complaint and a link to a full-text pdf version which allows copy/paste.
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser online breaking news article relies on Grassroot news release but provides no link to it nor any link to text of the legal complaint.
(3) Honolulu Civil Beat online newspaper relies on Grassroot news release without providing link to it, but does provide a view of the 33-page complaint in a format that does not allow copy/paste.
Aug 14: Honolulu Star-Advertiser print edition provides a more detailed explanation of the Grassroot/JudicialWatch lawsuit, but still does not provide any link for readers to see the full text of the legal complaint.
Aug 14 and 15: Department of Interior lets it be known, behind the scenes, that it is still working to create a proposed rule to facilitate federal recognition of a Hawaiian tribe. It's been more than a year since there was any action on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rule-Making. Letting it be known late on August 13 and then August 14 that DOI is still working on creating a proposed rule might be a way of responding to the August 13 morning filing of a federal lawsuit to block the OHA-sponsored election to create a state-recognized tribe, in order to bolster a likely lawsuit defense that this is a political question still under consideration by another branch of government and therefore the courts respect the separation of powers and not interfere (i.e., case dismissed based on the "political question" doctrine").
(1) Andrew Walden, Hawaii Free Press (online newspaper), detailed description of DOI activity including links to cached copies of items posted and then soon removed from DOI website
(2) Chad Blair, leftwing reporter at Honolulu Civil Beat, publishes short news alert that he has gotten word from Jessica Kershaw, DOI press secretary, that DOI is still working on it.
(3) West Hawaii Today (Kona newspaper) news report citing Jessica Kershaw, with more detail than Civil Beat.
Aug 16: Honolulu newspaper columnist takes note of conflict between two factions of ethnic Hawaiians involved in the election to create a Hawaiian tribe: some who want to work within the system to protect and expand racial entitlements, vs. nationalists who will use the convention to seize control on behalf of secession to create an independent nation.
Aug 17:
(1) Na'i Aupuni response to Grassroot lawsuit: Can the lawsuit filed by the President of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii stop the Na‘i Aupuni process? No, because it's not an election of the State of Hawaii.
(2) YouTube video, 44 minutes "Suing to Preserve the Aloha Spirit" Conversation with host Dr. Keli'i Akina, President of Grassroot Institute and guests Robert Popper (Judicial Watch) and Michael Lilly (former Attorney General of Hawaii)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qYsXCGQIlw
Aug 18:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser EDITORIAL says the Na'i Aupuni roll is a private group [nonsense] so it's OK for them to have a racially exclusive election, but the requirement to affirm the political viewpoint of unrelinquished sovereignty is problematic because all ethnic Hawaiians should be able to participate, especially when that affirmation is something to be decided by those elected;
(2) Political commentater at Star-Advertiser reviews the Grassroot video and the Na'i Aupuni FAQs and warns that it might be illegal for a state-sponsored entity to dictate who is allowed to vote. "Moving this issue back to the Supreme Court could then open up new decisions regarding the relationship between Native Hawaiians and the federal government, with the result that the relationship is identical to that of everyone else."
(3) Honolulu Civil Beat editorial board describes Dept of Interior private statement that it is still working on a rule for federal recognition of a Hawaiian tribe, and concludes that "it's critical that delegate elections for the convention take place as scheduled and that the convention itself is convened quickly thereafter ... because the clock is ticking down on President Obama's remaining 15 months in office." [Factual error: Obama has 17 more months until January 20, 2017]
Aug 30:
(1) Two officials of Na'i Aupuni (OHA subsidiary in charge of electing delegates to tribal constitutional convention) article in Honolulu Star-Advertiser says the Grassroot lawsuit to stop the election will not succeed because Na'i Aupuni is not a state government agency.
(2) James Kuroiwa, a 4th generation Hawaii citizen of Japanese ancestry, disputes the assertion that ethnic Hawaiians are an indigenous people, which was an important element in Act 195 (2011) which authorized the racial registry leading to the Na'i Aupuni election.
Aug 31:
(1) Grassroot Institute news release provides federal court motion for preliminary injunction, and memorandum in support of motion, to stop the OHA-sponsored racially exclusionary election to create a Hawaiian tribe.
(2) Dr. Keli'i Akina, President of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, broadcast a 5-minute video explaining that the silent majority of ethnic Hawaiians, and the silent majority of all Hawaii's people, oppose OHA's effort to hold a race-based election to create a phony Hawaiian tribe.
September 1, 2015: News report in Kona and Hilo newspapers describes motion for preliminary injunction.
Sept 3: OHA trustee Peter Apo: Who Are We Building a Nation For? A Hawaiian nation might exist as early as next April. But who would be its citizens?
Sept 4: Investors Business Daily notes that Obama is removing McKinley's name from Alaska's tallest mountain, and Obama is also planning to remove McKinley's annexation of Hawaii. But the article is filled with outrageous falsehoods about Hawaii's history, such as saying that McKinley overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy (which happened 4 years before he became President).
Sept 8: Grassroot Institute President Keli'i Akina explains how lawsuit to stop race-based election helps the silent majority of ethnic Hawaiians find a voice of protest.
Sept 10: Na'i Aupuni list of people who have thus far signed up to be candidates for constitutional convention is being kept secret until end of September, long after Sept 15 deadline to sign up to be candidate.
Sept 11: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, NAME IN THE NEWS features Keli'i Akina and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
Sept 13: Al Jazeera U.S. major article describes controversy over Mauna Kea 30-Meter telescope in the context of twisted version of Hawaii history and summary of Hawaiian sovereignty movement (both secession and tribal concept).
Sept 16:
(1) Letter to editor thanks Keli'i Akina and Grassroot Institute for filing lawsuit to stop OHA's effort to elect leadership for fake Hawaiian tribe
(2) Kaua'i newspaper describes factions in OHA-sponsored election, tells ethnic Hawaiians how to register in time for October 15 deadline.
Sept 18: Derek Kauanoe, a law school graduate who works for OHA as manager of its governance division, wrote an article in Honolulu Civil Beat entitled: "Law Recognizes Native Hawaiians as Indigenous People With Special Rights -- Legal rulings dating back to 1863 and ongoing global recognition today confirm the appropriateness of laws that apply only to indigenous Native Hawaiians." Ken Conklin's online rebuttal says the few Kingdom laws that applied only to native Hawaiians did not grant them special privileges but, on the contrary, imposed special restrictions on them for paternalistic reasons, such as the law prohibiting merchants from selling booze to natives; and there was neither the word nor the concept "indigenous" in Kingdom law nor international law at that time.
Sept 19: Newspaper article describes the process for OHA-sponsored election of delegates to create a Hawaiian tribe, and lawsuit against it. U.S. District Judge Michael J. Seabright has scheduled an Oct. 20 hearing on a motion for preliminary injunction, which asks that the election be halted until the case in chief can be decided.
Sept 20:
(1) Defendants' answer brief, 40 pages, in response to Grassroot/JudicialWatch lawsuit, was filed in U.S. District Court on September 15 and became available publicly on Sept 20 in news report.
(2) Fox Business News, national broadcast, includes one-minute segment describing three most awful executive orders Obama is expected to issue in coming months, including what fox calls "Kingdom of Hawaii" converting entire State of Hawaii into de-facto separate nation like a giant Indian reservation.
Sept 21:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser describes controversy and timeline regarding Na'i Aupuni election of delegates, and notes that Na'i Aupuni is not releasing the names of the candidates even though the deadline to sign up has passed.
(2) Honolulu Civil Beat notes power struggle at OHA over consolidation of committees, and describes the schedule for the Na'i Aupuni election of delegates.
Sept 24:
(1) Keli'i Akina: Setting the Record Straight: Hawaiians Are an 'Inclusive People'. Citizenship in the Hawaiian Kingdom was never confined to one race. So a race-based election to create a race-based nation would be blatantly non-Hawaiian.
(2) Peter Apo: Defining the Hawaiian Community. There are many institutions and organizations that make up the Hawaiian community. But its heart may be harder to define.
(3) Ken Conklin: There's a stark contrast between Keli'i Akina's essay and Peter Apo's essay. Akina focuses on what brings us together regardless of race. Apo focuses on drawing a line of racial separation between ethnic Hawaiians vs. those who lack a drop of the magic blood. We do not need or want a new nation. We reject both of the extremist, radical options which Peter Apo claims are the only two choices -- racial separatism (the tribal concept of the Akaka bill and the Department of Interior), and ethnic nationalism (reinventing Hawaii as an independent nation with an overlay of racial supremacy in the name of "indigenous rights").
(4) The Russian government sponsored a conference in Moscow where numerous secession movements around the world were encouraged as a way to destabilize the governments of Russia's opponents. Participants included Lanny Sinkin, representing Hawaii's "King Silva."
Sept 29:
(1) U.S. Department of Interior press release announces long-awaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to give federal recognition to phony Hawaiian tribe if tribe complies with conditions in the rule.
(2) U.S. Department of Interior announces Public Meetings & Consultations to Discuss the Proposed Rule
(3) U.S. Department of Interior press release: Frequently asked questions (and answers) about the notice of proposed rulemaking.
(4) Honolulu Star-Advertiser breaking news about NPRM, INCLUDING 73-PAGE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE PROPOSED RULE RESPONDS TO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND TESTIMONY FROM 2014, AND FULL TEXT OF PROPOSED RULE
(5) Grassroot Institute press release
September 30, 2015:
(1) Honolulu Advertiser news report about NPRM, INCLUDING 73-PAGE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE PROPOSED RULE RESPONDS TO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND TESTIMONY FROM 2014, AND FULL TEXT OF PROPOSED RULE
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser EDITORIAL praising and supporting the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(3) Na'i Aupuni releases list of 209 candidates for election to be 40 delegates to write governing document for fake Hawaiian tribe, including biographies of each
(4) Secessionist blog describes how the Na'i Aupuni election is rigged to support the tribal concept and therefore will not produce true sovereignty. Lengthy quotes from favorite independence activists.
(5) 3 TV stations report that 209 candidates are running for 40 spots to help form a Native Hawaiian government.
END OF INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES FROM AUGUST 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. Groups funded by OHA begin process for certified members of racial registry to hold elections to create a Hawaiian tribe. Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch file federal lawsuit and motion for temporary injunction to block election. U.S. Dept of Interior proposed rule for Department of Hawaiian Homelands draws criticism as trojan horse for creating a tribe. Online debate over whether Kingdom laws recognized natives as indigenous and granted them special rights. U.S. Dept of Interior publishes official Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to facilitate creation of Hawaiian tribe, including some responses to oral and written testimony from Summer 2014 regarding Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, plus full text of proposed rule and solicitation of comments. Nai Aupuni releases list of 209 candidates for election of 40 delegates to create governing document for fake Hawaiian tribe, including biographies of each.
Full text of each item above can be found at
https://big11a.angelfire.com/AkakaHist2015StartAug1.html
================
INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES FROM OCTOBER 2015, including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Official notice of proposed rulemaking to create federally recognized Hawaiian tribe is officially published in the Federal Record. Certified list is published of 209 candidates in Nai Aupuni election for 40 delegates to write tribal governing document. October 20 hearing in federal court on motion for temporary restraining order to block the election -- legal documents by plaintiff Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch; and defendants OHA, Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, Nai Aupuni and Akamai -- Judge rules election can proceed because it is not a government election despite funding by government agency OHA. U.S. House Committee chairman introduces bill to block Department of Interior from recognizing new tribes. Final rule by DOI published in Federal Register allows tribes to amend their governing documents without needing approval from secretary of DOI.
Full text of each item below can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2015StartOct1.html
October 1, 2015:
(1) The U.S. Department of Interior proposed rule allowing federal recognition for a Hawaiian tribe is published in the federal Register, with a 90-day comment period ending December 30.
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser announces publication of list of 209 certified candidates for the Na'i Aupuni election to choose 40 delegates for a Constitutional Convention to create a governing document for the phony Hawaiian tribe. Provides links to the list which includes a pdf file written by each candidate providing biographical information and reasons for running.
(3) Honolulu Star-Advertiser online poll for October 1 ended with 48% responding they oppose sovereignty for Native Hawaiians, 37% favoring it, and 15% oppose federal involvement in it.
(4) Hawaii Free Press notes that several candidates in the Na'i Aupuni election are currently serving as OHA trustees or State legislators or other government officers; and are thus in conflict with the State constitution or laws prohibiting holding two offices at the same time or running for election without first resigning from current offices.
Oct 3: Professor Jon Osorio, secessionist, writes a rambling opposition to the Na'i Aupuni election and DOI rulemaking. Ken Conklin, in an online comment, notes the example of Barog railroad tunnel (Punjab) that was dug from both ends but they failed to meet.
Oct 4: Columnist Richard Borreca says "There's nothing certain about Hawaiian sovereignty" because the process of creating the tribe in Hawaii and getting federal recognition from Washington is complex with many pitfalls.
Oct 5: Contents of memo sent from Nina Fisher, Congressman Mark Takai's Honolulu office manager, formerly office manager for Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, on Sept. 29, describing the Department of Interior proposed rule for federal recognition of Hawaiian tribe.
Oct 5-6:
(1) 3 TV stations report "Critics: Hawaiian constitutional convention election process is flawed."
(2) Statistical analysis of biographical information concludes: "Delegate candidates for a Native Hawaiian Constitutional Convention do not reflect the true makeup of the Native Hawaiian population."
Oct 7:
(1) "Midweek O'ahu" columnist Bob Jones says full sovereignty is just a daydream. Concludes by quoting Ken Conklin: "Hawaiian sovereignty activists, whether they support tribal status or independent nation status, believe that ethnic Hawaiians are entitled to racial supremacy in Hawaii on the theory of indigenous rights. A third alternative of unity, equality, and aloha for all gets almost no media attention, but is by far the most popular with all ethnic groups."
(2) Honolulu Civil Beat columnist Ian Lind says Native Hawaiian Election Throws Out All the Rules -- None of the customary election laws apply to the high-stakes selection of delegates to a constitutional convention regarding a new government.
(3) Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Questions DOI Rule -- transcript of 10-minute Hawaii Public Radio interview of Dr. Keli'i Akina regarding the Department of Interior proposed rule for federal recognition of a Hawaiian tribe. Akina notes that it's peculiar to lump together all people who have a drop of Hawaiian native blood.
Oct 11: Former Governor and Congressman Neil Abercrombie [who successfully pushed the Akaka bill through the House 3 times] says he hopes the tribal creation process now underway will succeed, but different factions must compromise and the secessionist viewpoint must be rejected.
Oct 12: Blogger Ian Lind briefly describes some main issues in the lawsuit to block the election of delegates to a constitutional convention to create a race-based Hawaiian tribe, and PROVIDES LINKS TO THE IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENTS BY PLAINTIFF GRASSROOT INSTITUTE AND JUDICIAL WATCH; AND DEFENDANTS STATE OF HAWAII, NATIVE HAWAIIAN ROLL COMMISSION, OHA, NA'I AUPUNI, AKAMAI FOR OCTOBER 20 HEARING ON MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO BLOCK THE ELECTION.
Oct 15:
(1) OHA trustee Peter Apo writes another in his series of articles for Honolulu Civil Beat online. He defines "Hawaiian" very broadly but says the most important lement is being politically active in the quest for the Holy Grail of nationhood (i.e., federal recognition). Ken Conklin has online comment.
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertisr article says today (October 15) is the last day to register to vote in the Na'i Aupuni election of delegates to the tribal constitutional convention; and article provides free advertising for how to register in addition to a sense of urgency.
(3) Blogger Ian Lind says there's a public Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/OPPOSE.Nai.Aupuni/
which is spreading the message, "Protest Na'i Aupuni," and urging Hawaiians to remove their names from the roll of eligible voters. Hawaiians are also being urged to sign a petition pushing for disenrollment.
(4) Judge Seabright invited U.S. Department of Interior to submit amicus brief in lawsuit to block election of delegates to a Hawaiian tribe constitutional convention, and DOI did submit it, urging the judge not to block the election.
Oct 19: Letter to editor says "When America stole our islands, everything that was ours was taken and left with nothing." Etc. So be careful about choosing pathway for self-determination.
Oct 20-21: Several news reports describe the lengthy hearing in U.S. District Court on October 20 on a motion for temporary restraining order to block the Na'i Aupuni election. Reports include background of plaintiffs and some of the main arguments on all sides.
Oct 21: Late in the day on October 21, 2015, the Grassroot Institute made available to the public many of the legal documents in Akina v. Hawaii. A link is provided to the entire collection, where each document can be viewed and downloaded individually.
Oct 21: U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN INTRODUCES BILL TO BLOCK DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FROM RECOGNIZING NEW TRIBES, AND TO RETURN THAT AUTHORITY SOLELY TO CONGRESS.
Oct 22: PJ Media: Obama Administration Defends Hawaiian Separatism in Federal Court
Oct 22: FINAL RULE PUBLISHED IN FEDERAL REGISTER ALLOWS TRIBES TO AMEND THEIR GOVERNING DOCUMENTS WITHOUT NEEDING AMENDMENTS TO BE APPROVED BY SECRETARY OF INTERIOR. [One effect would be that limitations imposed on Hawaiian tribe as part of DOI requirements proposed for recognizing it in current Notice of Proposed Rulemaking could be changed by Hawaiian tribe unilaterally after they get recognition]
Oct 23: Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Melody MacKenzie: The specialist in Native Hawaiian law has seen much growth and progress in the field
Oct 23-24: U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE MICHAEL SEABRIGHT DISMISSES LAWSUIT BY GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAII AND JUDICIAL WATCH SEEKING TO BLOCK RACE-BASED ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION TO CREATE A HAWAIIAN TRIBE. SEABRIGHT SAYS IT'S A PRIVATE ELECTION NOT SUBJECT TO THE CONSTITUTION'S 1ST, 14TH, AND 15TH AMENDMENTS, DESPITE BEING FUNDED WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY OHA. NUMEROUS NEWS REPORTS PROVIDE VARIOUS DETAILS AND VARIOUS SPINS ON WHAT HAPPENED.
Oct 25:
(1) Hawaii Free Press commentary says the U.S. Department of Interior proposed rule for recognizing a Hawaiian tribe shows the feds are not trying to re-establish a relationship with the actual Kingdom of Hawaii, but rather with the State of Hawaii Office of Hawaiian Affairs as being an Indian tribe.
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser Sunday editorial says "In rejecting a motion seeking to block the election of delegates to an aha, or constitutional convention, U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright underscored the rights of all people to assemble and organize in this way. And as an act by a private entity, the election did not constitute a violation of government's constitutional protections."
Oct 26:
(1) Grassroot Institute press release says plaintiffs file 9th Circuit Court appeal of Judge Seabright's decision, and provides notice of appeal legal document.
(2) Honolulu attorney sarcastic "Tips From An Election Lawyer For Setting Up Private Racially-Exclusive Elections, er ... "Opinion Polls""
Oct 27:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser columnist describes schedule for Na'i Aupuni election, and how important it is for them to create the new tribe and get federal recognition before Obama leaves office.
(2) Trisha Kehaulani Watson, Ph.D. and J.D., article in Honolulu Civil Beat describes at length the efforts to restore Hawaiian sovereignty including Akaka bill and concludes that the current Na'u Aupuni election "is nothing but an elaborate attempt to force Hawaiians into making a decision they do not fully understand."
(3) Letter to editor by Wilbert Wong says "I believe the majority of our resident U.S. citizens who possess many rights and benefits would be foolish to give up such freedom for a race-based sovereign government, with citizens required to have a quantum of Hawaiian blood, and headed by individuals seeking political power and control over all our Hawaiian islands and its natural resources."
Oct 29:
(1) Republican leadership of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs (which has jurisdiction over tribal recognition) holds a committee hearing on HR3674, which would strip the Department of Interior of the power to give federal recognition to tribes.
(2) Walter Ritte, independence activist from Moloka'i, has withdrawn his candidacy in the Na'i Aupuni election for delegates to a Hawaiian tribe convention, boycotting in protest that the outcome is rigged in favor of federal recognition.
(3) Zuri Aki, an independence activist from Honolulu who is a candidate in the Na'i Aupuni election, writes a primal scream in online newspaper bewailing the loss of (race-based) sovereignty in 1893 and the hope for restoring it through the Na'i Aupuni process.
Oct 30
(1) Aljazeera America describes the race-based election to create a Hawaiian tribe, justifying it by telling the usual revisionist history of overthrow, annexation, occupation, protest over Mauna Kea, etc.
(2) Opinions editor of Honolulu Civil Beat says "The Cost Of Sitting Out Delegate Elections And The 'Aha -- There are many reasons to criticize the coming elections for a convention on Native Hawaiian governance. But the reasons to participate are more persuasive."
(3) Letter to editor in Honolulu Star-Advertiser points out that two of the candidates for the tribal convention are also members of the State legislature which will be in session at the same time as the tribal convention.
October 31, 2015: The OHA monthly newspaper for November became available. Four items were of interest regarding the election of delegates to a tribal convention.
(1) Message from Kamana'opono M. Crabbe, Ph.D. Ka Pouhana/Chief Executive Officer urges voters on the racial registry to participate
(2) Interior proposes Native Hawaiian Rule hailed as Obama commitment to support Native Hawaiians
(3) Na'i Aupuni board of directors wrote an article explaining why it's important to vote in the tribal election
(4) OHA trustee Carmen Hulu Lindsey gave her monthly column to charter school leader Dr. Ku Kahakalau who explained why Kahakalau never enrolled in Kana'iolowalu or any other racial registry, because "we, the Hawaiian people, do not need any involvement by either the Hawaii State government, nor the U.S. federal government, to design, implement and evaluate our process of re-establishing an independent Hawaiian nation."
END OF INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES FROM OCTOBER 2015, including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. History of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe from October 1, 2015, and continuing; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Official notice of proposed rulemaking to create federally recognized Hawaiian tribe is officially published in the Federal Record. Certified list is published of 209 candidates in Nai Aupuni election for 40 delegates to write tribal governing document. October 20 hearing in federal court on motion for temporary restraining order to block the election -- legal documents by plaintiff Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch; and defendants OHA, Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, Nai Aupuni and Akamai -- Judge rules election can proceed because it is not a government election despite funding by government agency OHA. U.S. House Committee chairman introduces bill to block Department of Interior from recognizing new tribes. Final rule by DOI published in Federal Register allows tribes to amend their governing documents without needing approval from secretary of DOI.
Full text of each item above can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2015StartOct1.html
================
INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES DURING NOVEMBER 2015, including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch file an appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court seeking to block the Nai Aupuni election; American Civil Rights Union files amicus brief. 9th Circuit rejects appeal. Grassroot filed emergency application for injunction to U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the decision in Rice v. Cayetano and who has emergency jurisdiction over the 9th Circuit, granted temporary injunction prohibiting the counting or certification of votes in the Na'i Aupuni election until he or the full court takes further action. Nai Aupuni accounces it is extending the period for voting 3 extra weeks until December 21.
Full text of each item below can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2015StartNov1.html
November 1, 2015:
(1) Final Interior Department Rule [published in Federal Register on October 19] Allows OHA Hawaiians to Steal Land from DHHL Hawaiians [without needing DOI approval]
(2) Nai Aupuni Lets Candidates on Ballot With Fraudulent Registration -- Why were some delegate candidates allowed to run when they failed to properly obtain 10 registered voter supporters?
(3) Kawika K. Burgess, former chief operating officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and a former land assets and operations manager for Kamehameha Schools, is CEO of Real Property Management Alliance. His commentary in Honolulu Star-Advertiser pleads with ethnic Hawaiians to "Follow in the footsteps of our kupuna" by voting in the Na'i Aupuni election.
(4) Hawaii Island newspapers report list of candidates in Na'i Aupuni election, with ballots becoming available today.
Nov 2:
(1) Indian law blog "Turtle Talk" published links to 6 important documents in the lawsuit seeking to block the Na'i Aupuni election, including full text of the 64-page decision by Judge Seabright dismissing the case.
(2) BBC News Magazine lengthy article "Aloha to the US: Is Hawai'i an occupied nation?" explores historical grievances of ethnic Hawaiians and the clash between those seeking total independence vs. those seeking tribal status
Nov 3:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that voting is underway in the Na'i Aupuni election; 3 candidates have withdrawn because they object to a flawed and unfair process; a slate of 19 candidates urge ethnic Hawaiians to vote.
(2) Candidate Kelii Lopez writes in Civil Beat urging people to vote; says the nasty radicals of the past were necessary to get things moving, but now the silent majority of nice activists will help all ethnic Hawaiians come together.
Nov 4:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser online poll shows 82% of 3224 respondents are not eligible to participate in the Na'i Aupuni election (as expected, that's approximately the percentage of Hawaii's people with no native blood), including 58% who don't care about it; whereas more than half of the 18% who are eligible choose not to participate.
(2) Problems with the Na'i Aupuni ballot, which includes one recently deceased man plus two others whose names appear even though they wanted to withdraw.
(3) Ian Lind analyzes Department of Interior proposed rule regarding the quorum it sets for voter participation to make the outcome be considered credible, and asks "Should getting the vote of one out of four adult Hawaiians here be considered a success for the Na'i Aupuni election?"
(4) Senior professor of Hawaiian Studies Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa says "For Native Hawaiians, Land Is The Biggest Issue. Taking advantage of the current opportunity for a federally recognized Native Hawaiian government does not hinder or preclude the push for full independence."
(5) Letter to editor from Davianna Pomaika‘i McGregor, Candidate for Oahu delegate says "I support the Star-Advertiser's endorsement of electing delegates to an 'aha convention."
(6) 4-minute video from FreeHawaii: 32 of the candidates in the Na'i Aupuni election are being paid by various race-based institutions that will benefit if a Hawaiian tribe gets federal recognition; names are named.
Nov 5:
(1) Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch press release on their 9th Circuit Court appeal of Judge Seabright's order in Honolulu U.S. District Court denying a preliminary injunction in the case against the Native Hawaiian election. Full text of the press release includes libks to full text of the appeal and selected quotes from it.
(2) Link to amicus brief from the American Civil Rights Union
(3) OHA trustee Peter Apo has another in his continuing series of essays favoring creation of a Hawaiian tribe -- this one focuses on grievances: "A Vote To Overcome Our Trauma"
Nov 6:
(1) Hans von Spakovsky, legal expert for Heritage Foundation, writes important article in "Bench memos" at National Review online blasting "A Federal Judge Refuses to Stop a Jim Crow-Type Election in Hawaii" including links to important court documents.
(2) Letter to editor urges feasibility study on jurisdictional conflicts to be expected if Hawaiian tribe is created, and whether federal government will reimburse Hawaii for difficulties.
(3) Blog article in The Antimedia.org describes current events in creation of Hawaiian tribe, using title "Hawaiian Natives Move One Step Closer to Declaring Sovereignty from U.S. Government"
Nov 7:
(1) Letter to editor in Kaua'i newspaper by Kona candidate in the Na'i Olowalu election explains why she has withdrawn her candidacy because "This process is not forth right."
(2) Letter to editor in Kona newspaper by a different Kona candidate in the Na'i Olowalu election explains what will happen at the convention and why he or she believes it's the right thing to do.
Nov 8: Hawaiian secessionist filmmaker commentary in Sunday Honolulu Star-Advertiser entitled "Na'i Aupuni and stealing a nation -- twice" saying the Na'i Aupuni election is the way the U.S. and State of Hawaii are trying to bamboozle ethnic Hawaiians into legitimizing the illegal annexation of Hawaii by the U.S.
Nov 9: Davianna McGregor, a professor of ethnic studies, wrote article in Honolulu Civil Beat "Two Movements, Both With Inherent Rights to Sovereignty -- The Native Hawaiian indigenous people might be well-served by U.S. recognition. That's different than the true independence of a multi-ethnic Hawaii nation-state."
Nov 10: Truthout [far-left blog] "US Government Asks Native Hawaiians to Legitimize Occupation With Vote"
Nov 11:
(1) Full text of 4 responses to the Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch appeal to the 9th Circuit Court, filed by Na'i Aupuni, State of Hawaii, OHA, and amicus brief by U.S. Department of Justice.
(2) UH Professor Jonathan Osorio essay in Civil Beat: "Coercive Nature Of Na'i Aupuni Process Ultimately Dooms It To Failure -- Claiming to be able to produce an entity that can speak with one voice for our people is not at all credible."
Nov 12:
(1) Na'i Aupuni officers send email to all its registered voters saying pay no heed to protesters boycotting the election.
(2) Independence activists call for protest on Friday against Na'i Aupuni election in front of state capitol.
Nov 13:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser publishes a puff piece biography of Kuhio Asam (head of Na'i Aupui)
(2) 6 candidates competing for 3 Maui seats in 40-member Native Hawaiian convention make presentations at a forum on Maui; loud protests were made against the process
(3) 2 past presidents plus current president of Ka Lahui sovereignty group write article in Honolulu Civil Beat "Self-Governance Can Come Without State Or Federal Interference"
Nov 14: Na'i Aupuni defends election -- Says protesters 'have not proposed alternative plan to form an effective government'
Nov 16: Guest commentary in Kaua'i newspaper from group of 50 ethnic Hawaiians and supporters [a secessionist sovereiognty group known as the "Lawful Hawaiian Government"] provides 10 objections to the Na'i Aupuni election
Nov 18
(1) Critics of the ongoing Na'i Aupuni election for Native Hawaiian self-governance will hold a public panel discussion at Wilcox Elementary School Friday.
(2) Ethnic Hawaiian blogger Ian Lind, well-informed on sovereignty issues, has been undecided for many years whether to support Hawaiian sovereignty; has ballot for Na'i Aupuni election; favors holding the election but hasn't figured out who to vote for.
Nov 19:
(1) and (2) Breaking news: 9th Circuit Court rejects Grassroot appeal
(3) Grassroot Institute says it will appeal to U.S. Supreme Court
Nov 20:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports 9th Circuit rejects Grassroot appeal and Grassroot will appeal; Na'i Aupuni election continues.
(2) Noelani Arista and Randall Akee article in "Indian Country Today" complains that the Na'i Aupuni election does not reflect the will of the Native Hawaiians and is culturally insensitive for including dead people on its voter roll.
Nov 22: News report about public forum on Kaua'i featuring 3 secessionists who oppose the Na'i Aupuni election. Although the event was on the island of Kaua'i, two of the three presenters are from O'ahu and one is from Moloka'i.
Nov 23
(1) "Maui Now" online newspaper publishes what is essentially an advertisement entitled: "Naʻi Aupuni: 8 Days Left to Vote in Native Hawaiian Election"
(2) Opinion editor at Honolulu Civil Beat urges Native Hawaiians to participate in commenting on the Department of Interior proposed regulation to recognize a Hawaiian tribe
(3) Writer in "Indian Country Today" opposes U.S. House committee chairmans effort to pass a bill HR 3764 that would strip the Department of Interior of the authority to grant federal recognition to any new tribes.
Nov 24: Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch file emergency request to U.S. Supreme Court seeking injunction to block Na'i Aupuni election
(1) GRIH press release includes link to full text of appeal
(2) Associated Press "breaking news" report in Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Nov 25:
(1) Hawaii Public Radio article recalls interviews about the Na'i Aupuni election with Hawaiian activists William Meheula and Trisha Watson; online comment by Ken Conklin
(2) Moloka'i Dispatch: "Hawaiian Election Continues Amid Concerns"
Nov 26: Outline of 134 page testimony by Ken Conklin presented to Department of Interior on Thanksgiving Day, in opposition to proposed regulation for granting federal recognition to a phony Hawaiian tribe; including link to full text of all 134 pages.
Nov 27: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the decision in Rice v. Cayetano in 2000 and who has sole jurisdiction over all U.S. 9th Circuit Courts in emergency cases, issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the counting or certification of votes in the Na'i Aupuni election until he or the full Court takes further action.
(1) Honolulu Star-Bulletin breaking news, with Ken Conklin comment listing links to 5 major documents filed in U.S. Supreme Court appeal: Grassroot Institute 36-page application for injunction; 427 page appendix with full text of District and 9th Circuit documents; State 31-page response; Grassroot reply to response; Justice Kennedy's order granting temporary injunction
(2) Grassroot news release
(3) Scotus Blog analysis
(4) New York Times news report by Adam Liptak
(5) Fox News
(6) Wall Street Journal (Associated Press)
(7) PJ Media
(8) KHON2 TV news
(9) Huffington Post
Nov 28:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser (first time in this newspaper's hardcopy): Na'i Aupuni election halted -- Is the Native Hawaiian election known as Na'i Aupuni in trouble?
(2) Kona and Hilo newspapers report approvingly report that Na'i Aupuni is urging voters to submit ballots by Monday deadline
(3) The Hill [Washington D.C. newspaper focusing on Congress]
(4) Eu Claire Wisconsin TV station 4x15-second quickie reports
Nov 30:
(1) Honolulu Civil Beat online newspaper EDITORIAL: "Lift The Stay, Count The Votes In Hawaiian Election -- Justice Kennedy's 11th-hour stay of the Nai Aupuni delegate election process allows for a full review that ought to yield a decisive victory for Native Hawaiian self-governance."
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser mini-editorial laments "It's unclear how this ultimately will end, but it surely will delay the 'aha, if it is to be held at all."
(3),(4),(5) Three news reports about Na'i Aupuni announcement that it is extending the deadline for voting for 3 weeks, to December 21.
(6) Grassroot Institute news release: "The decision to extend the election -- despite an injunction from the country's highest court preventing the counting of ballots -- continues to divert public funds from meeting the real needs of Hawaiians for housing, education, job opportunities, and health care ... It is a mistake to underestimate the significance of Justice Kennedy's injunction and the compelling rationale for his intervention."
(7) Judicial Watch press release
(8) Breitbart News
(9) Election Law blog
END OF INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES DURING NOVEMBER 2015, including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Grassroot Institute and Judicial Watch file an appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court seeking to block the Nai Aupuni election; American Civil Rights Union files amicus brief. 9th Circuit rejects appeal. Grassroot filed emergency application for injunction to U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the decision in Rice v. Cayetano and who has emergency jurisdiction over the 9th Circuit, granted temporary injunction prohibiting the counting or certification of votes in the Na'i Aupuni election until he or the full court takes further action. Nai Aupuni accounces it is extending the period for voting 3 extra weeks until December 21.
Full text of each item above can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2015StartNov1.html
================
INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES DURING DECEMBER 2015; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. U.S. Supreme Court votes 5-4 to uphold Justice Kennedy emergency injunction blocking Nai Aupuni election until 9th Circuit Court decides Grassroot lawsuit. Hawaiian independence activists thank Grassroot Institute despite political disagreements and Grassroot Institute expresses hope for continued cooperation to defeat attempt to create Hawaiian tribe. Nai Aupuni cancels the election and invites all 196 candidates to be delegates to tribal constitutional convention, adhering to original timetable but reducing convention to only 4 weeks instead of 8 due to costs for 196 delegates (including larger number from mainland) instead of only 40. 151 delegates accept invitation. Judicial Watch files motion for contempt of court at Supreme Court, that Na'i Aupuni and OHA violated injunction prohibiting certification of election winners; demands heavy fines and clarification that injunction prohibits convention.
Full text of each item below can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2015December.html
December 1, 2015:
(1) Wall Street Journal Opinions Journal 3-minute video where staffer Kary Kissel interviews Heritage Foundation senior legal analyst Hans von Spakovsky about the Supreme Court injunction blocking the Na'i Aupuni election.
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser columnist Richard Borreca: Explaining Hawaii to mainland colleagues almost always results in a great puzzlement. ... explaining how the Na'i Aupuni election, which is so important to Native Hawaiian self-determination, is not really a state election just causes confusion."
(3) Kaua'i newspaper reports that Na'i Aupuni has lengthened the voting period until January 21, but article contains two falsehoods.
Dec 2:
(1) U.S. Supreme Court official order (vote 5-4) to maintain Justice Kennedy's injunction against Na'i Aupuni election until 9th Circuit Court has ruled on the lawsuit.
(2) SCOTUS blog analysis of the order, reviewing history of the case.
(3) Grassroot Institute of Hawaii news release about SCOTUS decision
(4) Honolulu Star-Advertiser breaking news report on SCOTUS decision
(5) Associated Press news report on SCOTUS decision, reviewing history of the case -- published in ABC News, The Garden Island News [Kaua'i], and probably many more
(6) Big Island Now online newspaper report on SCOTUS decision, reviewing history of the case
(7) Honolulu Civil Beat leftwing online newspaper tries to put a spin on the SCOTUS decision
(8) Al Jazeera America news report about SCOTUS injunction and background includes analysis by University of California Irvine election law expert Rick Hasen, who said it's "very unusual" for the high court to enjoin the counting of votes during an ongoing election. "I can't think of another instance where the Supreme Court has done that," Hasen said.
(9) Guam newspaper compares court case about race-based Na'i Aupuni election with court case about race-based Guam election regarding whether Guam should secede from U.S. Territorial status. News article was published December 2 in Guam, which was December 1 in Hawaii and therefore was before the Supreme Court decision upholding Justice Kennedy's injunction.
Dec 3:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser print edition reports Supreme Court 5-4 decision to extend the injunction blocking the Na'i Aupuni election until the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has decided the primary lawsuit.
(2) Ilya Shapiro of the Cato Institute celebrates Supreme Court decision
(3) YouTube video, 50 minutes, discussion about the Supreme Court case, featuring Michael Lilly, attorney for Grassroot Institute, and Kalama Niheu, an independence activist.
Dec 4:
(1) Judicial Watch weekly update focuses on Supreme Court victory
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser Letter to editor by ethnic Hawaiian secessionists laments the fact that their goal of stopping tribalization is being achieved not by them but by mainstream conservatives.
Dec 5:
(1) Al Jazeera lengthy article authored by reporter for Kaua'i Garden Island News is sympathetic to the Na'i Aupuni election and the independence movement as ways to overcome American oppression of Native Hawaiians.
(2) Letter to editor in Kaua'i newspaper: "Concerns arise about [Na'i Aupuni] election process"
Dec 6:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser regular editorial commentator Richard Borreca says "Some major parts of the Na'i Aupuni election designed to set the stage for recognition of a Hawaiian government appear to be seriously unraveling." He points out some of the difficulties, and seems to be moderately glad the election is in trouble
(2) Guam newspaper feature article compares lawsuit seeking to block Guam race-based plebiscite on political status (statehood vs. independent nation status vs. compact of free association) with Hawaii lawsuit seeking to block race-based election to create a Hawaiian tribe.
Dec 8:
(1) Hawaii Public Radio provides reminders (i.e., free advertising) for both the Na'i Aupuni election and the U.S. Department of Interior request for comments on its proposal to create a regulation to recognize a Hawaiian tribe.
(2) "Above the Law" blog reports "Aloha, Racism! The Supreme Court Stops The Vote Count In A Hawaii Election That Excludes White People & Foreigners"
Dec 9: Hawaiian independence activists thank Grassroot Institute for lawsuit to block Na'i Aupuni election, despite disagreements over secession; and Grassroot Institute expresses hope for continued cooperation to defeat attempt to create Hawaiian tribe -- press release and video.
Dec 13:
(1) Forber OHA trustee and longtime independence activist Moanike'ala Akaka attacks Grassroot Institute as being opponent of justice for Native Hawaiians; says the Na'i Aupuni election is privately funded because the money comes from ceded land revenues (paid to OHA as land-use rent).
(2) Long, rambling article in far-left "TruthOut" magazine: "Native Americans Warn Native Hawaiians of the Dangers of Federal Recognition"
Dec 14:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial pushes people to send in testimony to Department of Interior in favor of proposed regulation to create Hawaiian tribe, before December 30; online comment by Ken Conklin outlines his 134-page testimony.
(2) Honolulu Civil Beat editorial: Supreme Court Rulings [Na'i Aupuni election and TMT telescope] Leave Hawaiian Concerns In Limbo.
Dec 15:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser breaking news: Na'i Aupuni cancels election to avoid lengthy delays for litigation
(2) Na'i Aupuni news release announces cancelation of election and invitation to all 196 candidates to become delegates
(3) Hawaii Free Press, December 15, publishes email sent by Na'i Aupuni to the 196 candidates, explaining financial details of airfare, hotel, meals.
(4) Grassroot Institute news release: Cancellation of Nai Apuni Election a Victory for the Constitution. Grassroot Institute says Nai Aupuni is undercutting its own efforts to even look like a democratic process.
(5) Honolulu Civil Beat: Nai Aupuni Election Halted, But All Candidates Invited to Aha
(6) ABC network news, and a local newspaper in Victoria B.C. Canada, (and many others) publish identical Associated Press news report. "Suddenly taking away the opportunity to vote for delegates makes a mockery of any effort toward self-governance, said Native Hawaiian community advocate Trisha Keahaulani Watson-Sproat, who has been a vocal critic of Nai Aupuni.
"I don't know how anybody is supposed to take any of this seriously at this point," she said. "I mean, it has the integrity of a Costco membership at this point.""
(7) Hawaii Independent [secessionist online newspaper] article by University of Hawaii secessionist law professor essay "Na'i Aupuni's decision to allow all 196 candidates to participate in February's planned convention is an illegal attempt to circumvent the U.S. Supreme Court and proves that its purpose, all along, was to ensure federal recognition."
(8) Honolulu Civil Beat columnist "Dueling Lawsuits: Did Nai Aupuni Allow Too Few Voters? Too Many?" focuses on obscure recently-filed lawsuit by group of native Hawaiians who have more than 50% native blood quantum who claim the election should hsve been restricted to people with thst blood quantum.
Dec 16:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser print edition more detailed news report "Native vote called off in reaction to top court"
(2) Article in both Kona and Hilo newspapers: "Na'i Aupuni terminates Native Hawaiian election, but delegate conference still going on for 'much-needed discussion'" includes brief stories about Hawaii Island delegates.
(3) Grassroot Institute email to members and friends warns that the effort to create a Hawaiian tribe remains ongoing, especially through the Department of Interior regulatory process and asks them to submit comments to the DOI proposal before December 30 deadline.
Dec 17: University of Hawaii Professor of Law Williamson Chang, an independence activist and candidate for the Na'i Aupuni election, says Na'i Aupuni decision to certify all 196 candidates as delegates to the convention, puts Na'i Aupuni and the delegates in contempt of Supreme Court injunction against counting the votes of certifying the winners. Chang says OHA passing government money through a private Na'i Aupuni group is "money laundering" that they say "cleansed the money of its state action 'taint'"
Dec 18:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser another EDITORIAL pushing the Na'i Aupuni convention as a pathway to federal recognition of a Hawaiian tribe; Conklin online comment
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser regular commentator Richard Borreca says "Decision to forgo election toxic for sovereignty effort." Much sarcasm. Conklin online comment
(3) SCOTUS Blog "A new test on Hawaiis future?" describes actions now underway at 9th Circuit regarding the Akina v. Hawaii lawsuit and whether is will be dismissed or expanded.
(4) Pacific Legal Foundation Hawaii attorney Robert Thomas (Inverse Condemnation blog) summarizes events in the Akina lawsuit
Dec 19:
(1) Wall Street Journal commentary by Grassroot president Keli'i Akina describes lawsuit as a defense of the Aloha Spirit and defense of the U.S. Constitution against government sponsorship of race-based elections and racial separatism.
(2) Keli'i Akina appreciates UH Professor Williamson Chang's critique of Na'i Aupuni attempt to violate the 15th Amendment.
Dec 20:
(1) Independence activist filmmaker Anne Keala Kelly major commentary in Honolulu Star-Advertiser: "Na'i Aupuni's convention unlikely to craft anything credible or legal -- There are two teams in this game -- one is the state of Hawaii and the other is the Obama administration. Pitifully, though, they're both on the same side pushing one agenda: federal recognition for Hawaiians whether we want it or not."
(2) The Atlantic Magazine "Can the Constitution Govern America's Sprawling Empire?
The U.S. Supreme Court struggles to stretch a Constitution written for 13 coastal states to encompass non-contiguous states, dependent nations, insular areas, and a commonwealth." Article leads with huge photo of Native Hawaiian protest, and ends with brief description of Supreme Court injunction against Na'i Aupuni election.
Dec 21: 46 minute video conversation about lawsuit against Na'i Aupuni election, with Keli'i Akina (President of Grassroot Institute and plaintiff), Michael Lilly (former Attorney General of Hawaii and lawyer for Grassroot Institute, and Williamson Chang (University Professor of Law)
Dec 22:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser news report (actually, advertisement): With one day remaining, Na'i Aupuni has gotten nearly 100 confirmations of delegates to participate in convention
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser breaking news report: "The plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Native Hawaiian self-governance campaign filed a motion at the U.S. Supreme Court today in an effort to stop Na'i Aupuni's end-run around the election."
(3) Grassroot Institute news release about contempt charge it filed with Supreme Court, including link to the complaint and supporting documents.
(4) Honolulu Civil Beat breaking news about Grassroot Institute motion for contempt
(5) Na'i Aupuni one-paragraph news release reacting to contempt motion
Dec 23:
(1) Kaua'i and Hawaii Island newspapers report on Grassroot/JudicialWatch motion at U.S. Supreme Court to hold Na'i Aupuni and OHA in contempt of the Supreme Court's injunction
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports contempt motion in Supreme Court
(3) Na'i Aupuni official spreadsheet listing 151 delegates (and where they live) who have accepted invitation to what was formerly called a Constitutional Convention in February
(4) Attorney Robert Thomas, Inverse Condemnation blog, reports "More SCOTUS Action In Oprah/Everyone Wins Election"
(5) SCOTUS Blog reports motion for contempt, 3 remedies it seeks, and says it will NOT be handled as an emergency motion but will be considered at a future [regular weekly] Conference.
Dec 24:
(1) LEAKED EMAIL REVEALS 'AHA AGENDA -- List of activities and experts for the first week of the Na'i Aupuni constitutional convention
(2) 22 OF THE 152 NA'I AUPUNI CONVENTION PARTICIPANTS SEND EMAIL TO NA'I AUPUNI DEMANDING CHANGES TO THE AGENDA AND TO HOW THE MEETING IS CHARACTERIZED.
(3) Honolulu Star-Advertiser news report: "Na'i Aupuni proceeding despite numerous issues"
(4) Honolulu Star-Advertiser mini-editorial :Native Hawaiians battle over Na'i Aupuni's 'aha"
(5) The Lahaina News article sympathetic to secessionists: "Hawaiians see ‘Aha as opportunity to restore the sovereign nation"
Dec 26: Secessionist "Essentials Training" conference at Episcopal cathedral scheduled for January 15 includes presentations by former Governor Waihe'e and organizers of Na'i Aupuni convention, focusing on "peace" and "reconciliation" and Mauna Kea issue.
Dec 27: Honolulu Star-Advertiser online poll: 53% say cancel the Na'i Aupuni convention; 28% say stop the convention until the lawsuit against it is resolved; 19% say continue with convention even without an election.
Dec 29:
(1) Grassroot Institute of Hawaii newsletter request: "One Day Left: Say "No!" to Interior Department Rule"
(2) Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Testimony to Department of Interior regarding proposed regulation to recognize Hawaiian tribe, submitted December 29, 2015
END OF INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES DURING DECEMBER 2015; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. U.S. Supreme Court votes 5-4 to uphold Justice Kennedy emergency injunction blocking Nai Aupuni election until 9th Circuit Court decides Grassroot lawsuit. Hawaiian independence activists thank Grassroot Institute despite political disagreements and Grassroot Institute expresses hope for continued cooperation to defeat attempt to create Hawaiian tribe. Nai Aupuni cancels the election and invites all 196 candidates to be delegates to tribal constitutional convention, adhering to original timetable but reducing convention to only 4 weeks instead of 8 due to costs for 196 delegates (including larger number from mainland) instead of only 40. 151 delegates accept invitation. Judicial Watch files motion for contempt of court at Supreme Court, that Na'i Aupuni and OHA violated injunction prohibiting certification of election winners; demands heavy fines and clarification that injunction prohibits convention.
Full text of each item above can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2015December.html
================
INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES for History of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe from January 1 to February 29, 2016; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Independence activists complain that the Nai Aupuni convention membership is stacked against independence. U.S. Supreme Court rejects motion to hold Nai Aupuni in contempt. Court spends all February considering whether the lawsuit to block vote counting in the Nai Aupuni election is now moot because of decision to seat all the candidates. Nai Aupuni convention meets for all 4 weeks of February; plenary sessions televised on cable. Independence and federal recognition factions quarrel all month. 8 independence activists arrested for trespassing at entrance to convention site. Law professor who is convention delegate drafts resolution for declaration that Hawaii remains an independent nation under illegal occupation. FEB 26 THE NA'I AUPUNI CONVENTION ADOPTED A CONSTITUTION THEY WROTE, BY VOTE OF 88-30.
Full text of each item below can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2016January.html
January 2, 2016: Leaked Na'i Aupuni emails display outrageous infighting and personal attacks as 'Godless' faction Pushes to ban prayers at upcoming convention despite cultural custom of opening meetings with prayers and chants.
Jan 3: Kaua'i newspaper commentary says full independence impossible, but change needed.
Jan 5: New webpage: Some important testimony against the U.S. Department of Interior proposed regulation for federal recognition of a phony Hawaiian tribe
http://tinyurl.com/zvrtxfd
Jan 6:
(1) Judicial Watch Opposes Obama Administration Executive Action to Create Race-Based 'Tribe' in Hawaii -- Grassroots Group Warns Hawaii Plan Is Racially Discriminatory, Unconstitutional and Would Set a 'Dangerous Precedent' [press release]
(2) Hawaii Business Magazine: Native Hawaiian leaders talk about how the local economy, taxes and business rules might change under self-determination. Non-Hawaiians should pay attention, too, because many of these proposals would affect them directly or indirectly.
(3) Na'i Aupuni Announces 'Aha Participants
Jan 7:
(1) 4 delegates added, 2 dropped as Hawaiian convention nears
(2) Legal Filing Refutes Na'i Aupuni Defense Against Contempt Charge -- Grassroot Institute Calls Na'i Aupuni Process an Embarrassment to the Hawaiian People
Jan 9: "Perhaps it would be worthwhile progress if the Native Hawaiians would recognize that they are seeking from today's Hawaiian residents redress for actions claimed to have been done by their ancestors and abandon their aspirations for political control which won't occur and direct their aspirations to other areas which might address their grievances." [Letter in response to January 3 commentary noted above]
Jan 10: The American Thinker magazine describes Obama administration support for race-based election to create a Hawaiian tribe, including a review of Hawaii Act 195 that authorized a racial registry.
Jan 16: "Free Hawaii" blog describes how the February Na'i Aupuni convention leadership and meeting agenda stack the deck against Hawaii independence.
Jan 18: Newspaper scientific survey shows public opinion opposes Na'i Aupuni convention and favors building the TMT Mauna Kea telescope.
Jan 19:
(1) U.S. Supreme Court official order denies the Judicial Watch motion for civil contempt against Na'i Aupuni
(2) Hawaii Island news report of Supreme Court ruling false headline says "U.S. Supreme Court Allows 'Aha to Proceed"
(3) Grassroot Institute press release says case will proceed in Ninth Circuit after Supreme Court denies contempt motion
(4) Free Hawaii blog [independence] aligns itself with Grassroot Institute in reporting Supreme Court decision
Jan 20: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, one day late, accurately reports "High court refuses to sanction convention leaders"
Jan 28: If the state legalizes any form of gambling, federal law would allow Native American tribes to then buy property in Hawaii and build a casino. "That means we could not tax it. We cannot take any monies from it. We cannot control the zoning on it. We cannot control the future use of that particular land. And they can have their casinos 100 percent tax-free," said state Sen. J. Kalani English, the Senate Majority Leader.
Jan 29: Protest Na'i Aupuni members and supporters will be at the opening day of the Na'i Aupuni 'Aha to hold signs against Na'i Aupuni, a process that continues to spend millions of Hawaiian trust dollars in an effort to extinguish our rights to our national lands.
Jan 30: Big Island newspaper describes agenda for Na'i Aupuni gathering
Jan 31:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporter Timothy Hurley excellent article "Controversy hangs over convention for Hawaiian governance"
(2) KITV news report: "Threats arise ahead of televised Native Hawaiian 'aha"
(3) Tom Yamachika, President, Tax Foundation Hawaii, describes very clearly what the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act says about three categories of gambling on tribal lands of federally recognized tribes, and what would be the consequences if the Hawaiian tribe hets federal recognition and if the legislature passes a lottery bill.
(4) "Golf Club Aha: John Waihee Returns to the Scene of the Crime" describes history of corruption among Waihe'e, Inouye, Clinton, and Obama in creating the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club where the Na'i Aupuni meeting will take place, and in creating the 1993 apology resolution, and the Department of Interior process to create a Hawaiian tribe.
Feb 1:
(1) Grassroot Institute: Hawaiian Aha Convention Does Not Represent the Public
(2) TV news: Activist [Walter Ritte] turned away from Na'i Aupuni convention
(3) Pirate Video from Aha: Bumpy Kanahele Shouted Down, Walter Ritte Thrown Out
(4) 'Aha facilitator discusses security and safety concerns
Feb 2:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser news report: "Disagreement prevails at Na'i Aupuni opening day"
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser regular commentator: "Na'i Aupuni's convention sends confusing message"
Feb 3: A few independence activists protest Na'i Aupuni and federal recognition; publish declaration of independence [but it's poorly written, superficial, and laughable]
Feb 6: TV news short puffpiece says Na'i Aupuni participants are "inspired by the progress being made" and "committed to moving forward."
Feb 11: OHA trustee Peter Apo essay: "Nai Aupuni -- A Nation Rising. The political gathering, or Aha, is taking pivotal steps on the path to self-governance."
Feb 15-16:
(1) Bumpy Kanahele withdraws from the Na'i Aupuni meetings at the halfway point, saying the process is rigged to guarantee support for federal recognition instead of independence.
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser lengthy news report: "Some at aha cite progress; others see only subterfuge" citing Kanahele's news conference and statements by internally elected leaders of the Na'i Aupuni gathering and a few participants.
(3) Aha Aloha 'Aina, a group of independence activist organizations and individuals on Hawaii Island, Maui, and O'ahu, announce a series of meetings on those islands during the remainder of February to pursue 4 goals.
Feb 20: Nai Aupuni self-governance convention continues; Aha delegates having 'robust conversation'
Feb 21:
(1) Despite hitches, aha finishing government document drafts. During its third week, the body formed five committees -- preamble, rights, executive authorities, legislative authorities and judicial authorities -- that identified issues needing to be addressed in a Native Hawaiian governing document.
(2) Smithsonian exhibit in Washington D.C. spotlights Hawaiian sovereignty movement
Feb 22:
(1) Six individuals challenging a process to potentially establish a Native Hawaiian government told the Ninth Circuit on Friday that their suit hadn't been rendered moot by the cancellation of a disputed election, arguing that another anticipated vote would unconstitutionally rely on the same race-based voter roll.
(2) Hawaiian community leaders are protesting the Na'i Aupuni 'Aha today, and have issued a signed declaration rejecting the process and calling on other Hawaiians to do the same.
Feb 23:
(1) Video: Hawaiian activists arrested outside Nai Aupuni Aha
(2) Associated Press: Honolulu police have arrested eight people for trespassing at a golf club where Native Hawaiians are gathered to discuss self-governance.
(3) Hawaiian independence activist who is Professor of Law at University of Hawaii and member of the Na'i Aupuni 'Aha convention created a draft resolution for a Declaration that Hawaii is in a State of Unlawful Permanent Occupation by the United States of America and the Illegitimacy of United States and State title to lands as affecting the Bonding Capacity of both Governments [60 points, each one paragraph long, all copied below]
Feb 24:
(1) Hawaii Island's first 'Aha Aloha 'Aina [independence alternative to Na'i Aupuni convention] was held yesterday at UH-Hilo. Over 100 attended. Inline video, 1 hr 8 mins.
(2) Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa, chair of the Center for Hawaiian Studies at UH Manoa, writes article: Native Hawaiian Citizens In A Native Hawaiian Government -- As the Na'i Aupuni 'Aha continues, the question arises: Who should be defined as a citizen of a new Hawaiian government?" Her answer is: Only those who have a drop of the Hawaiian blood should be allowed to belong.
(3) Online rebuttal by Ken Conklin, exposing Hawaiian religious fascism as the basis for Lilikala's concept of who can belong.
Feb 25:
(1) Letter to editor from Caucasian independence activist Kioni Dudley saying many non-Hawaiians support independence.
(2) Honolulu Civil Beat news report by Chad Blair: "The Other Aha: Hawaiian Independence Backers Make Their Case" reporting protest meeting at Windward Community College in Kane'ohe attended by 350 independence activists.
Feb 26: Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports on the February 25 protest in Kane'ohe "Foes of Na'i Aupuni demand 'pono' nation-building process"
FEB 26: BREAKING NEWS: NATIVE HAWAIIAN CONVENTION ADOPTS CONSTITUTION. NEWS REPORT PROVIDES LINK TO FULL TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Feb 27:
(1) Honolulu Star Advertiser: "Native Hawaiian convention approves new constitution amid concerns of legitimacy" [provides link to full text of constitution]
(2) Kona newspaper "Native Hawaiian constitutional convention attendees on Friday adopted a governing document that will go out to a vote for ratification."
(3) Law professor and convention delegate Williamson Chang authored a "Maunawili Declaration" which is the report of the Na'i Aupuni convention's independence committee; supposed to be included with the constitution as a single document when election is held for ratification.
(4) U.S. News and World Report: "A constitutional convention of Native Hawaiians has adopted a governing document that will go out to a vote for ratification, the organization behind the gathering announced"
(5) ABC News [Associated Press] "Native Hawaiian Group Adopts Constitution at Convention"
(6) Law professor and convention delegate Williamson Chang authored a detailed memo to convention delegates providing 34 reasons "Why I must reject the "Proposed Constitution Final
Version 2016"
(7) Hawaii Free Press: "Constitution: OHA Cronies Want to Run Their Own Prison System, Police, and Judiciary"
Feb 29 (leap day), 2016:
(1) Turtle Talk (blog of national news about legal issues affecting Indian tribes) publishes list of briefs filed in 9th Circuit court of Appeals in the case Akina v. State of Hawaii, with links to full text of each brief. The question is whether an election of delegates to the Na'i Aupuni tribal convention can be paid for by an agency of the state government in view of the fact that candidacy is racially restricted to ethnic Hawaiians only. The court has ruled that the lawsuit is not moot despite the fact that, following Supreme Court temporary restraining order, Na'i Aupuni chose not to complete the election and instead held a 4-week convention with all candidates for delegate being seated. The issue remains alive because now that the convention has produced a tribal constitution, there must be an election to ratify it.
(2) Grassroot Institute Says Na'i Aupuni Constitution Shows Importance of Lawsuit
(3) Zuri Aki, law school student who was a delegate at the Na'i Aupuni convention, publishes in Honolulu Civil Beat a memoir about what happened: "The Promise Of Our Unity -- The Native Hawaiian Constitution isn't perfect. But it is a testament to our ability to achieve great things."
(4) Ken Conklin's online comment to Aki's essay
END OF INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES for History of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe from January 1 to February 29, 2016; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Independence activists complain that the Nai Aupuni convention membership is stacked against independence. U.S. Supreme Court rejects motion to hold Nai Aupuni in contempt. Court spends all February considering whether the lawsuit to block vote counting in the Nai Aupuni election is now moot because of decision to seat all the candidates. Nai Aupuni convention meets for all 4 weeks of February; plenary sessions televised on cable. Independence and federal recognition factions quarrel all month. 8 independence activists arrested for trespassing at entrance to convention site. Law professor who is convention delegate drafts resolution for declaration that Hawaii remains an independent nation under illegal occupation. FEB 26 THE NA'I AUPUNI CONVENTION ADOPTED A CONSTITUTION THEY WROTE, BY VOTE OF 88-30.
Full text of each item above can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2016January.html
================
INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES for History of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe during March 2016; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. After much talk about how to raise money for an election to ratify the proposed tribal constitution, Na'i Aupuni announces it is going out of business, returning unspent money to OHA, and leaving fundraising up to participants from the February convention. Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders state their views on Native Hawaiian issues ahead of Democrat party primary election.
Full text of each item below can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2016March.html
March 1, 2016:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser: "Na'i Aupuni foes say they will press forward with suit"
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 1, 2016, EDITORIAL: "'Aha delegates offer a worthy constitution"
(3) Aloha Aina Party (pushing for independence) fails to get enough signatures on petition to be a recognized political party on the state election ballot for 2016.
(4), (5), (6) Three editorials by OHA trustees in the monthly OHA newspaper regarding right to self-determination and creation of Hawaiian tribe.
March 2:
(1) Newspaper daily big Question (online poll) "What do you think about the Native Hawaiian constitution adopted during the aha (convention)?"
(2) Law360.com "Vote On Native Hawaiian Constitution Likely, Opponents Say" (summary of lawsuit to block government-sponsored race-based election).
March 3: OHA trustee Peter Apo: "A Native Hawaiian Constitution Is Born -- The aha delegates have done their work. Now it's our turn."; online comment by Ken Conklin
March 4: Secessionist online newspaper published Part 1 of a series about what happened behind the scenes at the Na'i Aupuni 4-week gathering, written by independence activist who was a delegate.
March 6:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser: "Funds needed to continue building Hawaiian nation"
(2) 2 letters to editor
(3) Blog entry from Na'i Aupuni delegate explaining why proposed constitution will help ethnic Hawaiians build political and economic strength while not abandoning quest for independence.
March 7: Republican Presidential candidates John Kasich and Marco Rubio briefly express off-the-cuff opinions about creating a Hawaiian tribe, on day before Republican primary.
March 8:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser columnist says Hillary Clinton cautiously supports Hawaiian nationhood effort
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser mini-editorial predicts a crowdfunding campaign on internet to raise money for race-based election to ratify constitution for race-based Hawaiian tribe.
(3) Longtime independence radical Walter Ritte says the Acting Government of the Hawaiian Kingdom [Keanu Sai's gang] is making progress at the United Nations and with other nations to get recognition for Hawaiian independence.
March 9:
(1) Hawaii News Now (3 TV stations): "Native Hawaiian constitution lays foundation for future government" -- next steps.
(2) Secessionist online newspaper published Part 2 of a series about what happened behind the scenes at the Na'i Aupuni 4-week gathering, written by independence activist who was a delegate.
March 15: Professor of Hawaiian Studies Jon Osorio complains that the tribal meeting wrote a proposed constitution that fails to assert control over the ceded lands. Online comment by Conklin quotes from the proposed constitution that the racially exclusive government asserts control over the entire archipelago of a million square miles of islands and ocean.
March 16-17: NA'I AUPUNI GOES OUT OF BUSINESS; NEWS RELEASE SAYS IT'S UP TO CONVENTION PARTICIPANTS AND SUPPORTERS TO CARRY FORWARD WITH A RATIFICATION ELECTION IF THEY WISH. 6 news reports provide different details and speculations on whether there will be a ratification vote and how it will be paid for.
March 18: Secessionist online newspaper publishes Part 3 of a series about what happened behind the scenes at the Na'i Aupuni 4-week gathering, written by independence activist who was a delegate. Parts 1 and 2 were on March 4 and 9.
March 19: Newspaper reports the death of attorney H. William Burgess, civil rights activist who led the fight against the Akaka bill for all 13 years it was in Congress, and filed several lawsuits trying to dismantle Hawaii's racial entitlement programs; online comment by Ken Conklin
March 21: Council on Native Hawaiian Advancement announces a forum to analyze the Na'i Aupuni tribal constitution and discuss next steps, including the process of a ratification vote.
March 24:
(1) Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders posts "Fighting for the Rights of Native Hawaiians" on campaign website 2 days before Hawaii Democrat primary.
(2) OHA trustee Peter Apo publishes tribute to Prince Kuhio on day before state holiday Kuhio Day, claiming that the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, which Kuhio pushed through Congress as Territorial Delegate, is the foundation for federal recognition of Native Hawaiians.
(3) Rebuttal to Peter Apo by Ken Conklin, showing that Kuhio was not so princely because he abandoned his native land during the runup to annexation by going on an adventure in Europe and fighting in the Boer War (South Africa), and because he filed lawsuit seeking to declare Lili'uokalani mentally incompetent so he could steal her Waikiki property which she wanted to (and did) put into her Children's Trust to help orphans and indigents.
March 25:
(1) Four leading ethnic Hawaiian tribalists publish essay supporting Hillary Clinton for President
(2) Letter to editor from former OHA trustee urging ethnic Hawaiians NOT to ratify the Na'i Aupuni proposed constitution.
March 31: Secessionist online newspaper publishes Part 4 of a series complaining about what happened behind the scenes at the Na'i Aupuni 4-week gathering, written by independence activist who was a delegate. Parts 1,2,3 were copy/pasted on this webpage on March 4,9,18.
END OF INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES for History of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe during March 2016; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. After much talk about how to raise money for an election to ratify the proposed tribal constitution, Na'i Aupuni announces it is going out of business, returning unspent money to OHA, and leaving fundraising up to participants from the February convention. Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders state their views on Native Hawaiian issues ahead of Democrat party primary election.
Full text of each item above can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2016March.html
================
INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES for History of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe from April 1, 2016 through July 31, 2016; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. OHA and establishment groups go to Washington to lobby Obama administration for DOI regulation to create Hawaiian tribe, while independence activists go there for counter-lobbying. 3-judge panel of 9th Circuit Court of Appeals oral arguments about injunction blocking race-based election of delegates to create Hawaiian tribe (video, legal briefs, news reports). Kelii Akina runs for OHA trustee at-large to oppose creating federally recognized tribe and cooperates with Mililani Trask running for Big Island OHA seat, hoping to oust two longtime incumbents (Haunani Apoliona and Robert Lindsey) who have pushed federal recognition for many years.
Full text of each item below can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2016April.html
April 1, 2016: 3 OHA trustee editorials in monthly newspaper
(1) Dan Ahuna: "Leave the Nation-Building Process to the People" Many distrust OHA
(2) Rowena Akana takes pride in the constitutional convention (she was a delegate) and its product.
(3) Peter Apo "Federal Recognition or Independence?" No middle ground. Urges independence activists to produce their own version of a constitution so ethnic Hawaiians can choose.
April 7, 2016
(1) OHA press release says OHA chairperson Robert Lindsey suffered a stroke a few weeks ago and is now on medical leave and is expected to return to the board in the near future. Press release was dated March 31, 2016 but is posted here because of relevance to the next item.
(2) Free Hawaii independence blog describes power struggle at OHA -- vice chair Dan Ahuna would normally take over for chair Lindsey during his medical leave (and perhaps permanently) but former chair Machado opposes Ahuna because Ahuna oppoaed the Kana'iolowalu racial registry and Na'i Aupuni constitutional convention and is open to OHA favoring independence rather than tribal recognition.
Apr 19: Secessionist online newspaper published Part 5 of the series "What really happened at the 'Aha" complaining about what happened behind the scenes at the Na'i Aupuni 4-week gathering, written by independence activist who was a delegate. Parts 1,2,3, and 4 were copy/pasted on this webpage on March 4,9,18, and 31.
Apr 27: Why fed wreck is worth billion$ (4-minute video by Free Hawaii Broadcasting Network)
May 1, 2016: OHA trustee Rowena Akana regular monthly editorial in the OHA newspaper summarizes the history of federal government work toward supporting Hawaiian racial entitlements and creating a Hawaiian tribe, from the 1993 apology resolution until now. She supports electing a Democrat president, and says Bernie Sanders has no track record of supporting either Indians in general nor ethnic Hawaiians in particular.
May 4: Blogger Ian Lind reports an interview with Neil Abercrombie, former Governor of Hawaii and former Congressman who pushed the Akaka bill through the House three times. Abercrombie says time is running out on Hawaiian sovereignty and "the waning days of the Obama administration offer a last, best chance for real progress."
May 5: Fred Trenchard, spokesman for Chief Maui Loa of the so-called Hou Hawaiian tribe, describes alleged contact with Donald Trump regarding status of Hawaiian lands. Article also says the Hou tribe is suing the U.S. Department of Justice for its alleged position that the U.S. has no trust relationship with any Indian tribe including theirs, and therefore DOJ failing to protect tribes against land use takings by states.
May 16: Free Hawaii blog reports trip to Washington D.C. by Hawaiian Kingdon Foreign Minister Leon Siu meeting with federal officials to protest Obama's planned executive order expected in January 2017 to order Department of Interior to officially recognize a Hawaiian tribe.
May 17: Free Hawaii blog says U.S. Department of Interior wants to force ethnic Hawaiians into being an Indian tribe in order to conceal the prolonged U.S. [alleged] illegal occupation of Hawaii.
May 18: Law360 blog provides outline of written arguments presented by both sides to the 9th Circuit Court regarding the motion to dismiss the JudicialWatch/Grassroot lawsuit, on account of defendants claiming that it is now moot because Na'i Aupuni has given up holding a ratification election and has gone out of business. [A hearing before a 3-judge panel will be held in Honolulu on Friday June 17]
May 20: Free Hawaii blog summarizes week of opposition in Washington D.C. to week of lobbying by OHA and CNHA pushing for federal recognition of a Hawaiian tribe.
May 28: Hawaii Free Press "Corruption Bust Strikes at Heart of Drive for Fake Indian Tribe" links Zuri Aki, who was principal writer of proposed Constitution adopted by Na'i Aupuni monthlong convention, to a corruption scandal at a Hawaiian culture-focus charter school where his aunt and his mother have been charged with "theft and tampering with a government record." during six years of nepotistic payments of state government money to school teachers and administrators.
June 1, 2016: YouTube video shows Robin Danner meeting with Obama administration leaders in Washington D.C. during May, pushing for administrative rule-making.
June 2: Free Hawaii reposts an article from more than a year ago, originally published in Hawaii Free Press, describing how regulatory changes proposed for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands would enable DHHL to become a federally recognized Indian tribe.
June 3:
(1) Free Hawaii announces a gathering to be held in Washington D.C. on June 12 in opposition to creating phony Hawaiian tribe, and request to meet with Secretary of State John Kerry.
(2) Fred Trenchard, spokesman for Chief Maui Loa of the Hou Hawaiian (wannabe) tribe, authors an article in "Indian Country Today" hostile to Department of Interior effort to create a Hawaiian tribe; but his essay is complex, allegorical, and nearly incomprehensible.
June 15:
(1) A group of independence activists went to Washington D.C. the week of June 13-17, 2016 to meet with Hawaii Senators and officials in Department of Interior to counteract the efforts by OHA, CNHA, Na'i Aupuni, etc. to create a federally recognized Hawaiian tribe. They produced a very impressive booklet to hand out.
(2) 5 minute YouTube video report with DOI Office of Native Hawaiian Relations as background.
June 17-20: A 3-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held oral arguments in Honolulu on Friday June 17, 2016 regarding a lawsuit by Grassroot Institute and JudicialWatch to block the Na'i Aupuni race-based election of delegates to a monthlong meeting to write a constitution for an anticipated Hawaiian tribe, following up a Supreme Court emergency temporary injunction to block the counting of votes until the 9th Circuit was able to rule on JudicialWatch appeal of a District Court ruling that had allowed it to proceed. Major issues are whether Na'i Aupuni was a state government agency because it had been funded by millions of dollars donated by OHA, and whether the lawsuit is now moot because Na'i Aupuni has gone out of business. Several news reports and blog entries are provided, including a video of the hour-long oral arguments. Turtle Talk blog [focusing on Indian tribes] on June 20 publishes full text of all legal briefs in 9th Circuit Court case.
June 20: Sitting OHA trustee says OHA spent $33 Million pushing Hawaiian tribe through Akaka bill and ongoing Department of Interior process.
June 23: Keli'i Akina, President of Grassroot Institute, newspaper commentary "Scheme to recognize Native Hawaiians as 'tribe' still a threat"
July 1: Keli'i Akina answers three questions posed to all OHA trustee candidates for the 2016 primary election, including strategy for nation-building.
July 3: Na'i Aupuni asked Kamehameha Schools to hand over list of certified ethnic Hawaiians, to be used as a voter list for ratification of the proposed tribal constitution. If Kamehameha helps in this political process, the IRS might have reason to cancel Kamehameha's tax-exempt status.
July 5: Hawaiian ethnic nationalists attend U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva to complain about prolonged illegal occupation of Hawaii by U.S. and especially the attempt to extinguish Hawaiian sovereignty by means of Department of Interior recognition of Hawaiian tribe.
July 6: Online newspaper asks all OHA candidates to answer 10 questions. Keli'i Akina's answers describe his opposition to creating a federally recognized Hawaiian tribe, opposition to the secessionist movement to make Hawaii an independent nation, a need for openness and accountability, and support for the 30-meter telescope project on Mauna Kea.
July 11: A plan with a timeline to raise $2 million and bring the newly created Native Hawaiian constitution to a ratification vote by the end of the year might have been a tad ambitious. Those involved in the effort say the ratification campaign, while still moving forward on a "grass-roots" level, is progressing at a slower pace than some had originally hoped. The participants in February's Na'i Aupuni convention, or aha, say it's now looking like a vote won't be held until the latter part of 2017.
July 12:
(1) Honolulu newspaper EDITORIAL: "Whatever form sovereignty might take, it's time for those supporting the birth of this nation to ramp up their efforts. That community is responsible for regenerating its lost momentum."
(2) Democrat national party amended platform section, "Honoring Indigenous Tribal Nations," briefly supports "proactive actions by the federal government to enhance Native Hawaiian culture, health, language, and education."
July 16:
(1) Thurston Twigg-Smith dies (great-grandson of missionary Asa Thurston, grandson of Lorin Thurston who helped overthrow the monarchy in 1893, and strong opponent of creating a Hawaiian tribe);
(2) Former Congresswoman Pat Saiki endorses Keli'i Akina for OHA;
(3) Chief Maui Loa's spokesman Fred Trenchard article in Indian Country Today describing lawsuit against Attorney General Lynch and Secretary of Interior Jewell seeking enforcement of 1921 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act
July 25:
(1) Comparison between political campaign platforms of Republican vs. Democrat party regarding Hawaiian tribalism and racial entitlements.
(2) Keli'i Akina circulates the advertisement he has placed for publication in the August edition of the OHA monthly newspaper.
July 26: Hawaii state senator Sam Slom endorses Keli'i Akina for OHA
July 27: Hawaiian independence group reminds Hawaii voters that everyone regardless of race can and should vote for OHA trustees
July 29: News Release from Akina for OHA: Non-Hawaiians Urged to Vote for OHA Trustees. Hawaiian Leaders Call on All Voters to Participate
July 31: Celebration of revived Hawaiian Kingdom holiday at Thomas Square includes conflicting groups -- secessionists vs. tribalists
END OF INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES for History of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe from April 1, 2016 through July 31, 2016; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. OHA and establishment groups go to Washington to lobby Obama administration for DOI regulation to create Hawaiian tribe, while independence activists go there for counter-lobbying. 3-judge panel of 9th Circuit Court of Appeals oral arguments about injunction blocking race-based election of delegates to create Hawaiian tribe (video, legal briefs, news reports). Kelii Akina runs for OHA trustee at-large to oppose creating federally recognized tribe and cooperates with Mililani Trask running for Big Island OHA seat, hoping to oust two longtime incumbents (Haunani Apoliona and Robert Lindsey) who have pushed federal recognition for many years.
Full text of each item above can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2016April.html
================
INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES FROM AUGUST 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2016; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Primary election results in 2 strong opponents of creating federally recognized tribe becoming the sole opponents of 2 incumbent OHA trustees on November ballot. Akina v. Hawaii lawsuit to block race-based election of delegates to a constitutional convention gets dismissed by 3-judge panel of 9th Circuit Court on grounds it is moot because the election was cancelled (thus no decision on the issues, which can be raised again in another lawsuit if another race-based election gets scheduled). SEPTEMBER 23, 2016: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR PUBLISHES THE FINAL RULE [REGULATION] (172 pages) WHEREBY ETHNIC HAWAIIANS CAN CREATE A TRIBE AND GET FEDERAL RECOGNITION FOR IT.
Full text of each item below can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2016August.html
August 2, 2016: OHA candidate Keli'i Akina says OHA policy positions are out of sync with the needs of ethnic Hawaiians whom they are supposed to represent -- examples of $33 Million wasted seeking federal recognition as a tribe, and new effort to expand the Northwest Hawaiian Islands national monument thereby banning fishing inside a 200-mile limit.
Aug 6:
(1) Long-time Hawaiian independence activist Laulani Teale provides extremely clear explanation of why ethnic Hawaiian acquiescence to federal recognition would be a waiver of their rights under international law to seek restoration of independence, and how that explanation is included in a report by 2 experts on international law hired by OHA.
(2) A Hawaiian independence group says it has acquired a 40-page document from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security which states that department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have given OHA the authority to be sole decision-makers on whether ethnic Hawaiian activists claiming to protect "sacred places" are threats to public safety.
Aug 10: Civil Beat columnist Ian Lind article notes apparent team effort by OHA candidates Keli'i Akina and Mililani Trask to oust incumbent trustees. Online comment by Akina says people must work together to solve practical problems despite differences on longterm goals; online comments by Ken Conklin fully endorses Akina and partly supports Trask, in view of Conklin's fundamental principles.
Aug 11: Civil Beat reporter Chad Blair summarizes the issues, seats, and candidates in the primary election for OHA on August 13.
Aug 13-14: OHA primary election results: Incumbent Colette Machado (Moloka'i) got more than 50% of votes (after removing blanks) and wins with no wait for November; Hawaii Island challenger Mililani Trask got more votes than incumbent and chairman Robert Lindsey, but with less than 50%, so they will battle in November general election; At-large incumbent Haunani Apoliona got 24% of votes in field of 7 while challenger Keli'i Akina placed second with 13%, and they will battle in November general election (41% of voters left blanks).
Aug 16: OHA at-large candidate Keli'i Akina position statement directed toward ethnic Hawaiians says he opposes OHA spending money to seek tribal status, but he supports racial entitlement programs such as Hawaiian Homelands and he supports the existing set-aside of ceded land revenues to benefit ethnic Hawaiians.
Aug 17: OHA secretly funded a survey of ethnic Hawaiians and non-ethnic Hawaiians in January to help incumbent trustees discover how ethnic Hawaiians rank priorities, and results show "nationhood" is lowest priority. Results were the same in 2003 surveys.
Aug 19: Keli'i Akina Hawaii Statehood Day holiday message "... proud to be Hawaiian and proud to be American. That's worth celebrating, and it's worth celebrating in the company of all Americans, from multiple ethnic backgrounds, who can all rightly call themselves Hawaiians."
Aug 21: On the Sunday of the weekend celebrating Hawaii Statehood Day holiday, 100 sovereignty activists air grievances at Iolani Palace.
Aug 29-30: 3-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejects unanimously dismisses lawsuit to block race-based election of delegates to a constitutional convention to write a constitution for a Hawaiian tribe, because the groups trying to conduct the election decided not to go forward with it and disbanded; thus the court ruled the lawsuit is moot. Several news reports are provided.
September 2, 2016: "Free Hawaii" blog warns that OHA chairman Robert Lindsey, who suffered a stroke a few months ago and might be medically unable to perform his duties, might be seeking re-election solely for the purpose of then resigning so that his fellow trustees, or the governor, can choose his successor rather than allowing the voters to make that choice.
Sep 7: OHA hires public relations company for $294,000 for 2 years to boost its image; OHA survey asking how people rank priorities shows that both ethnic Hawaiians ad non-ethnic-Hawaiians place "nationbuilding" as least important.
Sep 9: Grassroot Institute president notifies members about federal lawsuit in Guam regarding whether a government-sponsored election to choose independence vs. statehood vs. compact of free association can have voting eligibility restricted by race. Conklin provides two recent news reports identifying the legal issues.
September 22-24, 2016: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR ANNOUNCES IT HAS ISSUED A FINAL RULE (REGULATION) WHEREBY ETHNIC HAWAIIANS CAN CREATE A TRIBE AND GET FEDERAL RECOGNITION FOR IT. Several news reports are provided, including the Department of Interior announcement and links to the full text of the rule (172 pages) and a DOI summary of answers to Frequently Asked Questions (7 pages). A few blog posts by independence activists are also provided.
Sep 25:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser online poll "What do you think about the new federal process that would recognize a future Native Hawaiian government, if one emerges?" 4 choices. Winner with 51% of the votes: "Negative; oppose sovereignty movement"
(2) Article in "The Atlantic" magazine portrays Robin Danner as a hero in seeking to reduce the percentage of native blood quantum required for a DHHL homeland lease, in order to rescue grandchildren of lessees from bring thrown out of "their" family house after grandparent leaseholder dies. Hidden agenda is to vastly increase the number of DHHL-eligible ethnic Hawaiians in order to make it easier to satisfy a major requirement for ratification of tribal governing document to satisfy newly finalized Department of Interior regulation for a Hawaiian tribe to get federal recognition.
Sep 26:
(1) Honolulu Star-advertiser editorial in favor of the DOI rule (and online comment by Ken Conklin);
(2) Honolulu Civil Beat online newspaper commentary by independence activist Walter Ritte (and online comment by Ken Conklin, initially censored out)
(3) 30-minute video of Keli'i Akina conversation with newspaper publisher Andrew Walden about what's happening with the newly proclaimed Department of Interior final regulation for federal recognition of a Hawaiian tribe. Links to text of H.R.3764, discussed in conversation, a bill in Congress which would block federal recognition through administrative action and require recognition solely by Congressional action.
Sep 27: Independence activist Leon Siu, in the Free Hawaii Blog, describes how "Obama attacks Hawaiians with DOI rule change." Siu says the U.S. should recognize and establish a government-to-government relationship not with a fake Indian tribe but with the real, continuing Kingdom of Hawaii.
Sep 28:
(1) Ethnic Hawaiian regular columnist at Honolulu Star-Advertiser notes that not all ethnic Hawaiians think or feel the same way (so no surprise there are disagreements over the proposal to create a Hawaiian tribe);
(2) Ethnic Hawaiian columnist at Honolulu Civil Beat, who was primary author of proposed tribal constitution, says "Making Things Right For All Native Hawaiians -- Queen Liliuokalani's charge to the Hawaiian Kingdom is reflected in the Interior Department's new government-to-government rule."
November 1, 2016:
(1) "OHA Races Aren't Short On Controversy, Mudslinging
Battles to lead the office established for 'the betterment of Native Hawaiians' are among the more lively on Hawaii ballots this fall."
(2) OHA trustee Rowena Akana monthly column says let's work together to make use of the Department of Interior regulation providing a pathway to a federally recognized Hawaiian tribe.
Nov 4:
(1) Rumor that OHA will spend $7 Million more to provide a ratification process for the proposed constitution of a Hawaiian tribe -- a step required for federal recognition under the regulation recently proclaimed by the U.S. Department of Interior.
(2) A community forum on "The Future of the Hawaiian nation" is set for Farrington high school cafeteria in Honolulu on November 10, 7-10 PM. Panelists will be Robin Danner (chief pusher of Akaka bill and DOI fed rec), Michelle Kauhane (head of Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement), Peter Apo (OHA trustee), John Waihee Sr. (former Governor and head of Kana'iolowalu racial registration process), Ku Kahakalau (founder of Hawaiian-focus charter school and head of consortium of all such schools), Mililani Trask (former head of 20,000-member Ka Lahui Hawaii "nation" and current candidate for OHA trustee), Kalama Niheu (racialist activist), and Kahookahi Kanuha (leader of anti-telescope protests on Mauna Kea).
END OF INDEX OF NEWS REPORTS AND COMMENTARIES FROM AUGUST 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2016; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Primary election results in 2 strong opponents of creating federally recognized tribe becoming the sole opponents of 2 incumbent OHA trustees on November ballot. Akina v. Hawaii lawsuit to block race-based election of delegates to a constitutional convention gets dismissed by 3-judge panel of 9th Circuit Court on grounds it is moot because the election was cancelled (thus no decision on the issues, which can be raised again in another lawsuit if another race-based election gets scheduled). SEPTEMBER 23, 2016: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR PUBLISHES THE FINAL RULE [REGULATION] (172 pages) WHEREBY ETHNIC HAWAIIANS CAN CREATE A TRIBE AND GET FEDERAL RECOGNITION FOR IT.
Full text of each item above can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2016August.html
================
INDEX OF History of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe during October, November and December 2016; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Kelii Akina, President of Grassroot Institute and opponent of federal recognition for a Hawaiian tribe, wins election as OHA trustee and ousts 20-year incumbent Haunani Apoliona who was chair for 10 years. Donald Trump elected to be President has promised to nullify numerous federal regulations and Obama executive orders; Hawaiian tribalists worry Trump will nullify the new Department of Interior regulation providing a pathway to federal recognition of Hawaiian tribe. 3 methods for rescinding the Dept. of Interior final rule 43CFR50 are analyzed. Heritage Foundation published detailed explanation of Congressional Review Act which would allow any regulation or final rule proclaimed during the last half of 2016 to be repealed by end of March and not allowing any Senate filibuster.
Full text of each item below can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2016Oct.html
October 2, 2016: Robert Lindsey, Chairman of OHA, commentary in Honolulu Star-Advertiser summarizes how "New [Department of Interior] rule will help Native Hawaiians achieve political self-determination"
Oct 4: College student newspaper in upstate New York provides typical example of how "politically correct" college students view the Department of Interior regulation for creating a Hawaiian tribe.
Oct 6: Mililani Trask, the opponent of Robert Lindsey in the election of OHA trustees, authors commentary in rebuttal to Lindsey "Federal rule denies Hawaiians the right to rule themselves"
Oct 7: Keli'i Akina commentary in Honolulu Civil Beat: Outside OHA, Interior Rule Has Little Native Hawaiian Support -- The Office of Hawaiian Affairs should follow its own survey data and recognize the lack of support for federal recognition.
Oct 11: Hawaii Republican Party issues a press release endorsing Keli'i Akina for OHA trustee (which is a nonpartisan elective office in the state government). Many details supporting him.
Oct 12-13: News report on annual Native Hawaiian Convention regarding the Department of Interior regulation providing a pathway for federal recognition of a Hawaiian tribe: "It's our first path to self-determination. We get to decide. Not a state agency. Not a federal agency. We as Hawaiians get to decide what we want for ourselves."
Oct 17: OHA board member Haunani Apoliona, candidate for re-election, defends OHA's record in a response to commentary of October 7 by her election opponent Keli'i Akina.
Oct 18: Conversation between OHA candidates Keli'i Akina and Mililani Trask, seeking to oust incumbent OHA trustees in November 8 election -- 30 minute YouTube video with partial transcript of highlights.
Oct 19: Kona regular newspaper columnist, who was a member of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission and the Kana'iolowalu process, writes a "news report" comparing the views of OHA candidates Robert Lindsey and Mililani Trask regarding nationbuilding.
Oct 28: "OHA Races Offer Stark Choices, But How Many Voters Will Care? -- Incumbents Robert Lindsey Jr. and Haunani Apoliona are squaring off against a pair of outspoken critics, Mililani Trask and Kelii Akina."
Nov 1:
(1) "OHA Races Aren't Short On Controversy, Mudslinging
Battles to lead the office established for 'the betterment of Native Hawaiians' are among the more lively on Hawaii ballots this fall."
(2) OHA trustee Rowena Akana monthly column says let's work together to make use of the Department of Interior regulation providing a pathway to a federally recognized Hawaiian tribe.
Nov 4:
(1) Rumor that OHA will spend $7 Million more to provide a ratification process for the proposed constitution of a Hawaiian tribe -- a step required for federal recognition under the regulation recently proclaimed by the U.S. Department of Interior.
(2) A community forum on "The Future of the Hawaiian nation" is set for Farrington high school cafeteria in Honolulu on November 10, 7-10 PM. Panelists will be Robin Danner (chief pusher of Akaka bill and DOI fed rec), Michelle Kauhane (head of Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement), Peter Apo (OHA trustee), John Waihee Sr. (former Governor and head of Kana'iolowalu racial registration process), Ku Kahakalau (founder of Hawaiian-focus charter school and head of consortium of all such schools), Mililani Trask (former head of 20,000-member Ka Lahui Hawaii "nation" and current candidate for OHA trustee), Kalama Niheu (racialist activist), and Kahookahi Kanuha (leader of anti-telescope protests on Mauna Kea).
Nov 7: Free Hawaii blog says "Sources inside the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have informed us that should he be re-elected, Robert Lindsey is planning to step down soon after the election in order to attend to his serious health situation. These same sources have confirmed to us that the person Mr. Lindsey would recommend to the remaining OHA trustees to replace him is Robin Danner.
Tuesday November 8 (election day) and Wednesday November 9, 2016:
(1) Ken Conklin's editorial note urging that the Republican President and Congress in 2017 should include the newly proclaimed Department of Interior regulation providing for federal recognition of a Hawaiian tribe on their list of Obama regulations and executive orders to be dismantled;
(2) Keli'i Akina defeated 20-year incumbent Haunani Apoliona for a seat on the OHA board -- Hawaii Office of Elections official report of vote totals including breakdown by precinct;
(3) Keli'i Akina news release and Facebook message about election results;
(4) Hawaii News Now (3 TV stations) reports Akina victory;
(5) Cartoon shows a shredder at work at OHA headquarters [Akina promised he would demand an audit];
(6) Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Akina victory and Trask defeat;
(7) Honolulu Civil Beat reports Akina victory and Trask defeat
Nov 10:
(1) Honolulu Star-Advertiser "Hawaiian nationalists fear effects of Trump win" describes public forum planned for tonight with 4 tribalists and 4 independence activists. Includes Conklin's online comments describing the racism of both groups.;
(2) Star-Advertiser mini-editorial says Akina victory will make OHA meetings interesting to watch in view of his opposition to OHA's nationbuilding activity.
(3) 3-minute video by Free Hawaii TV congratulates Keli'i Akina for defeating OHA incumbent Haunani Apoliona; says he will work for transparency at OHA and stop OHA effort to tribalize Hawaiians.
Nov 14: This is the date when the Department of Interior "final rule" for a Hawaiian tribe took effect. Ken Conklin published a webpage describing the regulation, providing names of institutions, Republican members of Congress, and conservative commentators who opposed this concept for 16 years, and asked people to contact them and especially the Trump transition team to place this regulation on the list of Obama regulations and executive orders to be nullified by President Trump and the upcoming 116th Congress.
Nov 16: Independence activists provide a YouTube video explaining how to ask President-elect Trump to nullify "Fed Wreck"
Nov 17: Chad Blair, Honolulu Civil Beat, says "Native Hawaiians Don't Know What To Expect From Trump: Some leaders say competing movements for federal recognition and complete independence will continue no matter who is president." Online comment by Ken Conklin
Nov 18: Hawaiian independence activist asks "Who will be held accountable" for OHA sabotaging of Mililani Trask candidacy, and praises Keli'i Akina victory over Haunani Apoliona, noting that Akina has hired an accountant and economist for his OHA staff to help fulfill his pledge to audit OHA expenses and stop spending money on nation-building.
Nov 27:
(1) DOI Rule? Republicans Prepare to Reverse Obama's 'Flurry of Midnight Actions'
(2) Former Governor John Waihee III sent a message in August to John Echohawk, Executive Director Native American Rights Fund, requesting $2 Million, presumably to help hold an election to set up a Native Hawaiian tribe and ratify its proposed constitution as required for federal recognition. The Chairman of the Board of NARF is Moses K. N. Haia III, of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation who was cc-ed on Waihee's funding appeal.
Nov 28: Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow in constitutional studies at the Cato Institute and a member of the board of scholars at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, authored an important article in The National Review magazine about the Department of Interior regulation allowing federal recognition of a Hawaiian tribe, entitled "Midnight Regulations in Paradise."
December 1, 2016: OHA's monthly newspaper for December has several articles that are politically significant on the topic of building a Hawaiian tribe. The entire newspaper can be viewed and downloded at
https://issuu.com/kawaiola/docs/kwo1216_edit_web?e=2253336/41355400
(1) Derek Kauanoe, head of the "governance" division of OHA -- "A Year in Review of Hawaiian Governance"
(2) OHA staff report of election results from November 8 (vote counts for Akina defeats Apolions, and Lindsey defeats Trask), including brief description of Apolion's 20 years at OHA
(3) 1/3-page advertisement by Apoliona links to her campaign webpage which includes nasty anti-Akina content.
(4) Rowena Akana, at-large trustee, regular monthly column, summarizes her views on what happened during 2016.
(5) Keli'i Akina's first regular monthly column "E Hana Kakou" -- let's all work together. "I seek harmony between being Hawaiian and being American. I am proud to be Hawaiian and proud to be American. At the same time, I am absolutely committed to the advancement of Native Hawaiians and will work to uphold the legal status of Hawaiian assets for Hawaiian beneficiaries. I have fought to protect the foundational Hawaiian entitlements as secured by law, including the Hawaiian Homelands and the Ceded Lands trusts. I affirm the rights of Hawaiian beneficiaries and believe we should not take assets away from Hawaiians."
(6) The OHA financial/policy "annual report" of 20 pages is an enclosure.
Dec 2: Scott Crawford's Hawaiian Kingdom independence blog compares China's control of Taiwan with U.S. control of Hawaii, noting the independence movement in Hawaii gained support from Hawaii people disgusted by Trump's victory in the Presidential election.
Dec 5:
(1) Ken Conklin new webpage: "Three ways President Trump and Congressional Republicans can kill the Department of Interior Final Rule 43CFR50 (authorizing creation and federal recognition of a phony Hawaiian tribe) -- Celebrating the long-term help of the Heritage Foundation and U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in fighting creation of an apartheid regime in Hawaii."
(2) Honolulu Star-Advertiser news report: A campaign to bring about a ratification vote for the draft Native Hawaiian constitution has received a boost with a pledge of support from an association of more than 100 Native Hawaiian organizations.
Dec 9: OHA trustees elect Rowena Akana as chairperson by 5-4 vote (Keli'i Akina in the majority) in raucous meeting, ousting former chair Bob Lindsey with trustees Collette Machado, Dan Ahuna, and Peter Apo walking out in protest. OHA CEO Kamana‘opono Crabbe spoke up despite being ruled out of order by Akana. He warned of "severe consequences" if trustees voted the wrong way.
Dec 11: Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial writer lengthy op-ed describes "tremors felt through the Hawaiian-rights landscape lately, surely portents of change ahead in 2017 and beyond": DOI rule, tribal constitution drafted, new OHA trustee Akina opposed to fed rec, nationwide "indigenous" activism, Trump elected and might undo DOI rule. Impact of Rice v. Cayetano decision in 2000.
Dec 14: President-elect Trump's nominee to be Secretary of the Interior, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke, pushed hard for federal recognition for the Little Shell state-recognized tribe, and also cosponsored a bill for federal recognition for a collection of seven Indian groups including six from Virginia. However, Scott Pruitt, Trump's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency, has a record of opposing tribal demands. Excerpts from three news reports about Zinke, and one about Pruitt, are provided.
Dec 15-16: Costly OHA infighting adds to concerns over trust spending
Dec 16:
(1) Ken Conklin article in This West is OUR West blog: "Trump's Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke needs your help to avoid unjustified tribal recognition"
(2) Heritage Foundation: "Stars Align for the Congressional Review Act" [A thorough explanation of the Act, which allows Congress to repeal any regulation or "final rule" within 60 "legislative days" after it is made official. The clock for counting 60 days starts all over from scratch when the new 115th Congress convenes, so any regulation that took effect during the last half of 2016 can be repealed until at least the end of March.]
Dec 19:
(1) This West Is Our West blog discusses shortcomings of Ryan Zinke as Trump's nominee for Secretary of Interior; how to contact transition team; organization chart of Dept of Interior; copy of article from Indianz.com displaying happiness of tribes with Zinke's appointment.
(2) Hawaiian Federal Recognition: The Lessons From Standing Rock. Did the sovereign status of a Sioux tribe boost its fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline? Would it empower Native Hawaiians?
Dec 23: Interview with OHA's new chair Rowena Akana about her background, and her continuing push for creation of a federally recognized Hawaiian tribe.
December 29:
(1) "Chief of Staff" to Bumpy Kanahele writes commentary in Honolulu Civil Beat online newspaper claiming that Bumpy's cult compound in Waimanalo is a sovereign community and is ready to use the "Aloha coin" as basis for its economy;
(2) Letter to editor in Honolulu Star-Advertiser repeats numerous beliefs of Hawaiian activists and says President Obama could issue an executive order to restore Hawaiian independence.
December 29-30:
(1) Judicial Watch news release reports on 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision on voting rights in the Northern Marianas [Guam] which ruled that it is unconstitutional to restrict voting on certain issues solely to residents who are at least 1/4 Chamorro ancestry, and compares that decision with a similar one in Hawaii regarding an election for delegates to a convention to create a constitution for a race-based government;
(2) Michael Barone, columnist for the Washington Examiner, compares the Guam and Hawaii voting rights rulings.
December 30-31, 2016:
(1) Editorial in OHA monthly newspaper for January by Derek Kauanoe, OHA Governance Manager, is a description of OHA's theory of why OHA was created in the 1978 state constitutional convention, focusing on racially exclusive self-determination, how that was undermined by the Rice and Arakaki decisions of year 2000 which allowed all voters regardless of race to vote for and to run as candidates for OHA trustee, and how the only way to get back the racially exclusive self-determination intended by the founding of OHA is to create a Hawaiian tribe.
(2) Editorial news report in OHA monthly newspaper for January describes newly elected trustee Keli'i Akina as a strong supporter of racial entitlement programs and of the right of ethnic Hawaiians to voluntarily choose their own future, and does not mention Akina's opposition to creating a federally recognized Hawaiian tribe. The clear impression created by that column is that Akina is a good boy who falls right in line with all the rest of the trustees and won't make waves.
(3) Honolulu Star-Advertiser publishes the second letter to editor in three days stating sovereigntist historical falsehoods and urging Obama to issue an executive order creating a Hawaiian nation.
END OF INDEX OF History of efforts to create a Hawaiian tribe during October, November and December 2016; including efforts to create a state-recognized tribe and efforts to get federal recognition through administrative rule changes, executive order, or Congressional legislation. Kelii Akina, President of Grassroot Institute and opponent of federal recognition for a Hawaiian tribe, wins election as OHA trustee and ousts 20-year incumbent Haunani Apoliona who was chair for 10 years. Donald Trump elected to be President has promised to nullify numerous federal regulations and Obama executive orders; Hawaiian tribalists worry Trump will nullify the new Department of Interior regulation providing a pathway to federal recognition of Hawaiian tribe. 3 methods for rescinding the Dept. of Interior final rule 43CFR50 are analyzed. Heritage Foundation published detailed explanation of Congressional Review Act which would allow any regulation or final rule proclaimed during the last half of 2016 to be repealed by end of March and not allowing any Senate filibuster.
Full text of each item above can be found at
https://www.angelfire.com/big11a/AkakaHist2016Oct.html
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