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Must we choose between racial separatism (Akaka bill) or ethnic
March 03, 2011 | 06:33 PM

Both sovereignty choices presented in this article articles make it clear that 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." Their dispute is focused on whether ethnic Hawaiians can best preserve the racial supremacy they already enjoy in Hawaii, and expand it, by asserting indigenous rights inside an independent nation of Hawaii, or by asserting indigenous rights as members of an Indian tribe inside a state of Hawaii which is part of the United States.

However, there is a third choice which this article left out in presenting the alternative scenarios for the future of the sovereignty of Hawaii's people. This third choice is undoubtedly favored by the vast majority of Hawaii's people of all ethnicities, and is probably favored by a majority of ethnic Hawaiians themselves. This third choice is to favor unity, equality, and aloha for all.

Unity has two aspects: the unity of Hawaii with the United States (contrary to the desire of the independence activists to rip the 50th star off the flag), and the unity of all Hawaii's people under a single sovereignty of the State of Hawaii (contrary to the desire of the Akaka bill supporters to divide Hawaii along racial lines by creating a race based government exclusively for ethnic Hawaiians).

Sovereignty activists forget that the sovereign Kings of an independent Hawaii made no claim to special "indigenous" rights. The sovereign monarchs exercised self-determination on behalf of their people by granting full voting and property rights to all non-native persons born or naturalized in Hawaii. There was a social contract, or social justice, in which the newcomers contributed their religion, literacy, financial investments and business expertise in return for full membership as equals in the Kingdom. Independence activists forget that countless persons of Hawaiian native ancestry have gladly fought and died for their nation of America, including Korean War medal of honor winner Herbert K. Pililaau.

Most ethnic Hawaiians are proud to be Americans, and proud to participate as equals in our rainbow society, despite the rantings of Haunani-Kay Trask, Poka Laenui, and Leon Siu.

Please see my book "Hawaiian Apartheid: Racial Separatism and Ethnic Nationalism in the Aloha State"
http://tinyurl.com/2a9fqa


Kenneth R. Conklin, Ph.D.