Hawaiians are moving forward with plans for a delegate election and a Hawaiian Constitutional Convention in 2015 to propose a Native Hawaiian governing entity that will succeed the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
In giving shape to a new Hawaiian governing entity to succeed OHA, convention delegates are also expected to address proposals that will redefine the political relationship between Hawaiians and the federal and state governments.
For many, the process is filled with anxieties and is forcing painful introspection over a number of fundamental questions. What does it mean to be an American? What does it mean to be a Hawaiian? Are the two reconcilable? How are Hawaiians supposed to feel about the American overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom — an illegal condition that continues to today?
The most difficult question of all is how will delegates deal with the question of who is a Hawaiian — as in citizen of a Hawaiian nation? Technically, Hawaiian is not an ethnic term. Hawaiian words do not end in consonants. It is a place-based definition of a person who is from that place called Hawaii.
As for the ethnic Hawaiian (kanaka maoli) community, some see America as the enemy, as an occupying or colonizing force in our islands. Others are proud to be Americans. They or their parents and grandparents voted for statehood, fought in its wars and believe America to be the best country on Earth.
Still others are not so fervently pro-American, but consider Hawaii to be better off under an American regime than under the domination of some other world power, or struggling as a small, independent nation.
Personally, I am proud to be Hawaiian and American. Those of us who are pro-American cannot deny that America’s history is scarred with injustices of every dimension. Racism, sexism, violation of indigenous people’s rights, income inequality, unjust wars — all those things have blighted, and continue to blight us, as a nation. And so we must continue to fight for justice, peace and equality.
On the question of Hawaiian nationhood, we can’t ignore the overthrow, illegal annexation and subsequent injustices — but I believe the time for reconciliation is upon us. I believe that a Hawaiian nation-within-a-nation relationship will emerge out of the convention that not only will bring closure to our long-standing grievances, but also protect long-standing programs that support Hawaiians.
Hawaii’s people cannot become whole until this question of nationhood is resolved, and it must be resolved by including the rest of Hawaii’s people in shaping the solution.
One of the blessings of America is the right to dissent that is extended to people of every persuasion. I fervently hope that in the passion and intensity of the nation-building dialogue that we set aside malice and are respectful of all voices.
I believe the Constitution of the United States, as the very foundation of the nation, is a brilliant document. It is especially brilliant because realizing its sweeping promise of equality, justice and opportunity for all can never be fully achieved. Not because the document is flawed, but because we, the people, are flawed. And so, we must keep working to improve on our performance as citizens of the world’s greatest nation.
