Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement: History and Key Groups

Background: Hawaii's Early History and Statehood

The newest of the 50 states, Hawaii became an official State of the Union on August 21, 1959. It is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. A popular tourist destination, its location gives it a multicultural character that is both Asian and Western in feel. Hawaii is one of four U.S. states that were independent prior to joining the Union — the others being Vermont (1791), Texas (1845), and California (1846) (U.S. Code 7512. Findings).

Historically, Hawaii was likely settled by people of Polynesian descent around the 11th century. The first recorded Western contact came in 1778, when British Captain James Cook named the islands the Sandwich Islands in honor of his sponsor, the Earl of Sandwich. His log indicates that the native population called their island "Owyhee." Cook visited the islands twice but was forced to leave after an altercation. After he published the account of his voyage, the islands became a popular base for whalers and a destination for explorers, missionaries, and traders. These visitors, unfortunately, introduced diseases — including influenza, smallpox, measles, and syphilis — into the population. As in Mesoamerica, the result was a drastic decline in the native population (Migration and Disease).

Hawaii as a Historical Kingdom

During the late 18th century, Hawaiian governance was, at best, a series of warring factions. This ended with the unification of the islands under King Kamehameha in 1810, establishing a kingdom that lasted until 1872. This period also saw an influx of missionaries who suppressed many Hawaiian cultural traditions. There was simply too much potential wealth for American and European powers to allow Hawaii genuine autonomy. In 1887, King Kalākaua was forced to sign a new constitution, stripping the monarchy of most of its power. By 1893, a Western-dominated Provisional Government had been established, leading to the Republic of Hawaii and eventual annexation by the United States. It was largely because of the plantation economy and the control of the islands by an economic oligarchy that Hawaii did not become a state until 1959, even though it had long served as a strategic military base and had been one of the precipitating causes of the United States' entry into World War II (Okihiro).

The Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement

Ever since the 1893 overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani and the establishment of a U.S. military presence on the Hawaiian Islands, a nationalist political movement focused on self-determination and self-governance has persisted. Supporters argue that it was only through superior military technology that Hawaii was absorbed into the U.S. colonial empire, and that the profits from agriculture, land, and later tourism were funneled to non-Hawaiians at the expense of indigenous peoples — a controversial and ongoing legal debate (Fein).

Just as the Southern secession movement that preceded the Civil War encompassed a range of views and proposals, the Hawaiian sovereignty movement contains considerable internal diversity. Plans range from complete independence and full self-rule to a "nation within a nation" model similar to that of Native American nations. Some advocates want the monarchy restored. Much of the movement, however, is rooted in the conviction that the native people's homeland was usurped for the economic benefit of others — a paradigm with striking parallels to that of the American Indian experience (Loomis).

One notable episode that has become something of a local curiosity involves a group called the Hawaiian Kingdom Government, which since April 2008 has positioned itself on the grounds of the historic Iolani Palace in Honolulu. This group is led by Mahealani Kaihau, who calls herself Queen. She and her entourage meet daily with others to conduct what they describe as government business, and they demand Hawaiian sovereignty and the restoration of the monarchy. The group has even filed a complaint in the Federal District Court of Washington, D.C., against President Obama and his Cabinet, alleging that the United States has been in continual violation of an executive agreement for over 127 years (Sai v. Hillary Rodham Clinton, et al.; Sai).

One reason for the lack of political success among sovereignty groups is that there is no cohesive, united front. Much as Russia in 1916 had over 100 political parties without enough consolidated force to bring about change — at least until Lenin and the Bolshevik faction coalesced — the Hawaiian sovereignty movement remains fragmented. In the 21st century, given the complex history of Hawaii, building that unity is even more difficult.

References

Budnick, R. Stolen Kingdom: An American Conspiracy. Honolulu: Aloha Press, 1992.

Coffman, T. The Island Edge of America: A Political History of Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2003.

Dougherty, M. To Steal a Kingdom. Oahu: Island Style Press, 2000.

Fein, B. "Hawaii Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand." Hawaiian Congressional Record, 15–16 June 2005.

Hawaii, et al. v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs, et al. No. 07-1372. U.S. Supreme Court. 31 March 2009.

Liberty, J. and R. Hubbard. "The Rape of Paradise: The Second Century." Perceptions Magazine, March/April 1996.

Loomis, I. "The Akaka Bill." Maui Magazine, July–August 2009.

"Migration and Disease." Digital History, January 2010.

Okihiro, G. Island World: A History of Hawaii and the United States. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2009.

Sai v. Hillary Rodham Clinton, et al. No. 1:10-CV-00899. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. 7 July 2007.

Sai, D. "Information and Overview." The Hawaiian Kingdom, 2010.

"U.S. Code 7512. Findings." Cornell University Law School, 5 January 2009.