Sunday, July 04, 2010
History that should not—and will not—disappear: July 4, 1894, illegal overthrow of Hawaii completed
by Larry Geller
On July 4, 1894, the Republic of Hawaii was declared, with Sanford B. Dole as president. The illegal overthrow of the independent nation of Hawaii was complete.
Yes, although your daily paper may want you to forget this, it is news that should not be ignored. There’s even a federal law confirming the truth of the history they refuse to print.
From the Apology Resolution, United States Public Law 103-150:
Whereas, in a message to Congress on December 18, 1893, President Grover Cleveland reported fully and accurately on the illegal acts of the conspirators, described such acts as an "act of war, committed with the participation of a diplomatic representative of the United States and without authority of Congress", and acknowledged that by such acts the government of a peaceful and friendly people was overthrown... President Cleveland further concluded that a "substantial wrong has thus been done which a due regard for our national character as well as the rights of the injured people requires we should endeavor to repair" and called for the restoration of the Hawaiian monarchy.
Whereas, the indigenous Hawaiian people never directly relinquished their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people or over their national lands to the United States, either through their monarchy or through a plebiscite or referendum.
A treaty of annexation was never passed by Congress, and President Grover Cleveland withdrew the treaty. Then on this day in history…
On July 4, 1894, the archipelago's new leaders responded to this rebuff by proclaiming a Republic of Hawaii, with Sanford Dole as president. Under its constitution, most legislators would be appointed rather than elected, and only men with savings and property would be eligible for public office. This all but excluded native Hawaiians from the government of their land… [From Overthrow, a book by Stephen Kinzer]
What was the motivation? Need you ask? Why is the US in Iraq?From the Washington Post review of Overthrow:
As Stephen Kinzer tells the story in Overthrow, America's century of regime changing began not in Iraq but Hawaii. Hawaii? Indeed. Kinzer explains that Hawaii's white haole minority -- in cahoots with the U.S. Navy, the White House and Washington's local representative -- conspired to remove Queen Liliuokalani from her throne in 1893 as a step toward annexing the islands. The haole plantation owners believed that by removing the queen (who planned to expand the rights of Hawaii's native majority) and making Hawaii part of the United States, they could get in on a lucrative but protected mainland sugar market. Ever wonder why free trade has such a bad name?
The road leading up to the declaration of the Republic of Hawaii was rocky, and can’t be summed up in a short blog article. Did you know, for example, that a US Senate investigation revealed that a bribe had been offered to Queen Liliuokalani to turn against her people and support the Republic? This snip is from a New York Times article on the Senate investigation, dated 1/29/1894:
Also, the declaration of the Republic was not a single, static event. There was considerable debate in Congress on resolutions condemning the overthrown and proposed annexation. For example, this snip from the 1/25/1894 New York Times will give you an idea of the complexity that we lose in simplifying Hawaii’s history:
Each article is much longer than the snips above. It would be worthwhile to skim the New York Times for a complete account of the Congressional debate. No doubt this has already been done. If not, the articles are available on-line for the harvesting..Catch them before the Times imposes its paywall at the end of the year.
If you’re not familiar with Hawaiian history, beware of websites that have chosen to re-write it. The true picture of the overthrow is not pretty, nor can the acts of the US government be justified or whitewashed. Google cautiously.
Let your children know that there is more to July 4 than barbeques and fireworks. It is a holiday that tears people apart here in Hawaii. See how you can work this history into your celebrations and festivities, so that it will never disappear.
I can't get enough of the truth about the treachery, deceit and cowardice that went on then and still continues up to the minute. Perhaps a hawaiian-made movie of the whole affair, including the 'bayonet constitution', the overthrow, the annexation and that phony statehood vote? Maybe we can get that black movie director to handle it.
Larry, thanks for posting this. The history of Hawaii is becoming clearer and clearer, and in the long run, the future can only bring justice and resolution.
Doug
This history should be taught in post-high school classes, maybe create a holiday for February 14 (Captain Cook's Death) the day Hawaiians stopped/attempted to prevent the further spreading of disease, robbing of food, and genocide.
Mahalo nui loa for all of your hard work in keeping the masses informed.
: July 5, 2010 at 5:00:00 AM HST The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy was clearly illegal and for the benefit of a few rich and mostly white folks, but not exclusively. Why didn't remaining Hawaiian royalty back the counter evolution in 1895? Why did all of Hawaii roll over so easily to a few white guys taking over a few government buildings? I think its because the rest of the Hawaiian royalty stayed comfortably rich. After the illegal overthrow, the next truth that will have to be confronted is that many Hawaiian monarchs, despite being lawful and rightful rulers, were near incompetent in the administration of a government. Even Kamehameha III was moving towards annexation at the point of his passing.
: July 5, 2010 at 7:53:00 AM HST Cook died over a dispute about a stolen canoe...no "high minded" attempt by Hawaiians to prevent anything.
It was a damn accident!
: July 6, 2010 at 9:31:00 AM HST There's little doubt that the US was involved in imperialistic shenanigans in Hawaii, as in many other places (the Philippine-American War, any country covered by the Monroe Doctrine, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iraq again, etc.).
By comparison the shenanigans in Hawaii were relatively mild, as they were helped along by convenient native elites who sought to extract western style "and-his-heirs" land titles from what was essentially a feudal system based on land management with no guarantee of heritability (oversimplification, yes). This led to the creation of the constitutional monarchy as a way to ensure that the ali'i and their descendants both retained their title and lands within their respective families. Invariably it also led to the Great Mahele of Kamehameha III (which contrary to spin from the sovereignty community was not initially the disaster many claim it was, see http://www.amazon.com/Kahana-How-Land-Was-Lost/dp/082482590X for a great case study). Greed on the part of foreigners and natives drove the process every step of the way.
What IS justice in such a context? Or is the best we can hope for resolution?
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