4th PRINCIPLE: HO'OPONOPONO THE OVERTHROW

OVERTHROW
The Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i on January 17, 1893 constituted a coup d’état, the overthrow of a legitimate government by a small group that did not represent the will of the vast majority of the people. The coup was in part planed and supported by U.S. representatives and military forces. The Overthrow was not justified, unethical, immoral, and illegal.

TRANSITION
Perpetuators of the Overthrow created a Provisional Government and subsequent Republic of Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i was annexed (1898) by the U.S. through a questionable joint resolution (Newlands Resolution) process against the wishes of the vast majority of the people of Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i was admitted into the U.S. as a State in 1959 via plebiscite. The official report states that 94% of voters supported statehood. However, researchers have argued that when blank ballots are included, this figure drops down to 77%. In addition, only 35% of those eligible to vote actually voted. The vast majority (65%) chose not to vote. Given the above, only 27% of eligible voters may have actually voted for Hawai‘i statehood. It must also be remembered that the only question on the plebiscite was to vote for continued territory status or new statehood status. The option of independence, as required by the United Nations, was not included on the plebiscite.

APOLOGY BILL
On November 23, 1993, the U.S. Congress, via joint resolution, “acknowledges that the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i occurred with the active participation of agents and citizens of the United States and further acknowledges that the Native Hawaiian people never directly relinquished to the United States their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people over their national lands, either through the Kingdom of Hawai‘i or through a plebiscite or referendum” (U.S. Public Law 103-150 (107 Stat. 1510)). The resolution was subsequently signed by President Bill Clinton on the same day.

STATUS
The illegal Overthrow and questionable annexation, clouds the legitimacy of Hawai‘i Statehood and U.S. administration and control over Hawai‘i, its people, and lands. However, while the above controversy exist, evolves, and is ultimately resolved, we promote honoring and sustaining the laws of the land, to prevent anarchy and to maintain peace and aloha.

TRAUMA

The Overthrow was a devastating traumatic event for Native Hawaiians. The loss of a nation, birth right, cultural and national identity, language, lands, resources, and the imprisonment of a beloved queen and leaders, was more than many could bear.

Native Hawaiians were strained to the very limit mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. What Native Hawaiians experienced was akin to being or seeing a loved one, kidnaped, assaulted, raped, and murdered. The trauma of the Overthrow resulted in shock, loss of trust and faith, depression, feeling of being overwhelmed, inadequacy, inferiority, hopelessness, and despair. It was a trauma so broad and deep that it has continued within the Hawaiian community from generation to generations to this very day. A phenomenon recognized as historical and generational trauma.

Symptoms of historical and generational trauma, within the Hawaiian community, relative to other ethnic groups, include, but are not limited to the following:  
 

• Highest incarceration

• Poorest health (heart disease, diabetes, etc.)

• Highest suicide rate

• Lowest higher education

• Lowest home ownership

• Highest teen pregnancy

• Highest drug use and abuse

• Lowest life expectancy

• Highest homeless rate

• Highest domestic violence
   

JUSTICE

Justice requires addressing the Overthrow, through the process of ho‘oponopono (to make right what is wrong). This includes restitution for what was lost and restoration of what was taken. The Native Hawaiian community’s ability to heal and move forward from the Overthrow is in direct proportion to addressing this issue. Ho‘oponopono will help mend the broken hearts and spirits of the Hawaiian people yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Ho‘oponopono will restore the Hawaiian people from the inside out and help heal them from the trauma they experience today. Only then will pono (balance and righteousness) return to the people (Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians) and land allowing both to prosper and flourish - Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka ʻĀina I Ka Pono.