WILL HAWAIIANS RIGHT WRONG THROUGH VOTE ON INDEPENDENCE ?
Honolulu Advertiser - September 29, 2005
In regard to the article "Feds still object to Akaka bill," Sept. 22 -
The U.S. Justice Department knows that in 1898 the Congress of the United States made a grave mistake by attempting to annex Hawai`i by joint resolution 51.
They violated their own laws.
Hawaiians were not allowed to vote for or against annexation. The U.S. Senate tried two times to pass a treaty of annexation of Hawai`i.
Twice it failed.
If they did allow the majority of the citizens of the Kingdom of Hawai`i in 1898 to vote, it would have been an overwhelming "no."
Asians, Native Americans, black slaves and Mexicans were being treated like stray dogs during that era and they were not allowed to be citizens of the United States because of the color of their skin. The Kingdom of Hawai`i was the safest place to be for non-whites.
The only way the U.S. government can right the wrong it inflicted on Hawaiians is to let the Hawaiian people decide if they want independent status or be part of the American system.
If Hawaiians are not allowed to vote for the form of governance they prefer then the whole American democratic process is good for nothing.
Eric Po'ohina
Kailua, O`ahu
