“CEDED LANDS” -
PERFECT TITLE / PERFECT CRIME
If the State of Hawai`i has perfect title, then the “ceded lands” is the perfect crime.
At the outset of the oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in the “ceded lands” case, the state declared that it had “perfect title” over those lands and that this is an “indisputable” fact.
Then the state proceeded to say that the lands in this dispute were from the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom!
Apparently the illegality of the overthrow is also indisputable because it was parroted by the other two presenters and the justices. Hello!?? Isn’t illegally gotten property called stolen property not perfect title?
So the lands were stolen, but somehow the title is perfect? Oh, I get it! (wink, wink) Yes, we all agree the lands were stolen, but its OK because the thief made a detailed (but non-binding) “to whom it may concern” apology, and the thief is a nice guy (not to mention dangerously powerful).
So now if we all recite the mantra, perfect title, perfect title, perfect title, all will be…well…perfect! No pesky claimants, no encumbrances, no injunction, no need to answer to anyone. Best of all, no rule of law.
In essence, the state is saying to the court, “We have a perfect right to ignore the 116-year-long annoyance of ‘Hawaiian children lamenting for their homes.’ After all, our title is perfect! …perfect title, perfect title, perfect title...”
Leon Siu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ke Aupuni O Hawai`i
The Hawaiian Kingdom
