Saturday, December 13, 2025

KE AUPUNI UPDATE - DECEMBER 2025


 

 

 

 

 

 

War And Aloha

Mahalo to those who celebrated the 182nd anniversary of Lā Kūʻokoʻa (Hawaiian Independence Day) on November 28th. Another very important date in close proximity is November 23. This year was the 32nd anniversary of the 1993 signing of the “Apology Resolution” by U.S. President Clinton. In the U.S. system, a joint resolution that is signed by the president is labeled “a law”, in this case, United States Public Law 103-150. But because it is non-binding, it is treated like a resolution. So, although it is a clear confession of the unlawful overthrow of our Kingdom by the US, it offers no recourse or remedy for the wrongful act.

But this was not the first admission. Another very important anniversary is coming up on December 18. On that day, 132 years ago (1893), U.S. President Grover Cleveland delivered a stunning report to the US Congress regarding the blatantly wrongful acts by representatives of the U.S. in the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani and her government.

Cleveland rebuked the actions of U.S. diplomat John L. Stevens and U.S. military forces as, “an act of war” against a friendly nation. He charged Congress with the task — indeed the moral obligation — to undo the illegal U.S. aggression by returning the Queen and her government to power so that proper relations between the two sovereign nations could resume.

But the US Congress not only failed to carry out Cleveland’s directive, they stalled until 1897 when Cleveland left office and the avowed imperialist William McKinley came into the White House. Then, instead of returning Hawaii, they did the exact opposite, they fabricated and staged a bogus “annexation” to grab complete control of the Hawaiian Islands.

Both President Cleveland and President Clinton, spaced a hundred years apart, admitted to the United States’ wrongful actions in overthrowing the Hawaiian Kingdom government. Cleveland called for ˆrestoration” of the Hawaiian Kingdom as a sovereign nation. Clinton called for reconciliation with native Hawaiians. Neither remedy has moved an iota.

So much for the sincerity or integrity of the United States admissions of wrongs committed against the Hawaiian Kingdom, its long-standing treaty partner which President Cleveland described as “a friendly, confiding and peace-loving people”. And it’s not as if the U.S. does not know how to settle and bring restoration after territorial conflicts, even bitterly contested ones.

U.S. history is replete with making peace with former mortal enemies like — France (French and Indian War), England (Revolutionary War, War of 1812), The Confederate States (Civil War), Spain (Spanish American War), Germany (World War I and II), Japan (World War II), Italy (World War II), Vietnam, the Gulf Wars and dozens of other hot conflicts…  

After horrendously destructive, unbelievably bloody conflicts, the U.S. went about the noble task of restoring and rebuilding the nations they had devastated and defeated. And now they’re friends. That’s admirable.

But, in Hawaii, after two, “Oops, we made a terrible mistake!... Sorry for taking over your country!... Our bad!”… apologies, the U.S. has still not even come close to giving back Hawaii much less undoing the multi-generational pillaging of kanaka, the lāhui and the ʻāina. What’s up with that?

The U.S. is expert in war and carnage and how to recover, bring restoration and move on. But when our Queen placed us on the path of PEACE and ALOHA, they apparently have no clue on how to deal with that. As we move forward with Aloha perhaps they’ll learn.

Aloha ʻĀina —
“Love of country is deep-seated in the breast of every Hawaiian, whatever his station.” — Queen Liliʻuokalani

Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono.
The sovereignty of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.
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For the latest news and developments about our progress at the United Nations in both New York and Geneva, tune in to Free Hawaii News at 7 PM, the first Friday of each month on ʻŌlelo Television, Channel 53.

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"Remember, for the latest updates and information about the Hawaiian Kingdom, check out the twice-a-month Ke Aupuni Updates published online on Facebook and other social media."

PLEASE KŌKUA…
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• PayPal – log in to PayPal and pay to the account, info@HawaiianKingdom.net

• Other – To contribute in other ways (airline miles, travel vouchers, volunteer service, etc...) email us at: info@HawaiianKingdom.net  

Malama Pono,
Leon Siu
Hawaiian National