KE AUPUNI UPDATE - OCTOBER 2026
Hawaii and the UN’s Decolonization System
When I was in New York a few weeks ago for the opening of the next session of the United Nations General Assembly, I bumped into President Moetai Brotherson of Maohi Nui (aka French Polynesia, aka Tahiti) his wife, Teua, and decolonization consultant Carlyle Corbin as they were leaving the famous John's Coffee Shop near the UN.
They were in New York to do their annual appeal to the UN’s Fourth Committee (the Decolonization Committee) to urge France to allow a decolonization referendum to be held in French Polynesia.
Two days later I attended the UN General Assembly's 4th Committee meeting to stand in solidarity with the Maohi Nui delegation of 30 people calling for the referendum.
It reminded me of being at the UN General Assembly on May 17, 2013, celebrating that day when the General Assembly placed French Polynesia, back on the list of remaining territories to be decolonized.
In 1946 when the UN was formed, besides their principal mandate to settle international disputes by peaceful means, the UN also took a strong position on decolonization. At that time, a large part of the world was being held as colonies (territories, possessions) of a few mostly European nations. About 100 nations were identified and placed on the UN list of “Non-Self-Governing Territories” (NSGT), That is, peoples and nations to be decolonized.
What does decolonization mean? This concept is strongly tied to the term, “self-determination” — the process or right by which a person, group, or nation makes their own choices, sets their own goals, and controls their own future without outside pressure.
The UN’s ideal process for decolonization relies on the people exercising their right to self-determination where the people should, when they are ready, freely choose what kind of political system/government they want for their future; whether they want to remain a territory/colony/possession, be integrated into the administrative power, be independent, or any other arrangement. The point is the people of that “territory” get to decide for themselves.
The UN’s list started with about 100 NSGTs. Roughly 80 of them chose independence and are now members if the United Nations. Today there are only 17 remaining, with French Polynesia being one of them.
In 1946 the United States placed Alaska and Hawaii and four other of its “territories” on that list. By the mid-fifties, as more and more countries were decolonized and chose independence, the US became nervous about losing these two valuable “territories”.
So, the US hijacked the UN’s decolonization process to secure its hold on Alaska and Hawaii. Decolonization referenda were held in Alaska (1958) and Hawaii (1959). The US called them “Statehood Plebiscites” and rigged them to make sure the outcome was YES to statehood.
But at the UN, the US called them “Decolonization Referendums” reporting the people had freely chosen “statehood” and that the US had complied to the people’s wish and admitted Alaska and Hawaii into the US as the 49th and 50th states of the Union. The United States’ report to the UN made it all appear to be legitimate and that they had fulfilled their sacred obligation to the UN Charter. The UN General Assembly without examining the facts on the ground, accepted the US’ report and deemed the question of the political status of Alaska and Hawaii to be closed.
This is the “error” that we are on the verge of exposing and discrediting at the United Nations. The UN would then be obligated to acknowledge that Hawaii is a sovereign, independent nation-state in continuity and that it never belonged in the UN’s decolonization system in the first place.
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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Malama Pono,
Leon Siu
Hawaiian National
Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Hawaiian Kingdom (since 2001)