Sunday, April 18, 2004

FreeHawaii.Info IS PROUD TO PRESENT, IN SERIALIZED FORM, "AMERICA'S TIBET," BY DAVID INGHAM, AMY MARSH AND KUKAUAKAHI CHING.

The Full Story Of Why The Illegal Overthrow And Continued Illegal US Occupation of Hawai'i is America's Tibet!


Now published in April 1-15, 2004 issue of Hawai'i Island Journal, and eventually will be viewable online at http://www.hawaiiislandjournal.com.

Here's the third installment...

Few American citizens are aware of the true status of our vacation paradise. We are oblivious to the consequences of our colonization and economic and cultural rape of Hawaii. We are ignorant of the devastating price Hawaiians continue to pay as inhabitants under occupation.

After the overthrow, the United States quickly transformed its once self sufficient, prosperous, and independent ally into a floundering, unsuccessful commercial and military venture. Whereas the Hawaiians had ingeniously managed and sustained their limited island resources, fisheries, and agriculture for nearly two thousand years, the Western usurpers quickly replaced these proven agricultural and social systems with those better suited to American interests. Such practices accelerated the depletion and degradation of Hawaii. Residents became dependent on American imports, a burgeoning tourist industry, and a growing dependence on the military economy. This in turn increased commercial, military and residential development, which caused still further degradation and depletion. This vicious cycle continues unabated.

The United States finally admitted some of its culpability a century after the overthrow. In 1993, Congress formally apologized to Hawaiians (spurred by uncertainty over title to nearly half the land in Hawaii). The Apology Resolution PL 103-150 included a commitment by Congress to reconcile with Hawaiians. Congress also admitted the illegal nature of the damagedone to the Kingdom of Hawaii. And, of paramount importance, the Apology Resolution acknowledged that Hawaiians have never given up their rights to sovereignty or relinquished title to their land.

Part Four Tomorrow...