August 27, 2008
Dear Editor,
Any anniversary of US presence in Hawaiʻi, like the upcoming anniversary of statehood, is a time of shame and an alert for reconciliation, not celebration.
The 49th anniversary of Hawaiʻi’s so-called admission into the Union with the US on Thursday also marks the beginning of a year-long campaign to “celebrate”/”commemorate” the 50th anniversary of statehood. A commission, enacted by the Legislature, will coordinate the est. $1.1 million program, culminating in the actual anniversary date of August 21, 2009.
Since President Clinton apologized for the US invasion of Hawaii on its 100th anniversary it is odd to acknowledge Hawaii as a “State”. The invasion, 1893, is the parent of Annexation, 1898, and Statehood, 1959. Hawaii is an illegally occupied nation.
Statehood only accelerated the process of forced assimilation and indoctrination of the local population into the American system and opened the doors for the penetration of big American businesses and immigration of American settlers into Hawaiʻi, leading to an ever increasing dilution of Hawaiʻi's local population and loss of control over their economic resources.
In contrast to the state, the coming 12 months will see the Anti-Statehood Hui advance the true story of Statehood, educate people about the inexcusable failures of the ’59 vote and the need for further apology and reconciliation on the part of the USA.
US patriotism over the decades in Hawaiʻi has been a sad mistake. It is an outcome of Annexation and Statehood contrivance. Some native Hawaiians too, without their government are confused and prone to acting irrationally. This is a time to unravel the mess, understand and heal -not celebrate.
Michael Daly
Anti-Statehood Hui
Committee member