Nation of Hawaiʻi (organization)

Hawaiian independence organization

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Nation of Hawaiʻi

Nickname	Hawaiian Independence Flag, 1990s
Website	www.nationofhawaii.org

The Nation of Hawaii is a group of Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) in favor of Hawaiian independence from the United States. It is formed by proponents of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement in resistance to what sovereignty advocates consider the occupation of Hawai’i by the United States. The group was formed following the severance of a previous organization, the Ohana Council. It is headed by Dennis Pu‘uhonua "Bumpy" Kanahele, the group's spokesperson and Head of State.

Leadership

The Nation of Hawai'i is led by Dennis Pu‘uhonua "Bumpy" Kanahele, who previously was a leader in the Ohana Council. He is also the CEO of Aloha First, an organization dedicated to economic, social, and cultural education.

Kanahele made headlines again in 1995 when his group gave sanctuary to Nathan Brown, a Native Hawaiian activist who had refused to pay federal taxes in protest against the US presence in Hawaiʻi. Kanahele was arrested for interfering with U.S. marshals seeking to arrest a federal fugitive, convicted, and sentenced to eight months in federal prison, along with a probation period in which he was barred from the puʻuhonua and from participation in his sovereignty efforts.

History

Apology Resolution

On November 23, 1993, President Clinton signed the "Apology Resolution," which acknowledges that while Hawai'i was occupied by the United States, their sovereignty was never relinquished. This resolution was the first of its kind that acknowledged this history. This empowered leaders and organizers of the Nation of Hawai'i to reclaim the physical ownership of their Native land as well as their independence from the United States' annexation of the islands. Given that Native Hawaiians now had a legal document stating that they had not relinquished their sovereignty to the U.S., they were empowered to reclaim this through their various efforts.

Occupations at Makapu'u Light House and Kaupo Beach

On July 13th 1987, Pu’uhonua Dennis ‘Bumpy” Kanahele led his extended family in the reclamation and occupation of their family lands at Makapu’u Light House, essentially kicking off the movement that eventually established the Independent and Sovereign Nation of Hawai’i. Kanahele first learned about land claims from his cousin Liwai Ka’awa during a family gathering. The two were discussing their family lineage — including bloodline links to King Kamehameha– and lands in the Waimanalo area when Liwai advised his cousin about the legal process available to claim family land. To start the reclamation, the family filed two deeds with the Bureau of Conveyance for parcels of land that stretch from Hawaii Kai to Waimanalo. After filing the claim, Kanahele found the key to the entrance gate on the parcel of land at Makapu’u and the family moved into the three vacant houses. The family then changed the lock, and in act of goodwill, provided a copy of the new key to the U.S. Coast Guard so they could retain management of the Makapu’u lighthouse. During the two-month long occupation, the Hawaiian community rallied around the family in support of their actions. The occupation was mostly peaceful out of respect for the participants, which included small children. Violence and weapons were not allowed onsite. However, imposing threats led to safety concerns and protective actions, and Kanahele was arrested. Upon his arrest, the group of approximately 40 occupiers moved to Kanahele’s property in the Waimanalo homestead, where they resided while he was imprisoned. Nearly a year later, Kanahele was released from OCCC.

The land claim and occupation were the indirect result of a legal agreement between government agencies that provided the framework for heirs to reclaim traditional family lands. Under the agreement, any land declared as “surplus” by government agencies could be claimed by its rightful Hawaiian heirs before being turned over to the state. In early 1987, the Coast Guard deemed approximately 40 acres in the Makapu’u area as “surplus.” The land had three vacant houses on it that had been abandoned by the Coast Guard after the installation of an automatic lighthouse in 1974. The state planned to remove the houses and develop the area, but those plans were halted when Kanahele and his family stepped into action.

In 1993 its members occupied Kaupo Beach, near Makapuʻu. This was another attempt to be granted land that could be run under sovereignty from the U.S. Government. Pu’uhonua Dennis ‘Bumpy” Kanahele organized a displaced and houseless group of Native Hawaiians (Kanaka Maoli) lived on the beach surrounding Kaupo Beach in Waimanalo on the island of Oʻahu. This beach was across from Sea Life Park in Hawai'i. The camp was fore-fronted by “Bumpy” Kanahele, who has rights to the land as a descendant of the Kamehameha bloodline, and used his own money to go to Sears in Hawai'i to purchase tents for families to live in. The occupation at Kaupo Beach lasted for 15 months. It eventually ended with the state granting the activist group roughly 45 acres of land that became known as "Puʻuhonua O Waimānalo: the Refuge of Waimanalo.” which today serves as the landbase of the Nation of Hawaiʻi's ongoing efforts to support the rights of Native Hawaiian self determination. The lease specified that the lands were held in trust until the "recognition of a Sovereign and Independent Nation of Hawaii" by the US, negotiations have been ongoing to enact this clause. As of 2017, however, it was stated to house seventy resident members.

Way of living

In addition to being an organization, the members of the Nation of Hawaii reside on the land they were granted by the state. Many would describe their style of living as “off the grid.” Their access to power and water is limited as they do not outsource from state-regulated companies.

Nation of Hawaiʻi hosts regular community days such as land restoration days, free food distributions, monthly markets to support local Native Hawaiian small businesses, film screenings, talks on economics and energy independence and school work days for students to learn about food security.

References

"Purpose | Aloha First". alohafirst.com. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
Weinberg, Bill (June 30, 1996). "Land and Sovereignty in Hawai'i: A Native Nation Re-emerges". Native Americas. xiii (2): 30. ProQuest 224760771.
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"Purpose | Aloha First". alohafirst.com. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
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https://www.nationofhawaii.org/news/on-this-day-in-1987-hawaiians-occupy-empty-makapuu-houses/#:~:text=On%20this%20day%20in%201987%2C%20Pu'uhonua%20Dennis%20'Bumpy,Sovereign%20Nation%20of%20Hawai'i.
Tourists coming to the water park in Hawai'i got nervous about the homeless camp displaying upside-down flags and signs saying that this is not America.
=== Risks to land ownership === The group nearly lost its land several times, due both to sentiment fostered by activists opposing the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, and questions regarding rent and liability insurance
"Native Hawaiians again seek political sovereignty with a new constitution | Washington Post". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
They attempt to remain detached from the larger community of Hawai’i.

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