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The Hawaiian sovereignty movement is in reference to an active political campaign for the reinstitution of an independent sovereign state of Hawaii separate from the United States — with a preference for the revival of the Hawaiian monarchy overthrown in 1893.

Wilcox Rebellions

The first organized factions of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement were established even before the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. In 1887, a group of American-born government ministers with the support of an armed militia forced King David Kalakaua at gunpoint to promulgate what is now called the Bayonet Constitution. The constitution stripped native Hawaiians of their voting rights while at the same time empowered Americans and other white foreigners to make decisions for the island nation. The king's own powers were limited. A native Hawaiian officer and veteran of the Italian military, Robert William Wilcox, organized a rebellion in 1888 to return the king's power over administration. The rebellion was thwarted by annexationist businessmen and Wilcox was tried for treason.

Acquitted from any wrongdoing, Wilcox organized a second rebellion in 1889 in attempt to forcibly unseat the Americans that had appointed themselves to the Privy Council — the royal cabinet. Again, Wilcox was unsuccessful and tried for treason. Acquitted a second time, Wilcox organized a third rebellion in 1895 in protest of the unfair trial of Queen Liluokalani at the hands of the American Judge Advocate General's Corps. Wilcox planned to attack government buildings in downtown Honolulu at night. Armaments were landed on the beaches of Oahu. The armaments were found and Wilcox was tried for treason once more. This time Wilcox was found guilt and sentenced to death. However, President of Hawaii Sanford B. Dole pardoned Wilcox.

Home Rule Party

As soon as the United States annexed the Hawaiian Islands and established the Territory of Hawaii, native Hawaiians became worried that both the Hawaii Democratic Party and Hawaii Republican Party were incapable of truly understanding and fully accepting of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. In 1900, native Hawaiians and their supporters created the Home Rule Party under the maxim "Hawaiians for Hawaiians." Several members of the House of Kalakaua became involved in the party. In the first election, the Home Rule Party succeeded in becoming the majority party in the Territorial House of Representatives and Territorial Senate. They even sent Robert William Wilcox to represent the territory in the United States Congress.

Newly appointed Delegate Wilcox proved to be key in the overall agenda of the Home Rule Party. He became the direct link between the Congress that supported the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and the members of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. On the floor of the United States House of Representatives, Delegate Wilcox challenged his colleagues for the rights of the native Hawaiian people whom he feared Congress would neglect.

Apology Resolution

The first official recognition of the wrongdoing of American involvement in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy came with the November 15, 1993 signing of United States Public Law 103-150 by President of the United States Bill Clinton. Also called the Apology Resolution, the law apologized for having used military force and having supported the actions of the Minister to Hawaii against the peaceful reigning government of Queen Liliuokalani. Republican United States Senator Slade Gorton remarked, "The logical consequences of this resolution would be independence." Along with events memorializing the centennial anniversary of the overthrow, the passage of the law revitalized the Hawaiian sovereignty movement with an infusion of a new generation of activists.

Quotes

• "The recovery of Hawaiian self-determination is not only an issue for Hawaii, but for America. Let all of us, Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian, work toward a common goal. Let us resolve to advance a plan for Hawaiian sovereignty." —Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano, 1998
• "This is a historical issue, based on a relationship between an independent government and the United States of America, and what has happened since and the steps that we need to take to make things right." —Governor Linda Lingle, 2003

• Sovereignty movements