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The Hawaiian sovereignty movement refers to an active political campaign for the reinstitution of an independent sovereign state of Hawai‘i separate from the United States — with a preference for the revival of the Hawaiian monarchy overthrown in 1893. An impassioned movement, the campaign has resulted in anger from anti-indigenous sovereignty advocates in America.

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 led by Interior Minister Lorrin A. Thurston with the support of an armed militia forced King David Kalākaua 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 substantially. A native Hawaiian officer and veteran of the Italian military, Robert William Wilcox, organized a rebellion in 1888 to revive the powers of the king over administration. The rebellion was thwarted by annexationist plantation owners 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 Lili‘uokalani 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 O‘ahu. 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 Hawai‘i Democratic Party and Hawai‘i 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 maxims "Hawai‘i for Hawaiians" and "Hawaiians for Hawaiians." Several members of the House of Kalākaua and House of Kawananakoa 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.

A newly elected delegate from Hawaii, 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, Wilcox challenged his colleagues for the rights of the native Hawaiian people whom he feared Congress would neglect. His impassioned pleas and vigor in debate earned him headlines throughout mainland United States newspapers. Though successful in securing some rights, Wilcox failed to advance his agenda for native Hawaiian self-determination.

The Home Rule Party proved to be an ineffective arm of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement in the Territorial Legislature. During the period that they controlled both chambers of the legislature, chaos ensued. They refused to speak English and debated vehemently in the Hawaiian language. They attempted to pass bills granting blanket amnesties to native Hawaiian prisoners, tried to grant physician licenses to kahuna and tried to lower the USD $3 tax on female dogs — a delicacy for some. Eventually, members of the royal family left the Home Rule Party to become Republicans. The Home Rule Party was disbanded after the elections of 1912.

Modern Movement

The modern Hawaiian sovereignty movement is rooted in the debates of the watershed 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention. Delegates to the convention agreed on the implementation of progressive measures to preserve Hawaiian culture and history, right the wrongs done against native Hawaiians since the arrival of British explorer Captain James Cook and create a framework for the eventual return of sovereignty should it be granted by the federal government. Most important to the Hawaiian sovereignty movement in the convention was the establishment of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The semi-autonomous department of the state government was charged with the administration of 1.8 million acres (7,300 km²) of royal land held in trust for the benefit of native Hawaiians. For the first time, native Hawaiians had a right to make their own decisions as to investment of ceded land and the collection of revenues generated to fund programs for the people.

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 Hawai‘i against the peaceful reigning government of Queen Lili‘uokalani. 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.

Objections

Like most independence campaigns throughout the world, the Hawaiian sovereignty movement does not lack its share of objections from various factions. An array of arguments have come from anti-indigenous sovereignty groups that have organized within Hawaii, as well as arguments of public opinion from the rest of the United States. One argument often made is that advocates of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement are racists, intent on taking over the Hawaiian Islands and establishing a native Hawaiian supremacist government intent on subjugating non-Hawaiian residents as second class citizens. Mainland United States citizens identify the crucial need for Hawaii for its strategic military importance and that without it, the United States would be vulnerable to attack from the west. Others argue that an independent Hawaiian state would not be able to survive without the economic support that American statehood brings. Some contend that Queen Lili‘uokalani willfully abdicated her throne and therefore the overthrow did not happen.

Activists

• S. Haunani Apoliona
• Kawaipuna Prejean
• Haunani-Kay Trask
• Mililani Trask

Quotes

• "The recovery of Hawaiian self-determination is not only an issue for Hawai‘i, 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
• "That's very critical to understanding sovereignty, to understand that Hawaiians had a nation recognized by 100-something nations in the world, we had diplomatic relations with the United States, England and other European countries and the United States committed an act of war against the Hawaiian government. Sovereignty today really begins from that historical injury." —Haunani-Kay Trask, 2004

Resources

• Core Attitudes of Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement, Kenneth R. Conklin, Ph.D.
• Office of Hawaiian Affairs
• Hawaiian Federal Recognition Bill

• Hawaii
• Sovereignty movements