History and People

B. HISTORY

1. Nation of Hawai’i Educational Packet

November 23, 1993 – United State Public Law 103-150, the Apology Resolution

December 28, 1993 – International Law Professor Francis A. Boyle – legal opinion

January 16, 1994 – Proclamation Restoring the Sovereign Nation State of Hawai’i

January 16, 1995 – Iolani Palace – Promulgation of the Nation of Hawaii Constitution

C. PEOPLE (Distinct Population)

2. Summary

The entire present population of Hawai’i is approximately 1.43 million. The U.S. and local censuses have recorded a total of 1.36 million population in the 2010 reports. Oahu is the largest, with a population of 953,207 (including the city of Honolulu). Next largest Hawai`i itself, holding 186,738 people, followed closely by Maui, at144,444 people. The only other island with a sizeable population is Kaua`i at 66,921. The remaining islands are Moloka`i (7,345), Lana`i (3,135), and Niihau (170). [2] The Island of Kaho`olawe is inhabited part time for restoration, recovery, and future re-habitation.

The population of Hawai`i comprises one of the most diverse ethnic mixtures in the world, with many races of people having gathered and lived relatively harmoniously for over a century. Along with their Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) hosts, Caucasian, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Pacific Island peoples are all well-represented. Unfortunately, the Kanaka Maoli have benefitted the least and suffered the most of all populations in Hawai`i from the Territory’s forced integration with the United States in 1959 and the current system of economics, politics, and land administration. Kanaka Maoli suffer the most negative statistics across the board in indicators of economic and social wellbeing, including mortality rate, suicide rate, disease, unemployment, poverty, under education, illiteracy, houseless-ness, substance abuse, domestic violence, etc. [3] Addressing these realities and providing for the betterment of the lives of the original people of Hawai`i is an immediate essential priority for the Nation of Hawai`i, and will result in the betterment of the society as a whole.

3. Culture Heritage

Within Hawai`i’s broad ethnic population there exists a strong awareness and community participation in the perpetuation of cultural heritage in all aspects of life. The Kanaka Maoli, as the host people, have developed governing systems of culture and traditions guiding the direction of native cultural affairs in Hawai`i, and providing the basic fabric of life into which all other cultures are woven. Other ethnic groups in Hawai’i are generally comfortable with the local host culture and excel in the understanding of it through education, preservation, entertainment, lifestyles and in the common dealings of everyday life of society. Hawaiian cultural values and traditions embodied in such words as aloha (love), `ohana (family), and aloha `aina (love of the land) are understood and respected widely throughout the society. Conversely, there is a deep appreciation among the Kanaka Maoli for other ethnic traditions and cultures. Racial intermarriage is common and easily accepted, and mutual tolerance and respect among different cultures is exceptionally high. Modern Hawai`i, with its roots in the Kanaka Maoli culture, has branched out to include the best of the many different traditions which have blessed these shores.

“But my diffusion of American democracy and enterprise with Hawaiian culture mixed now by immigration and intermarriage with Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino and other work ways and mind sets has produced one of the worlds most intriguing experiments in the building of a multicultural society.  Former President of the University of Hawai’i, Harland Cleveland

4. Religion

The host religion of Hawai`i is a highly organized belief system founded in Natural Law. The arrival of Europeans brought a strong impact of missionary Christendom, and later, along with the immigrant plantation workers, came many other religions of Eastern belief systems. Today there is a variety of religious and spiritual expression, with no major conflicts among the diverse beliefs and practices. There is however a disenfranchised system of belief found in the Kanaka Maoli peoples, where Customary practice and Christian practice clash on certain cultural and traditional levels. It is intended that we shall mend these differences with the restoration of the peoples concerned in the Nation of Hawai`i.

5. Language

`Olelo Hawai`i, the Hawaiian language, is the first official language of the Nation of Hawai`i, and English and Pidgin English are also official languages. The use of ‘olelo Hawai`i is increasing as more classes and immersion programs are developed, and this process will be accelerated under the Nation of Hawai`i. English is the most widely spoken language, and is used in most formal and business settings. Pidgin English, a distinct mixture of languages that is spoken to some degree by much of the local inhabitants, is preferred by many for conversing informally. A wide variety of other languages are also spoken in the various ethnic communities, including Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Spanish, Portugese, Vietnamese, Tonga, Samoan, etc.