Press release: Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi
November 14, 2007
In what turned out to be a cordial meeting of minds Ali'i Nui Dayne Aipoalani, High Chief of the Kingdom of Atooi met with police representatives at their office building in Lihue on Thursday November 8, concerning his and Customary Chief Robert Pa's arrest last week. The two were arrested at the historic County courthouse where they had gone to address issues of the disinterment of iwi at various building sites around the islands and charged with obstructing government operations and impersonating police officers at the August 27 Superferry protests at Nawiliwili Harbor.
While Police Chief Darryl Perry, Lt. Mark Begley, officer Gordan Isoda and arresting officer Roy Asher were intent on discussing the events of that day the conversation quickly shifted to the legitimacy of the Kingdom in its First Nation capacity as recognized by the United Nations in 1947 when its State Seal was issued. The Kingdoms delegation having just returned from Washington DC, went to the offices of Daniel Akaka, Mazie Hirono and Neil Abercrombie to present papers serving Notice of Declaration of Ownership of various lands in Hawaii. Dayne pointed out that those who went had at first been detained by the Department of Homeland Security and then given entry to Congressional offices upon the examination of their national papers and the seal from the UN. He forgave Officer Asher who had arrested him and Pa causing them discomfort, as he told him that their were some things he needed to realize. Besides the recognition from the UN there is the well documented overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, his personal lineage along with others, descending from the last king of Kauai and Kamehamea, the first king of united Hawaii. He presented documents recording lands granted to his family in the grand Mehele which incidentally include Nawiliwili harbor among many other holdings throughout greater Hawaii. He finished up noting The Apology Bill for the overthrow signed by Bill Clinton in 1993, U.S. Public Law 103 - 150, and asked the officers which part of his claims they wished to discuss first.
Needless to say there is a difference in perception between state and kingdom of who owns what and who is breaking whose laws.
The police for their part were willing to discuss these matters. Officer Asher stated that there would now be no reason to arrest "kingdom guys." They were willing to work the current situation out if stopping short of absolute recognition on their part. The High Chief said it was not in his interest to shut down county, state or federal governments, only to exercise oversight authority as the representative of the "first people" and the preservation of their endangered culture, to ensure the well being of future generations of their keiki. He also pointed out that on the badges the police wear is a representative figure of a Hawaiian Ali'i which in fact is representation of himself. He further asked the Police Department to issue an apology for his arrest to be published in the Garden Island to clear his name. They agreed to this.
The police will now examine the documents presented to them and go through their protocol "so as to protect the Kingdoms foundation so no one else gets arrested." Chief Dayne also received an E-Mail from Governor Lingle's liaison Loke Kin stating the same thing and calling for further discussion. Among those documents which included the Declaration of Ownership of Kingdom properties as mentioned; are the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, United Nations Charter, chapter 11, article 73 under which the Nation of Hawaii was placed in 1947, and recognized as First Nation.
Copies of letters sent to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Senator Daniel Akaka further delineating those charter principles and how they relate to the current situation were also presented. Among those principles listed are the rights of native peoples to self determination including the right to autonomy: political, economic and cultural determination according to their self perceived needs. The outlawing among other things, of forced assimilation, such as the event of the Hawaiian takeover, which eventually lead to statehood over the strenuous complaints of the Hawaiian leadership and people, as well as the legitimacy of claims to dispossessed lands and resources that have been lost to colonization. These letters also remind their recipients that Hawaiians are not native Americans by the obvious fact these islands are in no way part of the American continents. And that the Akaka Bill is legislation that essentially interferes with the internal affairs of what has always been an external nation and culture; and if passed will be subject to the review of international tribunals.
Also poignantly cited is the Hawaiian Kingdom - United States of America Friendship Treaty, Commerce and Navigation, Article II of 1850 that has never been revoked. In this, as in any sovereign nation, is listed the inherent right of all nations to regulate commerce and the passage of ships in territorial waters. This of course includes the ferry Alakai and its permission to enter Nawiliwili Harbor without an EIS for which actions on the night of protest Dayne and Robert were arrested.
Concerning all these complaints of political genocide and theft against the indigenous people of Hawaii, the High Chief of Atooi declared that it is high time for the Redress of Grievances promised in the American Constitution as well as various UN charters.
The promise of the Kauai Police and the Office of the Governor to sincerely review these issues perhaps denotes someone is finally listening after all.
