A Plea for Sovereignty on Independence Day: Free Film Showing at `Iolani Palace
July 3rd, 2009 by Trisha Kehaulani WatsonCatherine Bauknights' documentary film "Hawai`i, A Voice for Sovereignty" recently won the Audience Award for Best Hawai`i film at the Maui Film Festival. The documentary will be showing free at `Iolani Palace on Saturday, July 4th, 2009 in the Kanaina Building on the Palace grounds. Should the crowd exceed room limits, an additional showing will occur immediately after to accommodate those wanting to see the film.
The film was shot over a four year period and has been shown throughout the country. From a recent press release:
Filmmaker Catherine Bauknight is from Pasadena, CA and has shot the film over the past four years by traveling to and from the islands extensively."Hawaii A Voice For Sovereignty" explores the culture and spirituality of the native Hawaiian People and its connection to the lands This modern epic documentary contains rare interviews with Native Hawaiians in their homes, at sacred sites, in mountains and the rain forests. The Indigenous Hawaiians reveal their quest to secure their Hawaiian rights as the host culture, and their economic, social, and ecological future. By bridging their ancient knowledge with wisdom and modern technologies such as wind, solar, and wave renewable energy and agricultural land systems they move towards their goal of sustainability. "I'm honored to win this award in the homeland and be able to share this great accomplishment with the people who created this documentary ” says filmmaker and world renowned photographer Catherine Bauknight.
The Hawaiians blogged for a screening of “Hawaii a Voice for Sovereignty” to come to Hawaii after reading information in the Honolulu Advertiser regarding the private screening in conjunction with US representative Neil Abercrombie at the Capitol Building in Washington DC June 4th. The screening was well attended and officials from the office of Hawaiian Affairs, Nancy Pelosi’s office and California US Representative Adam Schiff attended the private Capitol Hill reception and screening.
Filmmaker Catherine Bauknight responded to these requests by calling Maui Film Festival director and founder Barry Rivers four days before the kick off to the Maui Film Festival to request that the documentary be screened at the festival. River's quick response was astounding to Bauknight. She said that he coordinated the schedule so that the film could be included in full support of the Native Hawaiian Community and to get the educational and historic information out to the public. Barry Rivers says “ With both with factual accuracy and a Hawaiian Heart "Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty" travels to all points on the compass to deliver the most up-to-date and well informed look at the status of the quest for sovereignty by native Hawaiians in a way that makes the subject accessible to all at this important crossroads in the history of the movement., Highly recommended to all''
“Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty” premiered on Sunday June 21st at the Maui Film festival at the beautiful Wailea Beach under the stars and had a supportive local Hawaiian audience of approximately 400 people attend. The film was preceded by the short film " Power " which comes from Al Gores organization "The Climate Project" which complimented the themes of renewable energy in Hawaii. The Audience was touched by many emotions and treated to a sense of revelation about how the Hawaiians lived and were able to understand the history of Hawaiians since the takeover and what their struggles are today to avoid extinction. The film garnered a favorable review in the Maui Weekly and writer Paul Janes Brown said “I think “Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty” Hawaiian should be required viewing for every school child in Hawaii and every tourist should see it on the plane” Currently “Hawaii A Voice for Sovereignty” is in talks for a theatrical release in Los Angeles, New York and Hawaii and is touring the film circuit.
A wonderful demo of the film can be filmed on Bauknights' website, available here.
I applaud Bauknights' efforts, because it seems that she fully understands how non-Hawaiians can create amazing opportunities for Native Hawaiians to have a voice and plea for their self-determination. She lets Hawaiians speak for themselves. Something people are not always very good at doing. I have not seen the film, but loved every second of the demo available on her sight, because Hawaiians like practitioner Charles Ka`upu and scholar Dr. Haunani Kay Trask provide wonderful insight as to the deep ancestral relationship Native Hawaiians have with the land. Bauknight seems to have captured the fundamental importance of this relationship in her film, and I hope that those who still struggle to understand why this familial and ancestral relationship to Hawai`i establishes a reasonable basis for providing Native Hawaiian a special political status will see this documentary.
I believe every human has a fundamental obligation to himself or herself to educate ourselves about things we do not fully understand. Perhaps it's why I stayed in school so long and obtained three degrees in American Studies (B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.); I didn't understand American values. They seemed blindly selfish and destructive. I, over the course of my studies, came to understand about the role the Dark Ages played in the philosophical bases of the Enlightment and that era's influence on the values which founded America. I understand Americans, even if I don't always agree with their ways, because I spent the better part of my life studying and learning about Americans and their values.
I only wish those who do not yet understand Hawaiians and our values would extend us that same courtesy.
Tags: 'Iolani Palace, Bauknight, independence, Native Hawaiian, sovereignty
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
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July 4th, 2009 at 7:40 am
July 4 is a double holiday for Hawaii -- 1776 and 1894
July 4, 1776 marked the creation of the United States through the Declaration of Independence. Hawaii proudly celebrates that date as part of our heritage because Hawaii joined the union.
July 4, 1894 marked the creation of the Republic of Hawaii through the publication of its Constitution. At least five delegates to the Constitutional Convention were native Hawaiians; the Constitution was published in both English and Hawaiian; the Speaker of the House was former royalist John Kaulukou.
Let's remember what Hawaii was like on America's birthdate in 1776. Captain Cook had not yet arrived. Hawaiians were living in the stone age. They had not yet invented the wheel, had no written language, and no clay pottery. They had only extremely small amounts of metal that washed up in driftwood from sunken ships. There was constant warfare among competing warlords. There was no concept of human rights -- both slavery and human sacrifice were practiced. The death penalty was imposed on anyone who stepped on the shadow of a high chief, or any woman who ate a banana or coconut.
Things had functioned that way for a thousand years and would have remained unchanged except for the arrival of British explorers in 1778, followed by European and American whalers and businessmen, and then American missionaries in 1820. Hawaiians eagerly embraced reading and writing, Christian religion, human rights, private property rights, a market economy, the rule of law, etc. In 1893 a revolution led by a local militia with 1500 members put an end to a corrupt and ineffective monarchy, replacing it with a republic.
Thus we Hawaiians celebrate a double holiday on July 4, for both 1776 and 1894. Unfortunately most citizens today don't know why the Republic's creation was an important step on the path toward joining the United States.
The Republic was internationally recognized de jure as the legitimate government of Hawaii. Formal letters of recognition were rediscovered a few months ago in our state archives. They had been sent to President Sanford Dole, personally signed by Emperors, Kings, Queens, and Presidents of at least 20 nations, on four continents, in eleven languages. Photographs of the originals are at
http://tinyurl.com/4wtwdz
along with Liliuokalani's letter of abdication and oath of loyalty to the Republic. Thus Hawaii continued as an independent nation whose internationally recognized government was no longer the Kingdom but the Republic.
Queen Victoria's gracious letter recognizing the Republic, calling Sanford Dole her "friend", was especially significant because of Britain's long and close relationship with the Hawaiian monarchy. Princess Liliuokalani had attended Victoria's coronation. Victoria was godmother to Queen Emma's baby Prince Albert. Emma herself was granddaughter of British sailor John Young, without whom Kamehameha could not have succeeded in unifying Hawaii (Young's tomb is in Mauna Ala (the Royal Mausoleum) and protected with a pair of sacred puloulou (kapu sticks). But Queen Victoria knew the Hawaiian monarchy was finished, and switched her diplomatic recognition to the Republic.
What's above is the beginning of a longer essay. The complete essay, including links to some important documents of the Republic of Hawaii, can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/68u7nz
So happy birthday to our nation, the United States of America. And happy birthday to the Republic of Hawaii, internationally recognized as the rightful successor government following the revolution that overthrew the Hawaii monarchy, and which set the stage for annexation and statehood.
July 4th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
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July 5th, 2009 at 2:42 am
KKK ken back again nothing better to do but spread hate, I say back to your pig pen piggy and go quick before we hawaiians do what we do best to pigs (your meat will smell like slop I know cause thats what you eat) oink oink kenny boy oink oink LMAO Twitter that! Aloha Dr. Watson keep on keepin on, thanks for what your doing Aloha
July 5th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
" I understand Americans, even if I don't always agree with their ways, because I spent the better part of my life studying and learning about Americans and their values."
Wow. My Russian and French friends used to say they understood Americans, until Obama was elected, now they say they have no idea: Bush to Obama!
You have I hope actually read de Tocqueville, Bryce, Trollope, and José Martí ? If not what did they actually teach you at UH? American studies in many universities is the left wing separtist soft schism from the history department. Did you face opposing views or were you comfortable in your preconceptions?
Studying cultures at UH is not a good way to understand them. I would suggest a tour of the Midwest, the Appalachians, the South and Maine.
I have spent much time in several cultures. I love them but I still do not understand them except that I think they are like everyone else. No better, no worse. Just human.
The question arises as to whether you are willing to learn. The same question arises for all of Hawaii which appears to be at the brink of economic collapse. The kānaka maoli learned fast or died in the old days. I'd hate to see the old ways have died out.
July 5th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
McKenzie,
Your comments and questions were insulting to those who were my teachers. I have had great, engaged teachers my entire life. Everyone should be as lucky as I was to have great teachers, who taught their students (above all else) to enjoy and respect the pursuit of knowledge. So yes, I've read those authors - I'm assuming Bryce is Alfredo Bryce and Trollope is Anthony Trollope (although I find it a little funny you would question my authority in American Studies by listing all non-American authors). For reference, I've read American writers too. I've also read a great deal out of Africa, Ngugi (who I got to meet last year) and Soyinka being two of my favorites, Eastern Europe, South America, the Pacific, and I'm a particular fan of the post-colonial literature of the Caribbean.
When I was getting my BA in American Studies, ALL my professors were conservative white males, who were wonderful, brilliant men and amazing mentors. They taught me a great deal. Mostly, they taught me never to be comfortable with my preconceptions.
My MA is from Washington State, only a couple hours from Coeur D`Alene, when the Aryan Nation was still there. I've been physically confronted by opposing viewpoints. I've been mistaken for being black, Mexican, and Muslim, and as a result I have been called names that should never be used by anyone against anybody. So your assessment of my education is not accurate. I've been to most of the states, even lived in a couple. I've spent time in other countries as well.
So do I think Americans are like other cultures? No, because a professor (a conservative, white male professor who served as my dearest mentor for years) once taught me that the majority of the world is poor, non-white, and has little formal education. Americans are not like other groups. I'm not saying they're better... or worse... but that country is not like others.
I've spent 30 years in school. I'm unclear as to how a question arises as to my willingness to learn.
Na`u
July 6th, 2009 at 11:25 am
My comments and questions should not be insulting to your teachers. If they are any good, they should welcome being challenged. You should also welcome my challenging your education and you should know if you in fact had a proper education that how others look at us is often helpful in understanding ourselves (thus Trollope et al). And it was James Bryce, not Alfredo.
You say you've been "physically confronted by opposing viewpoints". Well I've been shot at by Marxist guerrillas but that did not improve my understanding of the Salvadorian situation. That happened when I lived with a local farmer and family.
I find it strange to see you arguing for American neocom exceptionalism. Americans are like most other cultures in that we have the poor and the rich, we just have more rich than most. We have deeply held cultural values but they are not at the surface and people mistake our media for our values.
You have spent 30 years in school? If you are willing to learn, then get out in the real world and dive into other cultures. Cultures are made up of individuals and all individuals when you get past the outer shell basically want the same things. The trick has always been how to get governments to satisfy those needs above the village level. As an individual how can you make a contribution? That is where academia meets the real world.
"True wisdom is less presuming than folly. The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance."— Akhenaton
July 6th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
McKenzie,
Two quotes from my dissertation:
"Anyone who wants to know the human psyche will learn next to nothing from experimental psychology. He would be better advised to abandon exact science, put away his scholar's gown, bid farewell to his study, and wander with a human heart through the world. There in the horrors of prisons, lunatic asylums and hospitals, in drab suburban pubs, in brothels and gambling-hells, in the salons of the elegant, the Stock Exchanges, socialist meetings, churches, revivalist gatherings and ecstatic sects, through love and hate, through the experience of passion in every form in his own body, he would reap richer stores of knowledge than text-books a foot thick could give him, and he will know how to doctor the sick with a real knowledge of the human soul."
Carl Jung
"We must then begin to erase our old concepts and come ever closer and ever more critically to the people. Not in the way we got closer before, because all of you will say: “No, I am a friend of the people. I enjoy talking with workers and peasants, and on Sundays I go to such and such a place to see such and such a thing.” Everybody has done that. But they have done it practising charity, and what we have to practise today is solidarity. We should not draw closer to the people to say: “Here we are. We come to give you the charity of our presence, to teach you with our science, to demonstrate your errors, your lack of refinement, your lack of elementary knowledge.” We should go with an investigative seal and with a humble spirit, to learn from the great source of wisdom that is the people."
Che Guevara
After being raised an American, under American law and rule, immersed in American culture, I, as a Hawaiian, don't feel particularly obligated to spend more time learning about Americans. I feel a far deeper obligation to learn more about Hawaiians, about my own family and my history. It our people who need to insist upon taking time to further education ourselves about our knowledges, traditions and practices - our language. I intend to spend the rest of my life being a devout student of the my own native culture. My philosophies derive most from liberal political theory, like Rawls, who I consider to be a modern political transcendentalist. We ask for justice and believe that it is a fundamentally human pursuit and request.
Your first comment implied I've never picked up a book in my life.
The second implied I've never spent a day among people.
Both are terribly incorrect and naive assumptions.
Na`u
July 6th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Aloha,
I am an American & Hawaiian.
I have come to better understand America via the grass roots level while using that experience against what I've learned in American history and like Duke Kahanamoku & Don Ho, I've found Aloha and kind folks everywhere I went traveling now for nearly thirty years all over the continental US & Canada.
The American heritage is a thing of beauty & like any other culture spoiled by a few rotten eggs.
I've learned a lot about Col. William Floyd and live beside his family home that is now a historical site.
He was a hard worker whom never complained and instead had solutions.
He was a farmer, a politician and outstanding leader whom signed the Declaration of Independence.
I found it my business to learn something new every single day of my life & through my own lens and intellect; I have opposing views.
It is also my duty to bring the world into my children's view.
My grandma whom was pure Hawaiian & never complained like many today whom constantly complain about the overthrow like a broken record.
My grandma never said bad things like that and instead pleaded for hard work and love; Aloha was her driving force!
She raised fifteen kids in Waipio Valley; Valley of the King's. They have contributed big time with their Aloha Spirit being kind to every human no matter what their race, color or creed!
Go out and do something constructive for our culture & use direct action vice your wishes. Do it! Quit talking! That's what I know as the Hawaiian way through so many outstanding Hawaiian examples. That's what Surfing taught me.
Queen Liliuokalani gave us the gift of Aloha; A Powerful attribute and driving force that has no room for hate and mud slinging!
My auntie Alice Namakelua, A True Hawaiian, was all about Aloha and educating youngsters teaching them Hula, Slack Key and about the power of Aloha.
She made Poki for Queen Liliuokalani and ate with her!
She didn't have a bad bone in her body like so many of our Hawaiian leaders that the Hawaiian's don't deserve!
Or the negative attitude that continues to decimate our kids making them hateful, spiteful and out of touch with Aloha; the gift from our Loving Queen!
When one has a narrow prospective in life, it's hard to make informed decisions and a weak experience base precludes one from seeing the truth!
There's good and bad everywhere and every single nation a victim of another persons greed.
I never believe too much of what I read and decided long ago to experience things first hand before I run my big mouth.
Though I applaud the works of the filmmaker for her concerted effort, I see it and those negative films like it, to be poison for so many because we should decide upon where in the heck we are going as Hawaiian's and get in there and do it because actions speak much louder than words.
So far, Barack is the only Hawaiian kicking butt and taking names and never complains or cries foul. He uses Aloha as fuel to overcome any obstacle.
He took Queen Liliuokalani's gift and intentions and lives by it while other's with credentials are spinning their wheels living a dream.
Certificates of achievement's and degrees mean squat when you can't apply what you've learned and many of the great teaching's don't come from learning institutions and instead through experience; our Kupuna!
Having come from a Hawaiian farming family & understanding what it takes to til the soil & truly doubt if many of our Hawaiian leaders have the strength, know how and courage to do so & more worried about breaking a finger nail.
If you have not done it, how in the heck can you lead Hawai'i?
Fighting for ceded land is one thing & much of the lands in our possession remains crop less wasting away like dust in the wind.
The yard stick for me is Waimea Ahupua'a because there's been big talk about making it a living Ahupua'a as it once was and I am looking forward to the experience to compare today against what I saw when my Rancher Uncle Paul owned the place in 1964.
Much of what my Hawaiian side of the family has taught me through experience is radically contrary to what I've read of late & I am highly offended by the bickering and focus on small potato's and BS.
The question for our Hawaiian leaders is where in the heck are you taking us?
It's like the republican stimulus plan; empty.
I am hoping that new blood will rise as was the case with Barack Obama because I know so many Hawaiian's feel the same way and why many could care less about present day leadership because they know too that much of it is Waha because actions speak louder than any word or film can captivate.
The Duke did things by example as was the case in Stockholm, Sweden.
Duke Kahanamoku learned about America through experience and had so many great words about those whom took him in like we do with the Hanai system and in New Jersey of all places. Many of his closest friends were fellow Americans!
Hoping for a Hawai'i our Queen envisioned after her overthrow vice the Hawai'i a few bad eggs have defined for us!
She was ahead of her time and far more educated than those whom claim fame at the expense of other Hawaiian's.
How about a reality check please?
I am hoping that someone will come forward and make a film about the other side of a coin vice the contrary.
The Aloha Spirit is worldwide and an attribute to Queen Liliuokalani.
Let's finish what her majesty started & get back on track!
Hoping to see more love vice hate; Aloha!
Aloha is the way to go.........Titus Kinimaka...Hawaiian Waterman and ex-Primo Warrior!
Moke Young
July 6th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Jung and Che are so 60s. All that is needed is a little Hesse.
Life is short and I haven't time for cerebral narcissists who don't listen. I hope you will in time earn wisdom without gaining too many scars and, if you don't, that you never get into a position where you can break anything. The world already has too many true believers.
July 7th, 2009 at 3:26 am
I agree with Moke...well put, brother...
July 7th, 2009 at 5:01 am
Aloha Moke Young ~
Those are some of the most beautiful words I've read in a long time. Mahalo nui loa for your wisdom and grace. Yes, the Hawaiian people have suffered (and stiff suffer) injustices. Yes, there are unfair situations on the islands. But turning to hate, isolation and anger only destroys what is and always has been the best in this culture -- the A*L*O*H*A spirit.
The Hawaiian history is a rich, robust and visionary culture. It champions love, acceptance, tolerance and sharing. We are at a crossroads now in human civilization. We can march forward furthering aloha or we can return to the policies and practices of self-destruction.
Moke, I hope you run for office. You are a gifted leader and brilliant role model. I pray that others listen to you and follow your example.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
The fundamental defect in the righteousness and validity of the Hawaiian Sovereignty cause is that it takes what is in fact a political issue and turns it into a racial one. Until that flaw is rectified, the cause is doomed to failure not only in achieving its goals but in being legitimate and credible.