From speech Thursday 3-26-09 at Prince Kuhio commemoration Royal Mausoleum, Nu`uanu.

KGMB: Video (3 parts)

Youtube: Video including ka`ai remarks

I have dedicated a large part of my life to this research with one purpose in mind. And the information we have collected reached the undeniable fact that these so-called ‘ceded’ lands have never been ceded and the other so-called government lands were the Hawaiian government lands not the United States government lands. (applause)

My belief and conviction that the only recourse we Hawaiians have, that will hold up in both Hawaiian and United States law, is proof of ownership. If we can prove that there is an unbroken genealogical line of the royal family we can certainly argue that we should be able to govern monies and not be fettered with State administrations and the United States Constitution. (applause)

This certainly does not say we are bad Americans it merely says we are, in our hearts, Hawaiians first. (applause)

Our Hawaiian Homes Commission, now called Hawaiian Homelands, has continued to become more and more a bureaucratic organization. This executive-controlled group today has no semblance of what Prince Kuhio had in mind.

As for OHA, this government-controlled organization with no transparency restrictions (or) accountable(ity) to anyone is a disgrace and should be investigated and restructured. Millions have been spent on fees for NAGPRA, funding to support the Akaka Bill as well as en-masse attendance to native Indian conferences. Have they helped one needy family? I think you know the answer.

I make these disconcerting statements now because if we continue to nanakule (ignore) any longer our lands will certainly continue to slip out of our hands.

What I ask you today is to think about this. I have proved that this Hawaiian Kingdom has never legally ceded over to the United States. I plan to present this argument to the United States Supreme Court. To review the entire factual history of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Constitutional Kingdom and once and for all give us the status of inalienable rights and repeal the Rice-Cayetano ruling.

We must stand together onipa`a (steadfast) and give your ali`i the support we must have to convince the US Supreme Court that argument has merit and warrants their compliance. Just make a decision once and for all.

We are going there represented by the most powerful that represents the people. I say this in all humility because as I’ve said before that the mo`i (king) did not own the land. The Hawaiian people always owned the land. It was at the discretion of the mo`i to govern the land. But the land was always inalienable. They could not sell it. (applause

Liliuokalani spent the best part of her remaining years in Washington, DC trying to reclaim her country. I too, am tired and discouraged for I feel when I go there will be no one left to replace me. I ask for your help now only for moral support for duty demands that I go forward and take this step. (applause)

You know we lost the ka`ai many years ago and before I die I hope it will be returned and given to my family which is our family the ali`i family. It is somewhere in Waipio.

It gives my heart, it makes my… allow me to say “na`au”…to feel so touched and moved by your present your rapt attention and again Mahalo Nui Loa. (applause)

XXX

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Ali`i-based anti-Statehood effort from 1940s: The Anti-Statehood Movement and the Legacy of Alice Kamokila Campbell

LINK Abagail Kawananakoa’s opposition to NAGPRA and her demand for the return of the ka`ai. The ka`ai are 400-year old remains of Hawaii Island chiefs Liloa, and Lonoikamakahiki woven into sennit burial baskets.  The remains were stolen from Bishop Museum in 1994 and are believed to be hidden in Waipio Valley.