2020 PLATFORM LANGUAGE

• FINAL DRAFT_ 2020 PLATFORM LAN GUAGE – NATIVE HAWAIIANS v4

NATIVE HAWAIIANS

Self-Determination and Self-Governance

1. Native Hawaiians are kanaka maoli, indigenous, aboriginal people of Hawai‘i. We support Native Hawaiian rights to self-determination to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. We support their self-governance in the formation of their chosen governmental entity, to include, among others, federal recognition, restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom, independence or the existing state of affairs. We support their government having a just and equitable relationship with any government.

Consultation and Leadership Empowerment 

1. We support the continued engagement and empowerment of the Native Hawaiian community in decisions related to county, state, federal, and international affairs, and increasing the representation of Native Hawaiians in government leadership positions.

Justice and Reconciliation with the U.S.A.

1. We support Native Hawaiians in their efforts to secure justice from the federal and state governments to repair the harms suffered and endured by the Native Hawaiian people and ‘āina. We support proactive actions by the federal and state governments to enhance Native Hawaiian culture, health, language, housing, education, agriculture, and jobs. 

Public Land Trust and Stewardship

1. We urge the state to fulfill its Public Land Trust responsibilities under AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMISSION OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I INTO THE UNION, ACT OF MARCH 18, 1959, PUB L 86-3, 73 STAT 4 and pursuant to Hawai‘i State Constitution Article XVI, Section 7, and including HRS §10-13.5, which requires that 20% of the revenue be provided annually to Native Hawaiians.
2. We believe that we have a moral and profound duty to honor, respect, and enforce the state’s fiduciary obligation to malama (protect and preserve) public lands, waters, air, flora, and fauna.
3. We urge the state to use the ‘Aha Moku (generational-cultural practitioners) and implement Native Hawaiian land management practices in preserving, protecting, and sustaining Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
4. We support economic policies and practices that preserve and perpetuate Native Hawaiian cultural practices and the protection of Hawaii’s natural resources.

Home lands and Safe and Affordable Housing

1. We urge the Legislature to effectuate the Hawai‘i Constitution Article XII, Section 1, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, by appropriating sufficient funds towards Hawaiian home lands for the purpose of (1) development of home, agriculture, farm and ranch lots; (2) home, agriculture, aquaculture, farm and ranch loans; (3) rehabilitation projects to include educational, economic, political, social and cultural processes by which the general welfare and conditions of native Hawaiians are improved; and (4) the administration and operating budget of the department of Hawaiian home lands.
2. We support full funding of the Hawaiian Homes Commission budget and other housing programs to ensure that no Native Hawaiian is homeless, here in their homeland. We support the increase of affordable and safe housing and fight to significantly reduce homelessness on and off Hawaiian home lands, especially among Native youth, kupuna, and veterans.

Hawaiian Culture and Traditional & Customary Practices

1. We urge the state to protect all rights, including intellectual property rights, and those customarily and traditionally exercised by Native Hawaiians cultural and religious purposes and for subsistence, including fishing and farming.
2. We support the rights of Native Hawaiians to practice their culture and religious beliefs on Hawai‘i lands and sacred sites and urge all governmental entities to ensure access to and protection of Native Hawaiian sacred sites and cultural resources.

Health and Environmental Justice

1. We support policies that address social determinants of health that adversely impact the well-being of Native Hawaiians. We support Native Hawaiian traditional and customary medicinal treatment programs, practitioners, and practices, especially in rural and Homestead communities and when treating those with drug and substance abuse and mental illness.
2. We support Environmental Justice for Native Hawaiians that are disproportionately affected by exposure to environmental hazards, uneven negative impacts from environmental procedures and policies, targeting and zoning of toxic and waste facilities, food deserts, and little access to and insufficient maintenance of natural spaces. 

Citizen Rehabilitation and Reintegration

1. We support reforming the criminal justice system to address the disparate treatment of Native Hawaiians, including bail reform and restorative justice which includes Hoʻoponopono. We support community programs to reduce recidivism, promote wellness, vocational training, and substance abuse treatment, and to support culturally relevant and appropriate intervention programs and services and reintegration into society.

Education and Immersion Schools

1. We urge the state to comply with Hawai‘i State Constitution Article X, Section 4 to provide Hawaiian education programs consisting of language, culture and history in the public schools. We encourage the use of community expertise as a suitable and essential means in furtherance of  Hawaiian education programs.
2. We support the strengthening of Hawaiian education programs in values, language, culture, and history in the state’s public and private schools.
3. We support the full funding of Hawaiian Focused Public Charter Schools and Hawaiian Immersion Schools and courses in the public schools that include Hawaiian values, language, culture, and history. We support educational assessments that recognize culturally based education in measuring student progress.
4. We support educational attainment to include applied trades, trade schools, and post-high education.
5. We support the reform of the Zero Tolerance policy, that has disparate treatment on Native Hawaiians, to provide culturally responsive approaches to discipline and support services.

Aloha,

In preparation for todayʻs meeting, Iʻm providing the google doc link. The platform is shaping up nicely.

NEW CALL IN NUMBER for the platform committee meeting.

605-313-6163

PIN: 809760

Meeting is from 12-30 – 2:30.

Aloha,

Benton Kealii Pang, HAC recording secretary

October 6, HAC EC  Meeting, 6:00 p.m., DPH Headquarters

• Hawaiian Affairs Caucus EC Mtg Agenda Oct 6
• Calendar Link
• Mauna Kea transmittal-Sep 9-1
• Mauna Kea Resolution Aug 24 2019-1
• DPH Platform draft – august-september version 1-1

Hawaiian Affairs Caucus
Executive Committee Meeting

Oct 6, 6:00 p.m.
Dial In Number:  (712) 451-0200, access code 938390.

Agenda

Call to Order

Pule Wehe

Secretary’s Meeting Minutes

Treasurer’s Report – deferred as no change

Membership Committee Report (Melodie)

Unfinished Business

• *Mauna Kea Resolutions and next steps
• PPP Kukui Hui:  Status of HAC Donations (Kainoa)
• Three misses and out Policy (Raytan)
• HAC Uniform (Jacob)

New Business

• DPH Platform
• Resolution calling for US Compliance with International Law on the Hawaiian Islands (Melodie)
• DPH Convention HAC Presentation
• Appointment of HAC Campaign 2020 Committee

Announcements

• Future HAC Meetings:  Executive Committee, Nov 6, Dec 4
• General Membership, Oct 23, Guest speaker, William Aila, DHHL;  Nov 6 (combined), Guest speaker Robin Danner, SCHHA; Dec 11 (Holiday Party)
• All meetings at DPH, 6:00 p.m.  Check HAC website for updates, hawaiianaffairs.org

Pule Ho’oku’u

Adjournment

#1 Support the Protectors of Maunakea who oppose the building of the Thirty Millimeter Telescope (TMT); and urge the TMT International Observatory Board of Governors to withdraw its plans to build the TMT on Maunakea. (Done)

#2 Urge the State of Hawai’i and the University of Hawai‘i to escalate the Decommissioning of Telescopes on Maunakea that would have the added benefit of jobs for Hawaii’s workers (Whereas clauses should provide the info in support of this resolved clause).  Decommissioning includes complete removal of the Telescope and its facilities and restoring the land to its pristine condition.

#3 Urge the University of Hawaii and the Office of Maunakea Management to give priority to updating the Comprehensive Management Plan for Maunakea.  (We need to give the reasons as to why the current plan isn’t working in the Whereas clauses)

CALLING UPON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW IN ITS PROLONGED AND ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

WHEREAS, On November 28, 1843, both Great Britain and France jointly recognized the Hawaiian Kingdom as an independent and sovereign State and admittance into the Great Family of Nations; and

WHEREAS, The Hawaiian Kingdom maintained over 90 embassies and consulates throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, November 28^th is a national holiday throughout the country called La Ku`oko`a (Independence Day); and

WHEREAS, President Grover Cleveland on December 18, 1893, after investigating the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom government, stated, when “a detachment of marines from the United States steamer Boston, with two pieces of artillery, landed on Honolulu . . . supplied with double cartridge belts filled with ammunition and with haversacks and canteens and were accompanied by a hospital corps with stretchers and medical supplies . . . was of itself an act of war”; and

WHEREAS, President Cleveland further concluded that by “an act of war, committed with the participation of a diplomatic representative of the United States and without the authority of Congress, the Government of a feeble but friendly and confiding people has been overthrown”; and

WHEREAS, Customary international law at the time required the United States, as the occupying State, to administer the laws of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the occupied State, which was later codified under Article 43 of the 1907 Hague Regulations and Article 64 of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention; and

WHEREAS, The United States has not carried out its obligations under international humanitarian law; and

WHEREAS, The United States Congress purported to annex the Hawaiian Islands by a joint resolution of Congress on July 7, 1898; and

WHEREAS, The United States Constitutions does not grant the U.S. Congress a power to annex another country; and

WHEREAS, Neither a joint resolution nor a statute enacted by the U.S. Congress can have any legal effect beyond the borders of the United States and affect the sovereignty of a foreign State; and

WHEREAS, The 1898 joint resolution of annexation is not a treaty whereby the Hawaiian Kingdom ceded its sovereignty to the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, The United States Congress has enacted municipal laws and unlawfully imposed these laws within the territory of the Hawaiian Kingdom in violation of international law; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, in Larsen v. Hawaiian Kingdom, accepted a case that on “the unlawful imposition of American municipal laws . . . within the territorial jurisdiction of the Hawaiian Kingdom”; and

WHEREAS, Under international law, all States have sovereign equality, and have equal rights and duties as co-equal members of the international community regardless of their economic, social, and political differences; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai`i calls upon the United States of America to immediately begin to comply with international humanitarian law in its prolonged and illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Islands.