Dr. Keanu Sai, political scientist, made a formal request today to Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs at the Dept. of Interior, Esther Kia‘aina, to provide evidence that the United States extinguished Hawai‘i’s sovereignty under international law. In his email to Kia‘aina that included the formal letter, Dr. Sai stated:
Please find attached a formal request for the U.S. Department of Interior to provide evidence that Hawai‘i’s sovereignty was extinguished under international law from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel. According to Title 28 U.S.C. §510, the Office of Legal Counsel has been delegated by the Attorney General the responsibility for preparing formal opinions to the various Executive branch agencies, which includes the Department of Interior. Dr. Kamana‘opono Crabbe, CEO of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs attempted to do this with the Secretary of State, but it was “politically” derailed.
Under international law, the Hawaiian Kingdom as it was in the 19th century is presumed to continue to exist today with all its laws intact, unless the United States can show that it unequivocally extinguished Hawai‘i’s sovereignty under international law. In other words, the burden is not on Hawaiians to prove the Hawaiian Kingdom “does” exist, but rather that burden is shifted onto the United States, through its Department of Interior, to prove that the Hawaiian Kingdom “doesn’t” exist.
Now with the recent Department of Interior hearings, the continuity of the Hawaiian Kingdom as a sovereign State was clearly displayed by the testimony of individuals, both professional and private, that have been formally and informally educated on the matter. If the United States Federal government can show clear and undeniable evidence to not only Hawai‘i’s people, but to the entire world, that its has extinguished the Hawaiian Kingdom as provided for by international law, then the prospect of federal recognition can move forward without a any problems, except for maybe U.S. law such as Rice v. Cayetano. But if it cannot, then we will deal with 121 years of violating Hawai‘i’s sovereignty and the international laws of occupation and the issues will now be restitution and reparations and the movement toward de-occupation.
This is a very serious matter with profound legal, political and economic ramifications for not only the residents of the Hawaiian Islands, which includes resident aliens, but also for the international community at large whereby countries and their nationals have been affected as well, especially when these countries continue to have treaties with Hawai‘i.
The Honolulu Civil Beat has published Dr. Sai’s letter as an “open letter.”
[Correction: The letter was resent to Assistant Secretary of Insular Affairs, Esther Kia‘aina with the corrected date. The original letter was mistakenly dated August 5, 2013 when it should have been August 5, 2014.]
Click here to download the original letter in PDF with hotlinks.
Mahalo Keanu for taking this initiative, no matter how they answer it, it is a step that needs to be taken for clarification as to why the US continues to perpetuate their lies and continued illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
I also would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the sacrifices you have been making to help us educate our people living on the Continent. Because of you agreeing to Kokua us with our grassroots organizing, we are making a powerful impact on the Continent.
Our VOICES are uniting with the VOICES of those at home in Hawaii nei. Many are standing firm for the Hawaiian Kingdom and our Queen Liliuokalani.
Mahalo nui,
Meliss
Melissa, Now that I find a way to contact you, I want to thank you very much for your kind words on Amazon concerning my book “Liberate Hawai’i!” I am doing my best here on the East Coast to educate folks. I have recently been interviewed by our local weekly newspaper, a great community radio station, and two cable TV programs, each half an hour. Direct communication from folks on the aina to me is welcomed!
Nice work. I am amazed that these people are so devoid of diplomacy and courtesy toward the Hawaiian people they claim to be of that they would be so disparaging toward what should be a celebrated level of participation in their rushed hearings.
Shout it out, Mr. Kane! Mahalo Keanu! And does anyone know how to spell, “hanaokolele”? ; )
Yes, nice work on that letter.
I am in no way amazed “..that these people are so devoid of diplomacy and courtesy toward the Hawaiian people..” And especially with the current collusion with Israel in ongoing mass murders.
From:Pamela Leihuanani Pinto-Averill To:Dr. Keanu Sai, We all have taken a deep breath of relief by reading this letter you have wrote to Ester Kia’aina sec. for insular affairs and the Department Of Interior and all other to whom it may concern homesteaders. May the Light shine brightly on the TRUTH of our Hawaiian Kingdom and that it’s existence lives within the people. The Kingdom of Hawai’i Thanks you, for you have given the people of Hawai’i hope and comfort. This is the momentum we’ve been waiting for, someone to defend our birthright to be free give our children liberty E Ala E by IZ. I wonder while you were in school studying if you knew that you were going to make History and books of many imprints well say your name? Wonder if you knew that you were going to change the course of life in Hawai’i occupation by the US? I wonder if you knew that your Doctoral Dissertation for your PHD was going to be the turning point of your people? Now we all sit in waiting for a response by the US the ball is in their court. For the people have spoken, God let them play fair and may all against the truth become your footstools. Amen
You did it Pamela!!! We welcome you……..
Mahalo my brother Dutchy for the welcome and yes I am proud to be apart of this awesome team, Kanaka Maoli and the Hawaiian Kingdom.
John Kerry tried to avoid responding to Kamana’opono’s letter by sending the DOI here to hold these bogus and illegal meetings. Now Dr. Sai is putting pressure on Esther and the DOI to answer these questions as well…..they can hide no longer!!!
Mahalo to all of you who have remained steadfast to our Queen, her Kingdom and its people!!!
Mahalo Keanu and The Acting Hawaiian Kingdom Government!!!
ONIPA’A KAKOU!!!
Love it, Dr. Keanu Sai. Jab, Jab, uppercut, left Hook & a Right cross! Floored! TKO!
I do appreciate your Fight for all our Rights. Standing strong for all people of Hawai’i nei.
Mahalo nui loa,
Malama Pono,
Aloha
Eo
Mahalo Keanu for your letter to Esther Kia`aina. Burden of proof now lays upon her shoulder. Now she has the burden of proof.
Aloha piha
Mahalo e Keanu. Once again, you have said and done what needed to be said and done.
Mahalo Dr. Sai for that letter to Esther Kia’aina and those who were cc’d. Nice way to spread the liability, got their DNA all over this War Crime. OHA Trustee’s may have gotten Secretary of State John Kerry off the hook by rescinding Dr. Crabbe’s letter, only to have the burden now fall squarely on the DOI, sweeet.
Mahalo to you Keanu, We met few years ago and I knew that something about you was pono. I am not much for words but I tell everyone that I come in contact with here in Utah the “REAL STORY” I live every day to see Hawai’i Free again. The civic club here in Salt Lake is going to have a meeting this month before the 19th to push for the Fed’s so I am going to be there and make sure that we have a voice. Mahalo, Mahalo Keanu for teaching me to know and understand. Kue!
Dr. Sai’s letter attached is dated August 5, 2013 and the posting is dated August 5, 2014. I am available for proof-reading of all letters, documents, briefs, etc. Please contact me if I may be of any assistance to the Kingdom of Hawaii. Please make correction so there is NO questions from the DOI, OHA, State Dept. of the USA or anyone else in the World Community. Mahalo. Aloha Aina!! Peace on our Mother earth island.
Big alphas keanu!! I love the knowledge you share with us kanaka maoli! You changed my thinking tremendously in many ways! Mahalo my braddah for all you do for our people and our kingdom.
Mahalo nui loa e Dr. Keanu Sai for all the work you and your friends and fellows do and have done toward the freedom of our people and islands… At 69 years old, my prayer is to live to see our Kingdom’s flag raised and the US flag and military removed from our homelands… I honor your bravery and perserverance on your chosen path to righteousness… May Ke Akua hold you close to His heart…
Cheeee! Right on Dr. Sai for not letting our voices and questions be silenced by the U.S. They can only avoid the question for so long. Kingdom of Hawai’i Ea! Ea!
Bravo, Dr. Sai! Bravo! Unless the U.S. Government can provide overwhelming evidence, ONCE AGAIN, that Hawaii is legally U.S. sovereign territory (treaty of annexation), this is gonna be STRIKE 3 for them!
-The Larson Case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2000; No member of the U.S. Government appeared in said case to provide evidence that Hawaii is legally U.S. sovereign territory.
STRIKE 1
-Dr. Kamana‘opono Crabbe, CEO of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a U.S. State of Hawaii government organization, sent a formal letter in May 2014 to the U.S. Department of State asking if the H.K. still exist as an independent state under International Law. Since then, no response.
STRIKE 2
And now this letter is basically asking the same thing like Dr. Crabbes formal letter. Do I detect a STRIKE 3? Hahaha!!
Seriously U.S. Government, why don’t you just admit that Hawaii is occupied and do what is required under International Law and the Executive Agreements to restore the H.K. Government back to power before you are FORCED to do it!? And the more you prolong this occupation along with the continuance of War Crimes and other violations of the Laws of Occupation and other provisions of International Law, the more harder and bigger the repatriations will be! (Ooh! I feel the reinstated H.K. is gonna be not only a good one, but a prosperous one!)
Keanu I also mahalo you for this hana nui and I am grateful beyond mere words. I want to know if I can use this letter and maybe more in up coming court trials regarding Human Rights Violations against the maoli and aupuni here on Moku O Keawe. Yes I have been and am still being denied my Human Rights and National Rights including fraudulent and illegal behavior by the courts. As you have already said in the past the Hawaiian is not heard fairly, honestly or in the frame work of justice. Include the police and other individuals of enforcement including their leadership and the propensity for war crime hearings become overwhelming. I need as much potential support as I can get and though the Hawaiian is not allowed a “Hawaiian defense” in court I will continue to press the presentation. Your response will be greatly appreciated. Mahalo Piha, Ho`omaika`i
Aloha Jerry, I recall from your previous postings on this blog you are from Moku O Keawe and affiliated with the Lawful Reinstated Government (Henry Noa)? Can’t they provide you the assistance you need? Is that not they’re duty? Especially since they are on Moku O keawe?