New generation of Hawaiians explores sovereignty possibilities

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — More than 250 people attended an all-day event yesterday aimed at exposing a new generation of Native Hawaiians to the possibilities of self-governance.

Native Hawaiian leaders debated sovereignty in between performances by three bands at the War Memorial Baseball Stadium, and attendees were encouraged to sign up for the "Kau Inoa" nation-building effort.

The event, "E Holo Mua" (To Move Forward) was presented by a new Office of Hawaiian Affairs-funded youth group known as Ke Au Hou (The New Generation).

"Hawai'i belongs to us. We are the youth. We are the future," Ke Au Hou Chairman Paul Kalani Kaawa Flores Jr. told the audience. "We are the ones who one day will have the responsibility to lead the Native Hawaiian people."

Entertainers included Sudden Rush, 'Ekolu and Kamaka Fernandez. A panel discussion included OHA Administrator Clyde Namu'o, Reinstated Hawaiian Nation Prime Minister Henry Noa and Maui community leader George Kaimiola.

In addition to various food booths, a Kau Inoa (Sign Up) campaign station was registering Native Hawaiians to vote for representative delegates to a future constitutional convention to create a Native Hawaiian nation.

Flores said the Ke Au Hou group is pushing education, not any model of government. The more young Native Hawaiians know about their options, the better they will be able to make a decision for their future, he said.

In any case, he said, the group believes the governance process needs to begin now in order to respond to legal threats that are undermining the rights and culture of the Native Hawaiians.

Flores said Ke Au Hou was formed in September with a goal of enrolling 200 students from across the Islands. But 1,050 teens had signed up even before yesterday's first public outreach event.

"The kids know what they want, and the older generation should take notice," Flores said.

Hana High School junior Stephen Henderson was one of 26 teens who traveled to Wailuku from East Maui for yesterday's festivities. He said he hasn't decided what form of Hawaiian governance there should be — just that something needs to be done.

"Hawai'i should be able to govern itself. And there should be some reparations," he said.

U'ilani Wallace, a senior at Baldwin High School in Wailuku, said the event was a good opportunity to hear different sovereignty ideas. But she was disappointed more people weren't there by midday.

"Judging from the turnout, I don't see many Hawaiians wanting change," she said. "But this is a start. Every little bit helps."

"Kau Inoa" events are planned for other islands but a schedule has not been released.

Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.