David Schlesinger, “Reflections [on a Free Hawaii] from three years ago, more pertinent today”

Hawaiian Islands

Saw this on a FB news feed (direct link here), and wanted to share here, as I feel his writings from three years ago addresses several points some who may oppose “Return of the Kingdom”, aka “Free Hawaii”, aka “Independent Hawaii Nation” (give it whatever name you want) often bring up. Also he points out why an independent “Nation of Hawaii” (another possible name) would be very healthy for the planet. Mahalo, David, for your thoughts.

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Reflections from three years ago, more pertinent today
David Schlesinger, January 3, 2013

As we enter into a new year, I have been reflecting on the two main responses that come up from people opposed to the idea of a Free Hawaii.

The first response is there is the undeniable military presence in Hawaii, and that brings two separate issues in their minds:

1. Hawaii is a strategic military point that the USA will not willingly let go, and

2. That the US Military is the only thing protecting us from some other country taking us over.

The second response is that we would be in economic ruin without the backing of the USA, and our main revenue source, tourism would not be secure and our country would be plunged into chaos.

Now first off these are realistic concerns and it is ridiculous and impossible to think that if we were to free Hawaii there would not have to be some sort of plan of action to deal with these issues. In the course of humanities development there have been a lot bigger challenges faced and overcome, the USA is the world power at this time, but has only recently become that. Hawaii is the key to that as we are the midpoint in the pacific rim. We are one of the major reasons that the USA is the dominant world power at this time.

So lets look at the military issue. No one with common sense enough to husk a coconut thinks that we can disconnect ourselves front the rest of the world. We would seek neutral country status and lease military facilities to UN peacekeeping forces. This of course would afford us protection, and allow us the control of the facilities. Home rule would allow us to have a leash on what kind of activities would be allowed on our aina, and things like depleted uranium contamination would not ever happen.There would probably have to be an acceptable time limit set for transfer of authority at these military installations, and declassification of what exactly is on and has happened at these facilities. Again it would be naive to think that there is not touchy operations that have been conducted throughout the island chain that would require centuries of cleanup. Kahoolawe will never be the same, and there are probably classified facilities within the numerous installations on the island. On the Big Island there is a 133,000 acre military facility that has been used in all sorts of training.

In my eyes economics is a no brainer. Now I hope not to offend anybody with that statement, but I have been looking at this issue for most of my adult life, and I am now 37. TO someone that first thinks of Hawaii as an independent country, it seems like we would instantly become a third world country. This is not the case at all.

Let’s look at the Jones Act. The Jones Act binds all large shipments from foreign countries to go to mainland america before they can be distributed out to Hawaii or anywhere else. This tacks on a extra 2-5000 miles to some deliveries. Goods shipped to Hawaii have to go to California, and then back out to the middle of the pacific! WE would become the middle man between Asia and north America. The shipping lane is and was one of the biggest reasons Hawaii is of such great value to the USA. Ships pay $23,000 dollars a day to be in our shipping lane.

What do you think china would say to a cut in that rate to $5,000 a day with a 10 year commitment to not increase rates? They would become our best friend! They would help us develop our economy.

Now what about science? Scientists from around the world come here for all kinds of reasons. This is not going to stop, but increase if they are encourage and given space to work. AS this happens, they will enable us with the most cutting edge technology and advanced colleges so they have a place to retire and teach.

what about food resources? ocean farming on all the island mixed with aquaponics, and intensive ag projects on all islands would allow for food sustainability in the islands fairly quickly, of course we would still have to import some, but not the current 90% of what we consume.

Tourists would still flock here, probably more then ever as the aina heals and the culture is allowed to blossom and flourish again.

There are so many more ways of creating revenue streams for an independent nation of Hawaii.

We would not be a poor country! We would be one of the most prosperous nations in the world!

I write this mostly to the people that consider themselves Americans that live in Hawaii, whether they think of it as a state or not. America is based on incredible values and integrity. It is by no chance that the queen used the words “oh honest Americans”.

It is time for the American public to take action to remedy this injustice that is perpetuated to this day. Hawaii is waiting! The aina is waiting! We are responsible for this once we are informed of the circumstances behind the illegal occupation. Otherwise we are no better then the ones that performed the action 120 years ago.

Being afraid is not a justifiable reason for denying a sovereign country its right to sovereignty. Neither is being upset over everything that America put in to make Hawaii the place it is today. Find hope in the possibilities that are there for not just a better Hawaii, but a better world with Hawaii as a free and sovereign country.