Support for SB 1085 from two Senators.

As we wait for the Senate vote on SB 1085, I thought I would share some of the e-mails coming from Senators that made its way to us. We expect there is much more support than from the two Senators we got e-mails from.

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Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 21:13:27 -1000
From: "Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland"
Reply-To: "Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland"
Subject: RE: Support SB1085 moratorium on sale of "ceded" lands
To:

Hi Eileen:

Mahalo a nui loa for your support. I am very supportive.

Aloha,

Senator Susie Chun Oakland

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On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 4:12 PM, Sen. Donna Mercado Kim wrote:

Aloha,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding SB 1085. This measure will be on the Senate floor for final reading tomorrow and I will be supporting it as it goes over to the House for further consideration.


Mahalo,


Senator Donna Mercado Kim
Chair of Ways & Means Committee
State Capitol, Room 210
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: 808-587-7200 Fax: 808-587-7205

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Hearings, updates,

LESS THAN 24 HOURS ARE LEFT.

There is less than 24 hours left for us to submit testimony to the State House Committee on Hawaiian Affairs. As we mentioned in our blog, the State House Committee on Hawaiian Affairs and the Senate Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, will be holding hearings on "ceded" lands moratorium bills THIS WEDNESDAY.
House Committee hearing is at 9 am in conference room 329; House Bills 1667 and 1805.
Senate Committee hearing is at 2:45 pm Conference Room 229; Senate Bill 1085.
It is important that our elected legislators hear from you in written form. Testimony can be submitted online by going to http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony/ or clicking here.
- Written testimony for House Bills 1667 and 1805 must be submitted by 9 am TUESDAY, February 3, 2009.
- Written testimony for Senate Bill 1085 must be submitted by 2:45 pm TUESDAY, February 3, 2009.
Testimony should be written in a civil tone and with a respectful manner.

PRESENCE AT THE HEARINGS IS IMPORTANT!

We need your presence at the hearings. If you're unable to submit testimony by the deadline(s), your presence at the hearings are still important. Your Support is greatly appreciated and will be felt by the generations yet to come.

KUPU‘ĀINA COALITION IN ACTION

Coalition organizers presented information and statements to members of the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus regarding the "ceded" lands issue and the moratorium laws being introduced this session. Representative Mele Carroll's office also sent out a News Release.

This past Saturday, Coalition organizers went to Windward Mall in Kane‘ohe to help concerned residents express to their elected legislators their wish to have their own lawmakers support a moratorium on the sale of "ceded" lands until the unrelinquished claims of Native Hawaiians are resolved. We're continuing to get more postcards signed.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT CEDED LANDS
Submit testimony online on regarding House Bills 1667 and 1805 in addition to Senate Bill 1085.
Identify 10-15 family members, friends, neighbors and/or co-workers who support protecting the ceded lands and let us know by e-mail (kupuaina@gmail.com). We will happily send you postcards to have them fill out.
Stay updated by following or subscribing to our blog and visiting our website stopsellingcededlands.com often
Spread the word by forwarding our e-mails to family, friends, neighbors, etc., so that they can learn more too.

IMPORTANT UPDATES TO OUR WEBSITE

We have updated the "background page" of our website. You can now read what legal arguments of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the individual plaintiffs are. In addition, you can read the several "friend-of-the-court" briefs (amicus briefs) that have been submitted in support of protecting the "ceded" lands.

Don't forget to watch our live-streaming webcast today at 5:30 pm on our website, www.stopsellingcededlands.com. If you have a question you would like to have answered, send your question to kupuaina@gmail.com.

The march and rally

Happy Aloha Monday and Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Don't forget that each Monday we have our live-streaming webcast that starts at 5:30pm Hawaii Standard Time at stopsellingcededlands.com

The march this past Saturday was awesome! Thousands of people were in the streets and some tourists eventually realized that the what was happening on Kalakaua Avenue was not a "parade" but rather a march.

As can be expected, the two Honolulu dailies published articles on the march.

The Honolulu Advertiser article is titled, "Hawaiian rights activists take land case public in Waikiki march." The Advertiser also has a short video clip of the event.



Supporter Edward Hu, was quoted in the Advertiser,
"I think the issue is pretty simple," said Hu, who is not Hawaiian. "If there's property or land whose ownership is in question, the issue ought to be resolved before that property is sold. You don't even have to believe that the claims are valid, except that the Hawai'i Supreme Court has said that we need to resolve those claims before they can be sold. I don't see why Lingle has to appeal this. The highest court in her state has spoken."

Edward Hu is a Kupu‘āina Coalition member and helped out on Saturday with the organization's Makawalu Initiative. The initiative is an attempt to convey the voices of the people to their elected politicians at the state capitol and letting them know (through postcards) that the people want them to act to protect the "ceded" lands.


(image from Honolulu Star-Bulletin)

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin has its own article titled, "Hawaiian march targets lands case at high court." The article reports however, "Lingle noted that it was Gov. John Waihee, a native Hawaiian, who wanted to sell the former monarchy lands as part of an affordable housing development. That proposed sale led to the lawsuit that is now before the U.S. Supreme Court."

This statement was rather disappointing to read because it's a "political" argument and not a legal argument. It is important to realize that the factual background provided in the 1993 Apology Resolution passed by Congress did not exist when Governor Waihe`e wanted the "ceded" lands for affordable housing. Most importantly though, Governor Waihe`e never challenged Native Hawaiian claims to the ceded lands. Governor Lingle however, argues that Native Hawaiians do not have a "legal" claim. We held an event at the UH law school (on 1/7/09) where Governor Waihe`e spoke about this issue and the latter point. We have video footage of Governor Waihe`e's statements that can be watched below.

Kupu‘āina Coalition's first live-streaming webcast

Earlier today we live-streamed our first webcast (of many yet to come). If you missed it, you can watch it below.


We explain why we use the term, "ceded" in describing the lands. We've received questions as to why we use that word. Learn why by watching our video.

There are two upcoming events:
- Information Forum Open to the Public; January 7, 2009; 6pm at 2515 Dole Street.
- March & Rally in Waikiki; January 17, 2009; 10am at Saratoga & Kalakaua

The following people e-mailed us questions:
- Keone Kealoha
- Gene Tamashiro
- Dean Saranillio
Find out what questions they asked by watching the video above.


DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this website, in written, audio, or video form should be construed as legal advice. The Kupu‘āina Coalition does NOT provide legal advice. People associated with the Kupu‘āina Coalition do NOT provide legal advice. Persons visiting this website (other affiliated websites) or events hosted by the Kupu‘āina Coalition ARE NOT clients and DO NOT have an attorney-client relationship. Anyone who seeks legal information or advice should consult with an appropriately licensed attorney.

Na Kai Ewalu Radio Discussion on Ceded Public Lands - 22 Nov. 2008

Discussion on Ceded Public Lands - 22 Nov. 2008

Jocelyn M. Doane, Derek Kauanoe, and Davis Price were featured on Na Kai 'Ewalu Radio earlier today with hosts: Vicky Holt-Takamine, Noe Tanigawa, and Kaho'onei Panoke.

CLICK HERE to listen to radio broadcast.

The three organizers talk about the ceded lands case pending appeal at the US Supreme Court, share their thoughts about the case, and also talk about the scheduled press conference and rally at the state capitol.