Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 7, 1 July 1994 — Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians expected for July 3-4 sovereignty march and other events [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians expected for July 3-4 sovereignty march and other events

by Jeff Clark Hawaiians are not alone in their quest for sovereignty: they are supported by people of all different ethnic groups living in Hawai'i, and proof will be offered July 3 when nā po'e o Hawai'i will join with ka po'e Hawai'i in a silent torchlight march. The march is being organized by Solidarity for Sovereignty, a consortium of more than two dozen groups as diverse as the Japanese-American Citizens' League, the Hawai'i Green Party, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center and many of the familiar Hawaiian sovereignty groups, including the 'Ohana Council, the Native Hawaiian Advisory Council, and the Nation of Kū Ho'one'enu'u Pono. The march begins at 5 p.m. at the Diamond Head end of Ala Moana Park across from Magic Island, and will end at Kapi'olani Park. On July 4 at 'Iolani Palaee, the consortium will stage a re-enactment of the illegal founding of the Republic of Hawai'i, whieh took plaee exactly 100 years ago on that date. Outdoor workshops will also be pre-

sented that day. The events will last from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is eontributing $500 for the two days of events. The idea arose out of a "talk story" session held during a sovereignty rally at the Palaee last December, according to event organizer Lynette Cruz. That day she, Dallas Vogeler, Kawehi Gill, A'o Pōkahu Rodenhurst and others spoke of planning "something really really big - something that everyone could participate in. Because so many nonHawaiians eome to these events; they really do support Hawaiian sovereignty." After the July 4 re-enactment, speakers will mount five "soapbox"-style stages and offer their mana'o on Hawaiian self-determi-nation. The stages will be no more than a foot high, and there will be no microphones and amplification - this format should equalize speakers and audience as well as encourage dialogue, Cruz thinks. "And if you don't have anything to say, people will just walk away." For more information, eall Cruz at 7348269 or Nancy Aleek at 988-3673.

July 4, 1894: The Republic of Hawai'i is founded and Sanford B. Dole is sworn in as president. The event will be re-enacted July 4, 1994 at 'lolani Palaee. Hawai'i State Archives photo