Hawaii became a state on August 21st, 1959, after a primarily native Hawaiian legislature and 95 percent of the island residents voted to support the conversion from a Territory. The announcement was made from Iolani Palace, where the legislature regularly convened, and the news was met with celebrations throughout the new 50th state, with hula dancing in the streets, and soon, an economy going gangbusters.

However, 47 years later on the day the state observes “Admissions Day” with a state and county holiday, there was a very different scene at Iolani Palace. There was complete lawlessness wielded by a pack of snarling gangsters who called themselves native Hawaiian protestors. They ranted irrationally about their hatred toward America and its citizens.

State Sen. Sam Slom, a Republican who also heads the small business advocacy group, Small Business Hawaii, organized a 47th annual statehood celebration at the Iolani Palace grounds and invited everyone in the state to participate. He remembers the time before the Capitol was built that legislative business was conducted at Iolani Palace, so for historical accuracy, he planned to hold celebration there.

Anti-American protestors at the Statehood Day celebration. Photo by Melvin Ah Ching Productions.

Slom and other attendees said they were excited because this was the first celebration in 6 years - and the last statehood event was held in California because then Gov. Benjamin Cayetano said it was "too controversial to celebrate statehood at home."

On Friday, the day statehood was observed, Slom welcomed a group of about 50 people who arrived with big smiles, American flags and plans to enjoy music by the Kalani High School Band, who were recruited to play its favorite songs. But instead of a warm welcome, the patriots were greeted by a gang of about 50 hostile protestors with bullhorns, a state-of-the-art sound system, and preprinted signs protesting the statehood celebration. They claimed to represent the feelings of an estimated 400,000 native Hawaiians throughout Hawaii and the world.

Statehood Day celebration. Photo by Melvin Ah Ching Productions.

These hoodlums shouted profanities in front of young children, spit and yelled at those there to observe statehood, and said they wanted to "wipe their ass" with the American Flag. One protestor screamed at a military family that it was a really good that Americans died in the 9-11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centers because Americans deserved to be "slammed down." All who spoke on the bullhorns said Americans - even the native Hawaiian people who showed up to celebrate statehood - should get off "their land" and out of Hawaii.

One of the rabid-eyed leaders of the pack shouted profanities directly in people‚s ears. He pushed women, children and senior citizens. He spit on people. He bit the American flags people carried, and tried to tear them. He took down his pants and told people to suck him. In front of their children, he called women "bitches" and told them to "show him their tits." He even bragged about being high on crystal math, and said he could do whatever he wanted because he belongs to the "kingdom of Hawaii," not America.

Threats of Physical Violence, Verbal Attacks, Targets Kids First

The protesters first attacked the weakest people - in this case the children - so they could break apart the groups and scare them into leaving.

The belligerent group began their protest by shouting threats of violence at the young band members who were sitting quietly waiting for the go-ahead from their bandleader to play.

Statehood Day clash. Photo by Melvin Ah Ching Productions.

They told them and their parents that they would be in danger if they played even one note. “We cannot guarantee your safety unless you put down your instruments and leave the premises immediately,” one protestor shouted from a microphone, feet away from the kids sitting with their instruments in hand.

The berating continued for 15 minutes until the bandleader and frightened parents led the kids to the bus that their senator had rented for the occasion.

As the kids left, the protestors said that they were victorious, and would be taking back Hawaii from America.

State Law Enforcement Never Showed, Despite Lawlessness

As the remaining 50 people there to celebrate statehood stood in a circle and sang the National Anthem and Hawaii Pono I, the protestors interrupted them, yelling, cursing and threatening to burn the American flags.

Threats were also made against other citizens including Senator Slom and State Rep. Barbara Marumoto, who enthusiastically arrived at the celebration dressed as “Lady Liberty”, freedom torch in hand.

Surprisingly, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, based just across the streetl, did not send its officers to intervene during the hour-long event. Some of the "unlawful events" included threatening children, parents, elected officials, and innocent civilians. Immoral “flashing” in front of women and children, demonstrating and using sound systems without a permit. They even rode a motorcycle up to the palace steps - off-limits to automobiles and motorcycles.

Photo by Melvin Ah Ching Productions.

They said there should not be any celebrations at the palace, especially by “haoles” - outsiders - who "brought diseases to Hawaii and killed their ancestors.”

These hoodlums called the celebrants “ignorant”, “arrogant” and “disrespectful.” However, the protestors were the ones who were arrogant, ignorant, disrespectful, as well as oblivious to Hawaiian history.

Rewriting History to Further Anti-Americanism

The protestors are attempting to rewrite history, and refuse to recognize basic facts:

Ties to the United States were advocated in the early 1800s by native Hawaiian royalty, because they saw the need for protection of the United States against foreign governments.

When Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown in favor of a Republic government because she sought absolute power, it was not by the United States, but by Hawaii’s citizens. President Grover Cleveland unsuccessfully attempted to reinstate the monarchy. These uninformed protestors claim the American military pointed guns at the Queen, however, the American military never did such a thing. The 162 marines and sailors who were sent ashore to protect Americans did not fire a single shot.

Hawaii became a Republic in 1884, was annexed to the United States in 1898, allowed all Native Hawaiians full U.S. citizenship in 1900, and sent as its first delegate to Congress, Robert Wilcox, a native Hawaiian, elected with a promise that the first bill he would introduce was for statehood.

In 1903, the Territory's first Legislature - more than 70 percent native Hawaiian - asked Congress to convene a constitutional convention in hopes Hawaii would become a state. In 1919, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole, Hawaii’s elected Territorial Delegate - and also heir to the throne if the Kingdom continued - introduced the first bill in Congress for Hawaii statehood.

Between 1919 and 1954, 33 more bills for statehood were introduced in Congress by Hawaii’s Territorial delegates.

In 1940, results of a Hawaii Statehood plebiscite showed that two out of three Hawaii voters said “Yes” for Statehood.

In 1959, the people of Hawaii finally achieved their long sought goal with 95 percent of the vote. On Molokai the majority of people are native Hawaiian. Their support for statehood was the highest, 97 percent.

Organizer Says He Won't Be Intimidated

Slom said he won't be intimidated. He is already making plans for the 2007 celebration, but says that some things will be done differently.

He notes despite the nastiness at the event, there was some progress this year. The event was held in Hawaii for the first time in 6 years, and Gov. Linda Lingle issued a proclamation recognizing statehood for the first time during her 4-year term in office.

State Sen. Sam Slom and Rep. Barbara Marumoto at the Statehood Day celebration. Photo by Melvin Ah Ching Productions.

Those who supported the “celebration” said that it was one of the lowest points in Hawaii’s young state history, and that the handful of protestors who claim to represent all 400,000 native Hawaiians, probably don’t.

The protestors were also hypocrites, said those who attended the celebration. Some admitted they collect government aid, some wore western clothes, most drove American cars and even a Harley Davidson Motorcycle. Ikaika Hussey, one of the protest leaders, ran for office hoping to become a member of the Hawaii State Legislature, yet he was protesting American government.

What did become clear through this assault on law abiding citizens: More people in Hawaii need to help take back the islands from lawless hooligans by educating people about what actually did -- and did not -- happen to bring Hawaii statehood. It is vital for the survival of Hawaii and the unity of all of its people, no matter their race.

See related stories at http://www.khnl.com and http://starbulletin.com/2006/08/19/news/story01.html

Reach Malia Zimmerman, editor and president of Hawaii Reporter, via email at mailto:Malia@hawaiireporter.com

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