Native Hawaiian Constitution Adopted
The Nai Aupuni aha process concludes聽after a month of committee meetings and floor debate over self-governance.
By a vote of 88 to 30, a Native Hawaiian constitution was adopted Friday by participants聽in the aha, or convention.
“The constitution, drafted over several weeks, laborious committee meetings and intense floor debate, addresses everything from a core government structure to native rights,” a press release said. “At the core of the governing document is the need to have culture and kupuna wisdom. The participants of the convention came with varied careers, attorneys, cultural practitioners, professors, retired jurists, laborers and many more.”
The aha participants numbered 151, with 130 said to have been involved with the February meetings.聽Nai Aupuni said their backgrounds included attorneys, cultural practitioners, professors, retired jurists, laborers “and many more.”
It’s unclear what happens next, but it seems a constitution would be subject to ratification by Hawaiians.
For now, Nai Aupuni says aha聽plenary sessions are being broadcast on .
The conclusion to the aha came one day after another group of Hawaiians held an aha of their own on Oahu. objects to Nai Aupuni and has its own views on independence.
Nai Aupuni has other critics, including Kelii Akina of the . He released this statement after the news of the constitution聽was released:
The attempt to establish a single race-based nation violates the Aloha Spirit and goes against the will of the majority of Hawaiians.聽
This effort also violates the United States Constitution in that it has used public funds to establish a racially discriminatory process.
Instead of wasting millions of public dollars on a divisive political movement, state government and Hawaiian leaders should use these financial resources to advance Hawaiians through education, housing, commerce, and health care.
Below are聽the constitution聽and declaration聽adopted by Nai Aupuni:
