Whats Happening on the Big Island
January 15th - February 15th

This is our fifth e-zine to date. This issue is full of information, from a article on the lava flows that took out Kalapana in 1989, to the UH Hilo Ho`olaulea on January 17th, which also happens to be the anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. There is a article on permaculture, a article on sovereignty, also there is an update on upcoming events.

Finally we have some amazing pictures, we threw in randomly.

Enjoy

Kalapana, and Kaimu Black Sands Beach,
Still in our memories, still in our hearts

The eruptions that ensued for the next 3 years were mostly short lived spatters of cinder and some magma, which made the walls of the huge cinder cone that is Pu`u O`o.

They did however destroyed 16 houses in 1983 and 1984. Lava never made it across the highway until 1986, when the eruption migrated about a mile and a half east from Pu`u O`o and formed the vent known as Kupaianaha.

Lava flowed out of this vent for the next 5 1/2 years.

A few weeks later, the lava took a easterly path and took fourteen houses in Kalapana Royal Gardens Subdivision in a single day. From 1987 to March of 1990 the lava stayed away from Kalapana.

It did destroy the Waha`ula Visitor Center and residences nearby in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in 1989, but for the most part the lava mostly flowed into the ocean.

Then in a period of five or six months, the lava claimed pretty much the entire community of Kalapana, Kaimu Bay and Beach(Hawaii's most famous black sand beach), Drain Pipes(Possibly the Best surf spot in the area), a bunch of historical sites, including graves and heiaus, and everything else in its path.

Towards the end of 1990 the lava began to flow more in a straight path to the sea, and soon after, Kupaianaha ceased activity, and Pu`u O`o resumed its activity, which has not stopped since.

No further property damage had been done since 1990, until recently the flow ran through one of the only surviving areas in Kalapana and claimed that also.

All told from 1983 to 1991 lava destroyed more than 180 homes, a visitor center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, highways, and treasured historical and archaeological sites. Lava covered some areas in as much as ten meters of lava, and added hundreds of new acres to the island.

I still remember its beauty.

My mother and stepfather were camping there in the summer of 1990 right before lava claimed it, and my mother was just telling me the story of how they were told they could spend the night, but in the morning they would have to leave.

As they left, my mother remembers the once happy community as a ghost town.

Kalapana and Kaimu will be missed.

They will also be remembered.

People that lived in the surrounding areas that were spared have rebuilt some, but the highway comes to a halt and there is a dirt road that takes you to the county lava viewing area.

There is no way of forgetting the power of Madame Pele, and that you are on a highly volatile island made up of volcanoes.

Permaculture in Hawaii

In fact it is almost not agriculture, as the whole goal of permaculture is to set in motion agricultural systems similar to what what functions best naturally.

On the Big Island Permaculture has started to spread on the Puna side like wildfire, but the Kona side is more stuck in mono crop mentality.

South Kona does have some great organic farms with sustainable ideals and some permaculture techniques, but the majority of Kona's agriculture is still mono crop style.

Here are links to a couple of great permaculture farms on the East side of the Big Island. Pangaia and La`a Kea Gardens are both excellent farms that offer classes, internships, and work exchange programs.

The Island Music Scene

This issues events were hard to pick. There is a lot of great music happening on the Big Island this month. The UH Hilo Ho`olaulea is going to be awesome, but we feature that further on in this e-zine.

So here are our two picks

First up in the upcoming month we have two time Grammy, a Latin Grammy (and multiple nominations), two Billboard Latin awards and an Alma award winners, Ozomatli playing one concert at the Keauhou Sheraton Resort.

Ozomatli is an interesting blend of hip hop, traditional latin music and funk. They have a reputation for putting on unreal live performances, so you don't want to miss them.

Next up is Bob Marley Day on February 8th in Hilo.

Some of my best memories, as far as concerts go, are from past Bob Marley Days in Hilo. Its like the musicians feel the mana from the day, and really bring the music.

The line up for this concert sounds really good, with Big Islands own Ai Pohaku and other groups.

The venue is great also; Hilo's Mo'oheau Park and Bandstand in Downtown Hilo.

January 17th is the 116 year anniversary of the Overthrow of Queen Liliokalani

If you know nothing about any of this, read the aritcle I wrote below and prepared to have your eyes opened.

America is illegally occupying Hawaii!!!!

Hawaiian Sovereignty is a funny thing. Most people either know very little about it, or think it is a far fetched fantasy that a few people hold.

However, there is a strong legal argument for the return of the Hawaiian Islands to the Hawaiian Kingdom.

The Original Desert Storm was officially a peace keeping mission, to stop Iraq from overthrowing their neighboring country of Kuwait.

The US continuously represents the United Nations and enforces their decisions. However when it comes to their own mistakes and invasions, the US is not to quick to act.

In 1893 members of the US Navy occupied I`olani Palace, the Capitol of the Hawaiian Kingdom, a constitutional monarchy that held treaties with 20 different nations.

The US forces intimidated and threatened Queen Liliuokalani, in violation of treaties between the two nations and of international law.

When informed of the risk of bloodshed with resistance, Queen Liliuokalani issued the following statement yielding her authority to the United States Government rather than to the Provisional Government:

"I Liliuokalani, by the Grace of God and under the Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Queen, do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done against myself and the Constitutional Government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by certain persons claiming to have established a Provisional Government of and for this Kingdom.

"That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America whose Minister Plenipotentiary, His Excellency John L. Stevens, has caused United States troops to be landed a Honolulu and declared that he would support the Provisional Government.

"Now to avoid any collision of armed forces, and perhaps the loss of life, I do this under protest and impelled by said force yield my authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall, upon facts being presented to it, undo the action of its representatives and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the Constitutional Sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands.".

Done at Honolulu this 17th day of January, A.D. 1893.;

Without the active support and intervention by the United States diplomatic and military representatives, the conspiracy against the Government of Queen Liliuokalani would have failed for lack of popular support and insufficient firearms.

On February 1, 1893, the United States Minister raised the American flag and proclaimed Hawaii to be a protectorate of the United States.

In a report of a investigation conducted by former Congressman James Blount into the events surrounding the insurrection and overthrow of January 17, 1893, concluded that the United States diplomatic and military representatives had abused their authority and were responsible for the change in government.

As a result of this report, the United States Minister to Hawaii was recalled from his diplomatic post and the military commander of the United States armed forces stationed in Hawaii was disciplined and forced to resign his commission.

President at the time, Grover Cleveland further concluded that a "substantial wrong has thus been done which a due regard for our national character as well as the rights of the injured people requires we should endeavor to repair" and called for the restoration of the Hawaiian monarchy.

However the provisional government, known as the Republic of Hawaii refused to follow President Cleveland's call for restoration.

On January 24, 1895, while imprisoned in I`olani Palace, Queen Liliuokalani was forced by representatives of the Republic of Hawaii to officially abdicate her throne.

Time passed, and Clevland was replaced in the next presidential election by William Mckinley.

On July 7, 1898, with the backing of President Mckinley, through the Newlands Resolution, the self-declared Republic of Hawaii ceded sovereignty over the Hawaiian Islands to the United States, and Hawaii was officially annexed.

The self-declared Republic of Hawaii also ceded 1,800,000 acres of crown, government and public lands of the Kingdom of Hawaii, without the consent of or compensation to the Native Hawaiian people of Hawaii or their sovereign government. These lands are known as ceded lands .

On the hundred year anniversary of this illegal overthrow, the United States issued a official apology to the descendants of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Part of the so called " Apology Bill " Public Law 103-150, states that the apology is in no way intended to be a settlement of any claims against the US.

In a nutshell, this means that the US messed up, and they are liable. Whether they will ever have their case heard in a court that has authority over the US is the question.

Many people that live in Hawaii, myself included, would like to see the US withdraw. This was a unprovoked invasion, and a continuing occupation.

The Hawaiian Kingdom was a advanced country. Their capitol building, the I`olani Palace had electric lights before the White House. They had treaties with twenty different nations, and traded freely all over the world.

For anyone to believe that the Hawaiians were just savages, and that we would still be living in grass huts if not for the US is ridiculous.

Basically what it all boils down to, is that Hawaii is basically to the US what Tibet is to China.

So, hopefully in the process of the US cleaning up the rest of the world's messes, they can eventually get around to cleaning up their own.

To Share your Mana`o (thoughts), or read what others have said on this subject, we set up a page on our website: Hawaiian Sovereignty Mana`o

Aloha and Thank you for reading, education is the weapon of choice for some.

Upcoming Events December 15th 2008 to January 15th 2009

Every Month we pick two events that stand out to us, as the things you don't want to miss.
The First Event this month was easy to pick, its the UH Ho'olaule'a 2009: Pupukahi i holumua - Unite to move forward and its free, so don't worry about spending too much money.

The 14th annual UH Hilo Ho'olaule'a is on Saturday, January 17, 2009. and it features a number of hot local music:

Running from 12 noon - 9 pm Live Music - Campus Center Plaza

* Mixjah

* Hawaiian Roots Band

* Ooklah the Moc & BW

* Tupulaga O Samoa Mo A Taeao (Samoan Club)

* Marshallese "Iakwe" Club

* Keaomalamalama Hawaiian Club

* 'Ai Pohaku Also during the Ho`olaulea there will be two showings of the award winning Noho Hewa, a documentary about the occupation of Hawaii.

This promises to be a great concert, and a even better party.

So Don't miss the UH Hilo Ho`olaulea in Hilo.

The next event was my pick. If I had less commitments, I would want to fly to Vegas for this fight. I am not a big UFC fan, but I definitely like to watch the fights.

UFC 94 promises to be one of the best ever, with the rematch between Big Islands own BJ Penn and George St Pierre(GSP).

GSP's title is on the line, as he faces a man that sent him to the hospital last time they fought, from damage in the first round.

Somehow GSP pulled a win by a decision out by fighting a very strategic second and third round.

This fight is for five rounds, and should be all time.

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