Per the catalogue's instruction, this bundle separates three distinct strands within the Hawaiian sovereignty movement: (1) the federal-recognition approach, exemplified by Ka Lahui Hawaii (founded 1987) and the federal Akaka Bill process, seeking recognition of a Native Hawaiian governing entity within the US constitutional framework; (2) full independence/restoration positions, held by groups that regard the 1893 overthrow and 1898 annexation as illegal and seek an internationally resolved restoration of Hawaiian sovereignty outside US jurisdiction; and (3) the 1993 congressional Apology Resolution, a US governmental act distinct from either movement position. This bundle deliberately excludes detailed narrative of the 1893 overthrow's specific events beyond a high-level factual summary.
On 17 January 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani was overthrown by American and European businessmen with US Marine support, an event the Hawaiian sovereignty movement regards, along with the 1898 US annexation, as illegal.[1] On the centenary of the overthrow, the US Congress passed the Apology Resolution, acknowledging it and apologizing to Native Hawaiians; it was signed into law on 23 November 1993.[2] Within the sovereignty movement itself, distinct positions exist: Ka Lahui Hawaii, founded in 1987, has pursued federal recognition of a Hawaiian Nation with jurisdiction over its lands and resources, an approach later reflected in the proposed Akaka Bill; other Native Hawaiians and organisations instead advocate an internationally resolved restoration of full Hawaiian independence outside US jurisdiction.[3]
Status verified as of
Hawaii remains a US state; no federally recognized Native Hawaiian governing entity comparable to a Native American tribe has been established despite decades of advocacy (including the unenacted Akaka Bill), and no restoration of full Hawaiian independence has occurred. Both the federal-recognition and full-independence strands of the sovereignty movement remain active.[3]
History
From the 1893 overthrow and 1993 Apology Resolution to the distinct federal-recognition and independence strands of the movement.
58 words · 1 min read
· Other
US-backed businessmen overthrew Queen Liliʻuokalani, an act the sovereignty movement regards as illegal.
Significance here: The founding disputed event underlying the entire Hawaiian sovereignty question.
· Legislation
The US Congress formally apologized for the 1893 overthrow on its centenary.
Significance here: The most significant formal US governmental acknowledgment of the overthrow, though distinct from the sovereignty movement's own positions.
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
Claim: On 17 January 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani, monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, was overthrown by a group of American and European businessmen with the support of US Minister John L. Stevens and US Marines stationed in Honolulu, an action that did not proceed through treaty, vote, or lawful transfer of power and installed a provisional government; the Hawaiian sovereignty movement generally regards this overthrow, and the 1898 US annexation of Hawaii that followed, as illegal.
Claim: On the centenary of the overthrow, the US Congress passed the Apology Resolution, acknowledging the 17 January 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and offering an apology to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United States; it passed the Senate 65-34 on 27 October 1993, passed the House by voice vote on 15 November 1993, and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on 23 November 1993. This bundle treats the Apology Resolution as a distinct US governmental act, separate from the sovereignty movement's own, varied positions.
Claim: Within the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, distinct positions exist: Ka Lahui Hawaii, founded in 1987, has pursued federal recognition of a Hawaiian Nation with jurisdiction over its lands and natural resources, working toward resolution of historic claims within the framework of US law, an approach later reflected in the proposed federal Akaka Bill process for Native Hawaiian recognition comparable to that of Native American tribes; by contrast, other Native Hawaiians and organisations, regarding the 1893 overthrow and 1898 annexation as illegal, advocate for an internationally resolved restoration of Hawaiian independence outside US jurisdiction, rather than a domestically recognized governing entity. This bundle presents these as distinct, sometimes competing strands rather than a single unified movement position.