History of Hawaiian sovereignty

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

1. 1.

   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.

   • Apology Resolution (Wikipedia) link, 1893 overthrow section. Source record
   • Hawaiian sovereignty movement (Wikipedia) link, Movement characterization section. Source record
2. 2.

   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.

   • Apology Resolution (Wikipedia) link, Passage and signing section. Source record
3. 3.

   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.

   • Position Statements (Ka Lahui Hawaii) link, Ka Lahui Hawaii founding and objectives section. Movement organisation perspective Source record
   • Hawaiian sovereignty movement (Wikipedia) link, Range of movement positions section. Source record