Difference between revisions of "Template:Nhsc-v1-485"

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these Committees consult and
+
* these Committees consult and involve Native Hawaiians to the greatest extent possible in the resolution of these claims, and that any proposed restitution be subject to formal acceptance by Native Hawaiians; and
involve Native Hawaiians to the
+
* pending resolution of these claims that the Congress take the appropriate action to assure that all lands controlled by the federal government in the State of Hawai'i maintain their current use and status, and that the archipelagic waters of Hawai'i enjoy the same security.
greatest extent possible in the
+
 
resolution of these claims, and
 
that any proposed restitution
 
be subject to formal acceptance
 
by Native Hawaiians; and
 
pending resolution of these
 
claims that the Congress take
 
the appropriate action to
 
assure that all lands
 
controlled by the federal
 
government in the State of
 
Hawai'i maintain their current
 
use and status, and that the
 
archipelagic waters of Hawai'i
 
enjoy the same security.
 
 
Congressional consideration of
 
Congressional consideration of
 
restitution to Native Hawaiians for
 
restitution to Native Hawaiians for
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from the claims for compensable losses
 
from the claims for compensable losses
 
and damages.
 
and damages.
 +
 
In order to help clarify the nature
 
In order to help clarify the nature
 
of the claims, however, a review of
 
of the claims, however, a review of
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the groundwork necessary for
 
the groundwork necessary for
 
determining restitution.
 
determining restitution.
The Ceded Lands Trust. The public,
+
 
 +
<u>The Ceded Lands Trust.</u> The public,
 
crown, and government lands of the
 
crown, and government lands of the
 
Kingdom totalled approximately 1.9
 
Kingdom totalled approximately 1.9
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domain of the Islands. Under the
 
domain of the Islands. Under the
 
control of the Republic of Hawai'i,
 
control of the Republic of Hawai'i,
200,000 acres of these onceinalienable
+
200,000 acres of these once-inalienable
 
lands were transferred to
 
lands were transferred to
 
private ownership.
 
private ownership.
 +
 
At the time of American annexation
 
At the time of American annexation
 
of Hawai'i, then, the anchestral lands
 
of Hawai'i, then, the anchestral lands
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remained in force under the United
 
remained in force under the United
 
States.
 
States.
 +
 
In the Joint Resolution of Annexation
 
In the Joint Resolution of Annexation
 
adopted by the Congress and passed
 
adopted by the Congress and passed
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people of Hawai'i and without compensation
 
people of Hawai'i and without compensation
 
to Native Hawaiians.
 
to Native Hawaiians.
 +
 
The terms of this transfer, their
 
The terms of this transfer, their
 
later discussion in numerous Congressional
 
later discussion in numerous Congressional
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ratification of the Admission Act,
 
ratification of the Admission Act,
 
substantiate these findings:
 
substantiate these findings:
the public, crown and government
+
* the public, crown and government lands ceded to the United States were transferred as a trust to be maintained and managed for the benefit of all the "inhabitants" of Hawai'i;
lands ceded to the United
+
* this trust imposed fiduciary responsibilities on the United States and constrained the use, management and proceeds generated from the trust to public purposes;
States were transferred as a
+
* the bulk of these lands were returned in fee to the State of Hawai'i in the Admission Act, with explicit trust impositions and the naming of two possible beneficiary classes: Native Hawaiians, as defined in the Hawaiian Homes Act, and the general public;
trust to be maintained and
+
* the broad public purposes enunciated as consistent with the trust could be fulfilled at the discretion of the State; however, any purpose outside those named would result in a breach of trust.
managed for the benefit of all
+
{{p|485}}
the "inhabitants" of Hawai'i;
 
this trust imposed fiduciary
 
responsibilities on the United
 
States and constrained the
 
use, management and proceeds
 
generated from the trust to
 
public purposes;
 
the bulk of these lands were
 
returned in fee to the State of
 
Hawai'i in the Admission Act,
 
with explicit trust impositions
 
and the naming of two possible
 
beneficiary classes: Native
 
Hawaiians, as defined in the
 
Hawaiian Homes Act, and the
 
general public;
 
the broad public purposes
 
enunciated as consistent with
 
the trust could be fulfilled at
 
the discretion of the State;
 
however, any purpose outside
 
those named would result in a
 
breach of trust.
 
485
 

Latest revision as of 00:19, 24 July 2006

  • these Committees consult and involve Native Hawaiians to the greatest extent possible in the resolution of these claims, and that any proposed restitution be subject to formal acceptance by Native Hawaiians; and
  • pending resolution of these claims that the Congress take the appropriate action to assure that all lands controlled by the federal government in the State of Hawai'i maintain their current use and status, and that the archipelagic waters of Hawai'i enjoy the same security.

Congressional consideration of restitution to Native Hawaiians for illegal American actions leading to the overthrow of the Kingdom will, in all likelihood, include an examination of existing trust relationships between the United States and Native Hawaiians. These trust relationships are distinct, albeit not separate, from the claims for compensable losses and damages.

In order to help clarify the nature of the claims, however, a review of the trust relationships is a part of the groundwork necessary for determining restitution.

The Ceded Lands Trust. The public, crown, and government lands of the Kingdom totalled approximately 1.9 million acres -- nearly half the domain of the Islands. Under the control of the Republic of Hawai'i, 200,000 acres of these once-inalienable lands were transferred to private ownership.

At the time of American annexation of Hawai'i, then, the anchestral lands of Native Hawaiians encompassed 1.7 million acres of Hawai'i, much of it planted in sugar and pineapple by the terms of royal leases. These leases were undisturbed by the Republic and remained in force under the United States.

In the Joint Resolution of Annexation adopted by the Congress and passed by the Legislature of the Republic, the sovereignty and all "public, crown, or government lands" were ceded to the United States. This cession -- appropriate under international law -- was conducted without the consent of the people of Hawai'i and without compensation to Native Hawaiians.

The terms of this transfer, their later discussion in numerous Congressional hearings on statehood for the Territory of Hawai'i, and the eventual ratification of the Admission Act, substantiate these findings:

  • the public, crown and government lands ceded to the United States were transferred as a trust to be maintained and managed for the benefit of all the "inhabitants" of Hawai'i;
  • this trust imposed fiduciary responsibilities on the United States and constrained the use, management and proceeds generated from the trust to public purposes;
  • the bulk of these lands were returned in fee to the State of Hawai'i in the Admission Act, with explicit trust impositions and the naming of two possible beneficiary classes: Native Hawaiians, as defined in the Hawaiian Homes Act, and the general public;
  • the broad public purposes enunciated as consistent with the trust could be fulfilled at the discretion of the State; however, any purpose outside those named would result in a breach of trust.
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