Fighting for Hawaiian Public Lands

On February 26th, a group of Hawaiians gathered in San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza to draw attention to the issue of the selling off of "ceded lands" in Hawaii to private interests.



It was a sweet looking group that was handing out information to the occasional passersby (click here for a blog about their issues).



On February 25th, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of State of Hawaii, et al (petitioner) v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs, et al (respondent) where the main issue is whether the government of the State of Hawaii has the absolute power to sell the "Ceded" Lands of Hawaii (click here for a more detailed explanation). Essentially:

"The brief filed by Attorney General Mark Bennett in the state’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court from transferring or selling ceded lands has caused much anger among Hawaiians. The appeal seeks to overturn a Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruling temporarily barring the state from transferring or selling ceded lands. A reading of the brief illustrates the state’s acknowledgement that while wrongs have been committed against Native Hawaiians in the past, history is no protection against the superior power of the government to steal, coerce and oppress."

Matters aren't being helped by Hawaiian Governor Linda Lingle, a Jewish Republican reactionary who insists on drug testing for schoolteachers and who is trying to cram an ecologically disastrous "Superferry" down the islands' throats among other charming activities. She was also a particular favorite of former Vice President Dick Cheney (click here for an illuminating Wikipedia article). Good luck, Hawaii. We have our own creepy Republican governor to deal with.