U.S. Supreme Court rules state has authority to sell ceded lands

[The Sushi Bandit]

Source: Honolulu Advertiser

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled today that a congressional resolution apologizing for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893 did not strip the state of its authority to sell or transfer about 1.2 million acres of land.


The court's unanimous decision overturns a ruling by the Hawaii Supreme Court that blocked the sale of land conveyed to Hawaii when it became the 50th state.

After years of legal wrangling, the state court last year halted sales of the so-called "ceded lands" until Native Hawaiian claims to those lands are put to rest. The acreage represents more than a quarter of the Islands.

The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling can be downloaded at the following site: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/08slipopinion.html.

Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett said he was pleased with the decision.

The Supreme Court essentially ruled that "the Apology Resolution did not change the state's legal rights in any way and that the title to the land had previously been held in absolute fee by the United States and conveyed to the state at the statehood," Bennett said.



Read more: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090331/BREAKING/90331025/1352

[KamaAina]

1. Shame on you, Lingle!

You actively sought Hawaiian votes, supported the Akaka bill that would give Hawaiians federal recognition the way Indian tribal nations have, and ran with a lieutenant governor who has no discernible redeeming qualities whatsoever other than being Hawaiian.

Then you go and double-cross the kanaka maoli like this. :grr: :banghead:

I suppose you're counting on the revenue from this "Great Mahele II" as your latest "voodoo economics" scheme to balance* the state budget without (horrors!) raising a tax, which might cause the chattering classes to stop mentioning you as a dark horse for 2012 ( :scared: ). :eyes:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. I think the only way to solve this is to restore the monarchy

With Princess Abigail on the throne

[KamaAina]

3. I might go for the claimant who lives in Makaha and plays slack-key guitar

seeing as how the Kawananakoas are big-time repukes (at least Abigail isn't also a space cadet like Quentin :P )

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. The Kawananakoas are the only real royal bloodline left

[KamaAina]

7. Are you sure? I remember reading about this woman a few years ago

oddly enough, her surname is "Souza" -- but it could be her married name: remember Lydia Dominis (Lili'uokalani).

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Quite

There are pretenders, including the group the seized the palace most recently, but the Kawananakoas are really the only surviving Hawaiian royalty

[The Sushi Bandit]

4. Statement from Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa, UH Center for Hawaiian Studies

Source: Honolulu Advertiser

Today we learn that the Supreme Court of Injustice of America, has ruled unanimously that the illegal State of Hawaii has the right to sell "ceded" lands.

Why are we not surprised? If they had ruled otherwise every native nation whose lands have been taken by America would file suit for a return of their lands.

We, the Hawaiian people, who are born from the union of Papahanaumoku and Wakea, earth mother and sky father, and who have lived in these islands for over 100 generations, will always have the moral right to the lands of Hawaii now and forever, no matter what any court says.

The land of Hawaii is our ancestor. In order to survive culturally as the Hawaiian people we, must have land upon which to practice our culture. To deny us the right to our ancestral land, especially the so called "ceded" or stolen lands, is to perpetuate cultural genocide upon the Hawaiian people.

Therefore, we Reject the March 31, 2009 Supreme Court decision. We call upon all non Hawaiians everywhere, who support the survival of the Hawaiian people, and who support survival of the Hawaiian culture, to also support the moral right of the Hawaiian people to have jurisdiction over the "ceded" lands, and to join us in the Rejection of this immoral decision by the supreme court.



Read more: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090331/BREAKING/90331041/1352

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Yet another good rant...and about as effective as their prior ones

Every time they get one going where I am present I raise the monarchy, the tabu system and the rest of it. Makes them a little crazy