Aloha Senators Schatz and Hirono,
We, the undersigned, strongly object to Senate Resolution 416of the 2nd Session of the 114th Congress, Recognizing the contributions of Hawaii to the culinary heritage of the United States and designating the week beginning on June 12, 2016, as “National Hawaiian Food Week”. We want full restoration of Hawaiʻi's freedom, which is the only way our true "National Hawaiian Foods" can be truly protected.
We, the undersigned, strongly object to Senate Resolution 416of the 2nd Session of the 114th Congress, Recognizing the contributions of Hawaii to the culinary heritage of the United States and designating the week beginning on June 12, 2016, as “National Hawaiian Food Week”. We want full restoration of Hawaiʻi's freedom, which is the only way our true "National Hawaiian Foods" can be truly protected.
Practically every line in this resolution is highly problematic. This resolution clearly glorifies displacement of Nā Kānaka Maoli, celebrates corporate interests that have caused major health problems for Nā Kānaka Maoli and many others in Hawaiʻi and around the world, and exploits the image of Hawaiʻi as a tourist-friendly “melting pot” – an image that has historically harmed Kānaka Maoli and all of Hawaiʻi greatly. It contains erroneous information and harmful presumptions.
This Senate Resolution – like the unlawful Joint Resolution that purportedly annexed Hawaiʻi to the United States in 1898 – does not reflect the will of the people of Hawaiʻi, and does grievous harm to us.
Our request is that this Resolution be withdrawn. Instead, please initiate a Joint Resolution to free Hawaiʻi from United States rule, and restore our full independence. If Hawaiʻi could be wrongfully taken against the will of the people (as acknowledged in US PL 103-150, 1993) by the highly irregular use of a Joint Resolution (generally used to designate matters of minor importance, as this “National Hawaiian Food Week” measure exemplifies), then a Joint Resolution could similarly be used to set us free, as we should be.
Full independence is the only means by which we can control our land, water, and ocean, and thereby our real "national foods" foods (taro etc., not SPAM) and thereby our health. It is the only means by which the true foods of Hawaiʻi, along with its people, can ever hope to thrive.
This Senate Resolution – like the unlawful Joint Resolution that purportedly annexed Hawaiʻi to the United States in 1898 – does not reflect the will of the people of Hawaiʻi, and does grievous harm to us.
Our request is that this Resolution be withdrawn. Instead, please initiate a Joint Resolution to free Hawaiʻi from United States rule, and restore our full independence. If Hawaiʻi could be wrongfully taken against the will of the people (as acknowledged in US PL 103-150, 1993) by the highly irregular use of a Joint Resolution (generally used to designate matters of minor importance, as this “National Hawaiian Food Week” measure exemplifies), then a Joint Resolution could similarly be used to set us free, as we should be.
Full independence is the only means by which we can control our land, water, and ocean, and thereby our real "national foods" foods (taro etc., not SPAM) and thereby our health. It is the only means by which the true foods of Hawaiʻi, along with its people, can ever hope to thrive.
Below are some specific line-by-line problems with Senate Resolution 416:
“there was little to eat other than birds and a few species of ferns” is highly offensive. First, there is no evidence that this was the diet of the original ʻoiwi o Hawaiʻi. Furthermore, ferns are far more nutritious than any of the food products referenced (with high levels of B & C vitamins, minerals, omega-6 fatty acids, and micronutrients). Worst of all, this statement flies dangerously close to the classically racist anthropological assumption that “flightless birds” were a major food source for Polynesians, who allegedly hunted them to extinction (a theory that has been repeatedly debunked, but is persistently used to stereotype native peoples as destroyers of their environment, in justification of colonialism).
The emphasis on “the agricultural and ranching potential of the land of Hawaii” is offensive and misleading, considering the exploitation and destruction that has come with these things.
“The readily available seafood from the ocean and coasts of Hawaii” is no longer readily available, due to extensive contamination, destruction, exploitation, and lack of ability for true kanaka lawaiʻa to manage the ocean.
A statement such as “Whereas the food cultures initially brought to Hawaii came from places including French Polynesia, China, Japan, Portugal, North Korea, South Korea, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Samoa” is so insulting to and dismissive of Kanaka Maoli that it is unbelievable that it was included at all.
A statement such as, “Whereas the foods first brought to Hawaii were simple, hearty fare of working men and women that reminded the men and women of their distant homes” is even worse. It glorifies displacement and erases Kanaka Maoli existence.
The repeated use of the word “Hawaiian” to include foreigners, as in “Whereas the blend of styles in Hawaiian cooking evolves as new groups of individuals make Hawaii their home”, and also glorifies displacement and erases Kanaka Maoli existence, removing traditional methods such as imu and paʻiʻai from the image of “Hawaiian cooking”, and replacing them with SPAM and other problematic images.
“Whereas the fusion of dishes from around the world creates a unique cuisine for Hawaii that is as much a part of a visit to Hawaii as the welcoming climate, friendly individuals, and beautiful beaches in Hawaii” is absolutely harmful and enraging to Kanaka Maoli on many levels. Please try your best to count them, so that we do not have to count them for you.
“Whereas the food of Hawaii is appealing because it came from hard-working communities of individuals that farmed, fished, or ranched for their livelihoods, which are core experiences of individuals throughout the United States” is similarly insulting.
“Whereas the growing appreciation for the food of Hawaii comes from hard-working and ingenious farmers, fishers, educators, ranchers, chefs, and businesses that innovate and export the taste of Hawaii all over the world” is similarly insulting as well. Furthermore, it emphasizes exportation. Hawaii imports nearly 90% of its food and exports nearly 80% of its agricultural production. We have enough food to last 10 days, should ships stop coming for any reason. Glorification of massive exportation is essentially a celebration of our collective lack of sustainability, and threats to our very survival. This goes for every person in Hawaii. It is not something to be taken lightly.
“National Hawaiian Food Week” should rightfully only refer to Hawaiʻi as an independent nation, not to the United States of America, which has no legitimate claim to Hawaiʻi at all. This assumption and legitimization of inclusion within the U.S. ignores 123 years of brutal governance at gunpoint, and the impacts of this repressive dominance on Kanaka Maoli. These impacts have already been recognized by the United States in US Public Law 103-150 (1993). They are, however, totally ignored and dismissed here.
Food impacts are a huge part of this repression. It is well-known that Kanaka Maoli are rapidly dying because of diet-related illnesses stemming from the very diet glorified by “National Hawaiian Food Week”, as well as lack of access to the resources necessary to sustain health. Diet-related diseases include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, many types of cancer, and other deadly ailments that are taking lives daily in Hawaiʻi.
Lack of access to land and water; displacement; pollution and destruction of land, water, reefs and other resources; an imposed foreign economy that forces assimilation to non-native ways in order to survive; and direct forced food assimilation (e.g. school lunches, WIC) similarly contribute to these deadly dietary health impacts, all of which are ignored by this resolution. The magnitude of these known impacts truly equate to genocide. This is not a trivial matter.
Corporate participants in “Hawaiian Foods Week”, per , include SPAM, Dole, King’s Hawaiian Bread, and others. These are problematic entities who have not historically been helpful to Kānaka Maoli, to put it lightly. SPAM is currently featuring a large “Aloha to Musubi” ad on its website and elsewhere. This is an abuse of a sacred word, and wrong on many levels.
Lack of access to land and water; displacement; pollution and destruction of land, water, reefs and other resources; an imposed foreign economy that forces assimilation to non-native ways in order to survive; and direct forced food assimilation (e.g. school lunches, WIC) similarly contribute to these deadly dietary health impacts, all of which are ignored by this resolution. The magnitude of these known impacts truly equate to genocide. This is not a trivial matter.
Corporate participants in “Hawaiian Foods Week”, per , include SPAM, Dole, King’s Hawaiian Bread, and others. These are problematic entities who have not historically been helpful to Kānaka Maoli, to put it lightly. SPAM is currently featuring a large “Aloha to Musubi” ad on its website and elsewhere. This is an abuse of a sacred word, and wrong on many levels.
This resolution is essentially the same instrument improperly utilized to annex Hawaiʻi in 1898. It could not be clearer: Annexation to the U.S. is equally as legitimate as “SPAM Week”.
The chosen week itself (starting June 12th) is insulting. It begins on Kamehameha Day. Also, many of us have been following the Red Ribbons Journey that Liko Martin and Laulani Teale are now on, and the ʻAha Aloha ʻĀina efforts, including an ʻĀha Aloha ʻĀina convened in Washington, D.C. by Dr. Kalamaokaʻaina Niheu, M.D. on June 12th. We are aware that Dr. Niheu, Liko Martin and Laulani Teale -- all of whom are also intensively involved in community health issues -- have all been contacting your offices to request meetings during the exact week in question, with no response. To celebrate pseudo-Hawaiian foods while ignoring the real Hawaiian people is totally unacceptable.
We ask that you stop this course of action immediately, and work with us instead on the only solution that is truly pono for Hawaiʻi: full restoration of our independence.
Mahalo and Aloha!
Mahalo and Aloha!
___________________________________________________________
Links:
Article about Hawaiian Foods Week
SPAM website featuring "Say Aloha to SPAM Musubi" ad.
SPAM Musubi ad "Say "aloha" to SPAM® Musubi. This Hawaiian take on surf and turf is sure to be a hit at your next luau! Your taste buds will be so pleased by the delicious flavor that they'll throw on a leigh and start dancing the hula."
SPAM website featuring "Say Aloha to SPAM Musubi" ad.
SPAM Musubi ad "Say "aloha" to SPAM® Musubi. This Hawaiian take on surf and turf is sure to be a hit at your next luau! Your taste buds will be so pleased by the delicious flavor that they'll throw on a leigh and start dancing the hula."
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