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| Na'i Aupuni | |
|---|---|
| Name | Na'i Aupuni |
| Formation | 2011 |
| Type | Constitutional convention commission |
| Headquarters | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Region served | Hawaii |
| Leader title | Chair |
| Leader name | Myron B. Thompson |
Na'i Aupuni Na'i Aupuni was a state-initiated Hawaiian convening body created to facilitate a constitutional convention process for Native Hawaiian self-determination, involving a mix of electoral, legislative, and federal interactions. The initiative intersected with a broad array of historical actors, institutions, and legal frameworks across Honolulu, Washington, D.C., and Hawaiian communities, engaging figures from Queen Liliʻuokalani's legacy to contemporary leaders in Native American and indigenous rights movements.
Na'i Aupuni emerged from legislative and executive actions by the State of Hawaii and the Hawaii State Legislature following decades of activism by organizations such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Aloha ʻĀina Party, and advocacy networks linked to descendants of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Its formation drew upon precedents set by the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921, the Apology Resolution passed by the United States Congress in 1993, and rulings by the United States Supreme Court including cases addressing indigenous sovereignty such as Rice v. Cayetano and Hollingsworth v. Perry which shaped voting and standing debates. Proponents cited consultations with cultural practitioners from Maui, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi (island) and referenced political organizations like the Democratic Party of Hawaii and the Republican Party (United States). The initiative navigated federal oversight from agencies such as the Department of the Interior and legal counsel connected to law firms in Honolulu and Washington, D.C..
Na'i Aupuni's structure combined appointed and elected elements, overseen by a board drawing expertise from legal, cultural, and civic sectors including alumni and faculty from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, staff from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and activists affiliated with the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation and the Hawaiian Civic Club network. Membership criteria referenced genealogical descent tied to families associated with the Kamehameha dynasty, the House of Kawānanakoa, and community registers maintained by genealogists connected to institutions like the Bishop Museum. Election mechanics involved election administrators, ballot vendors, and volunteer organizations from Kauaʻi to Hilo, with advisors who had prior roles in campaigns for figures such as Mazie Hirono, Daniel Inouye, Patsy Mink, and local leaders including Ben Cayetano. External observers included representatives from Native American Rights Fund, scholars from Harvard University and University of California, Berkeley, and commentators affiliated with media outlets like the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Civil Beat.
The commission organized a convention process intended to draft a framework for Hawaiian governance that referenced constitutions from the Kingdom of Hawaii era, the 1887 Bayonet Constitution, and modern models including documents from New Zealand's Waitangi Tribunal deliberations and constitutions of indigenous polities such as those of the Navajo Nation and Alaska Native Corporations. Conveners invited testimony from cultural practitioners, legal scholars familiar with precedents like United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples deliberations, and practitioners from comparative bodies including delegations from Canada's Assembly of First Nations and advisors linked to Te Puni Kōkiri. Drafting sessions involved facilitators experienced with consensus methods used in forums such as the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and parliamentary procedures comparable to those in the Hawaiian Legislature. Public hearings were held across community centers in Kāneʻohe, Lahaina, Waimea, and Wailuku with outreach coordinated alongside cultural institutions including the Hawaiʻi State Archives and the Hawaiian Historical Society.
Na'i Aupuni became the subject of litigation and public debate over eligibility, funding, and the intersection of state action with federal Indian law, prompting cases before the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii and appeals invoking the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and references to precedents such as Morton v. Mancari. Plaintiffs and opponents included litigants represented by attorneys affiliated with the ACLU, the Pacific Legal Foundation, and private firms, while supporters included offices like the Hawaii Attorney General and leaders from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Debates drew comparisons to litigation involving the Bureau of Indian Affairs and disputes over tribal recognition processes resembling cases before the Interior Board of Indian Appeals. Media coverage and commentary involved commentators from The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and local outlets, and scholars from Yale Law School, Stanford Law School, and University of Hawaiʻi published critiques and defenses.
Na'i Aupuni influenced subsequent policy discussions in the Hawaii State Legislature, informed advocacy at the United Nations, and shaped strategies employed by organizations such as the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and community coalitions in negotiations with federal entities like the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior. Its activities fed into electoral mobilization efforts that intersected with campaigns for offices including Governor of Hawaii, United States Senate, and United States House of Representatives seats, and contributed to scholarly literature at institutions like the East-West Center and journals published by Cambridge University Press. The legacy continues to inform debates over federal recognition models applied in cases such as restoration of rights similar to historical acts like the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 and ongoing dialogues with international bodies such as the International Labour Organization.
Category:Native Hawaiian politics Category:Hawaii