Dr. Noenoe K. Silva, PhD Dr. Noenoe K.Silva, PhD., is a professor at University of Hawai'i Indigenous Politic Program and author of Aloha Betrayed: Native Hawaiian Resistance to American Colonialism, published by Duke University Press. It was elected the most influential book in Native American and Indigenous Studies in the first decade of the 21st century, by the membership of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association.
Interview with Keri Kittleson and professor and author Dr. Noenoe Silva
Keri: I have your book Aloha Betrayed: Native Hawaiian Resistance to American Colonialism. It has a lot of historical information about the annexation of Hawaii. What drove you to write this incredible book and how long did it take you? Noenoe Silva: It took a pretty long time. It was based on my doctoral dissertation, which took two years to research and write. That was completed in April 1999. I started my job as assistant professor immediately afterwards and worked on the book manuscript until 2003, which includes research on two chapters that were not in the dissertation. It was published in 2004. I was driven originally to do the research because my knowledge of what was in the Hawaiian language newspapers did not line up with what was in the history books. Having a tenure-track job in a research university means having to publish books and journal articles, so that was another big reason.
Keri: Why do you think the Kanaka Maoli's voices were not heard and how did the pro annexation people get away with pushing annexation? Noenoe Silva: Indigenous peoples were and are mostly seen by big countries' governments as small minority populations that do not merit full consideration. The U.S. is a settler-colonial country based on pushing indigenous peoples off their lands. Those who did this in Hawaiʻi rationalized to themselves, each other, and the major supporters in the U.S. as the natural superiority of white folks--they really believed or pretended to believe that darker-skinned peoples were incapable of self-government and thus white folk were empowered and entitled to take over their lands. What then would be the purpose of listening to anything they had to say?
Keri: Has the U.S. government ever shown a document which proves the U.S. legally acquired Hawaii? Noenoe Silva: I don't believe so, although comparison with the acquisition of the Republic of Texas has been offered in the past as an example of comparable legal annexation.
Keri: Do you think there will be any significant encounters or actions in the next 20 years that will have a positive impact on native Hawaiians? What would these encounters look like? Noenoe Silva: Kanaka are constantly building up our Native world by learning our language, reading the written works of our ancestors, revitalizing our native religion, rebuilding our native food systems, and creating native-centered schools. These are all positive actions.
Keri: What do you think are the most positive and negative impacts explorers had on Hawaii? Noenoe Silva: The most negative were first, the epidemics to which native people had no immunities and which devastated the population. Second, the introduction of firearms. Third, the introduction of capitalism, which almost immediately resulted in a stripping of sandalwood from the land, and which today is causing massive toxicity of fresh and ocean waters, forests, etc.
Keri: Do you think Clinton’s apology resolution made a positive impact on Hawaiian’s or changed anything? Why? Noenoe Silva: The 1993 Congressional apology, which Clinton signed, temporarily gave people hope that the U.S. would begin to act responsibly towards Hawaiians. Nothing except many years of proposed legislative and executive branch acts have followed, which most Hawaiians have fought because they were federally driven attempts to stop the movement(s) towards self-governance and independence.
Keri: Is there any new legislation active today that will bring Hawaiians any closer to being compensated for their losses (lands or money)? Noenoe Silva: No. It seems to me that most Hawaiians do not want money compensation, either. We would like to be able to live on, take care of, and maintain good relationships with our land and the other beings on it. We want to stop being driven off our lands; most will never be satisfied with money in exchange for our lands and our country.
Keri: If Hawaii went back to being a sovereign country what would it look like and what exchanges would need to take place for it to be independent? Noenoe Silva: This is a question that can only be answered when it is happening! People would have to work together to determine the government and economic system.
Keri: Are there any living ancestors of Queen Liliuokalani that could re-establish the monarchy? Noenoe Silva: Queen Lili'uokalani had no biological children. She did have adopted children and there are also the descendants of one of her named heirs, Prince David Kawananakoa. Because, however, there is not a lot of agreement that those are indeed still in line for the throne, it is more likely that there would have to be an election.
Keri: Is there a big movement in Hawaii for change and for Hawaii to be independent of the United States? What do you predict will be the outcome? Noenoe Silva: There is a big movement. Currently, the movement for federal recognition and the movement for independence are both active. The federal recognition camp has put on a conference to write up a constitution, anticipating that the Obama administration will create an executive order giving federal recognition to Hawaiians. Representatives from the independence movement are participating and trying to stop such an act. I can't predict the outcome.
Keri: As an educator, do you think your students feel strongly about the future of Hawaii and are they active in the community? Noenoe Silva: Definitely.
Keri: Throughout your research what was the most exciting thing you translated and why? Noenoe Silva: I don't translate everything! It is great to be able to read in Hawaiian, think about it in Hawaiian, etc. One of the recent exciting things was learning that there was a Native Hawaiian women's suffrage (voting rights) movement in 1912.
Keri: What would you like to share that you think is important and value to know about the annexation if Hawaii? Noenoe Silva: The most important thing is that Native Hawaiians never wanted to become part of the United States. They were and are patriotic to their own country.
Good luck with your website! ke aloha, Noenoe
Keri: Thank you very much, your information is very interesting and it is exciting to interview an author and professor in Hawaii who knows so much about the annexation of Hawaii and the current politics.