Back to the Hawaiian-only election. Here’s an interview from ThinkTech Hawaii which asks “Is Nai Aupuni Sponsored by the State Government?“
The interview is conducted by the plaintiff in the Akina v. Hawaii case, and the interviewees are one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs, Michael Lilly, and the other is U. Hawaii lawprof Williamson Chang. Each has their viewpoint of course (Professor Chang has argued that Hawaiians should be independent, and not relegated to tribal status, while Dr. Akina and Mr. Lilly are challenging the election), but whatever your view of this thing is, the program is a very good 1/2 hour education on the principles at stake.
The quote in this post’s title is from Professor Chang, whose answer to the question posed by the video’s title is clearly “yes.” If Hawaiians want independence, then those efforts should not be funded by the very sovereign they are attempting to separate from, according to Professor Chang.
Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for more action in the Ninth Circuit.