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Native Hawaiian activist and Molokai resident Walter Ritte Jr. announced Wednesday that he is no longer seeking to be a delegate to a Native Hawaiian constitutional convention, calling the process “not pono” and asking others to boycott the election of delegates beginning next month.
In remarks at a news conference at the University of Hawaii-Manoa on Wednesday morning, Ritte said he “concluded” that the ‘aha or constitutional
convention being funded and promoted by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs is “a continuation of the U.S. goal to illegally occupy the Hawaiian Islands and have been unprincipled, defective and divisive.
“I cannot participate in a process that is not pono and have decided to remove my name from consideration to be a delegate in the ‘aha. We need to be steadfast and remain on the path that our kupuna have laid because we are still a sovereign and independent state,” said Ritte.
His withdrawal comes days before the election of delegates set to begin Sunday that will last through Nov. 30. The winning delegates will be attending a convention to establish a path for Native Hawaiian self-determination and possibly a ratification vote by registered Native Hawaiians, according to Na’i Aupuni, an independent organization made up of volunteer board of directors from the Native Hawaiian community. It was organized last December to help establish a path for Native Hawaiian self-determination.
“Na’i Aupuni encourages Native Hawaiians to voice their opinion on the election process because the voters and delegate candidates should hear all voices,” according to a news release late Wednesday afternoon from Na’i Aupuni, which said it was responding to those who protest the process.
The organization did not respond specifically to The Maui News’ questions about Ritte’s withdrawal and the effect, if any, that would have on the election. Na’i Aupuni did say that the election will go on as planned.
“Some Native Hawaiians protest because they are concerned that their desired outcome will not be accepted (which) emphasizes the need for a Native Hawaiian convention,” Na’i Aupuni said.
“Without a process where elected leaders can discuss various options and issues to find a consensus, the Native Hawaiian community will never proceed forward in unity,” the organization said.
Like Ritte, others have expressed dismay over the convention and the election.
Ritte had been set to compete for the one Molokai/Lanai seat against his sister Lori Buchanan, coordinator of the Research Corp. University of Hawaii-Invasive Species Committees on Molokai, and Dr. Noa Aluli, a longtime family doctor on Molokai. Ritte, a former OHA trustee, and Aluli both illegally occupied Kahoolawe during the 1970s when the Navy was bombing the island for target practice.
Aluli could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
“I have always respected and admired (Ritte’s) passion and conviction to the people of Hawaii and the protection of Hawaii’s natural resources,” said Buchanan in an email Wednesday afternoon.
“I know his decision to withdraw and boycott the ‘aha election came out of much discussion and contemplation. Walter has always done what he feels to be the right thing to do, and if he is asking for a boycott then that is what he believes is the best avenue given current circumstances,” Buchanan wrote.
Ritte said his original intent to seek a role in the convention process was to advocate against any measure related to federal recognition.
“It is absolutely unconscionable that the OHA trustees and the federal Department of Interior’s recently published proposal blatantly ignores the overwhelming public testimonies in opposition to federal recognition, instead only counting the written ‘postcard’ testimonies.
“This is a perfect example of the manipulation and violations of basic principals of international humanitarian law we continue to face today as the indigenous people of this land,” he said.
In late September, the U.S. Department of the Interior outlined a proposal that would establish a formal government-to-government relationship with the United States and Native Hawaiians, if they want such a relationship.
Ritte’s view is that the ‘aha is intended to produce a new constitution and referendum “with the potential to negotiate with the state and extinguish claims to our crown and government lands once and for all for Native Hawaiians.” His feeling is that the process “continues to be rigged to fit very specific agendas” and said that his candidacy only confuses “our people and the situation.”
Na’i Aupuni is funded by OHA grants to the nonprofit Akamai Foundation, the fiscal sponsor of Na’i Aupuni. The Na’i Aupuni’s website specifically says that it is separate and independent entity from OHA and the state. Its decisions will not directly or indirectly be controlled or affected by OHA, the website said.
Election-America, a private election company, was hired by Na’i Aupuni to run the election.
There are 15 candidates for three Maui seats and now two for the one Molokai/Lanai seat. They are among 209 candidates statewide vying for 40 delegate seats. The election involves 90,000 potential voters.
The voting, which will take place among certified Native Hawaiian voters, will be done via regular mail or electronically.
Information about the election process can be found at www.naiaupuni.org or by emailing naiaupuni@election-america.com.
Profiles of the candidates also are at www.naiaupuni.org.
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.