But they are divided about just what the federal government should give - land, money or programs.

Hawaiian Views Wayne Ho, 35, Kihei, Maui. Works two jobs "to keep things together." One-quarter Hawaiian. Feels all ceded lands should be returned to Hawaiians, after which the community can decide on the kind of government it wants. "I’m not too clear on what kind of government. That’s not one of the priorities. For me, the main thing is get the land back first, then we can worry about that. "As an indigenous people without our land, we’re nothing."

"The overthrow was an illegal act. I feel we should get the land back," said poll participant Wayne Ho, 35, of Kihei, Maui. "The land is the most important thing. But education is real important to the Hawaiian people, too."

According to the Hawaii Poll, which surveyed Native Hawaiians on Hawaiian issues, two of three feel they are due special help on grounds that the loss of lands and culture has hurt them in health and education.

"There’s a lot that could be done," said Art Lee, a Kahalu‘u postal worker. "If anything, they could give us a break in federal taxes, to people who are working. But if you want to sit and wait and collect welfare, I don’t think you should get any kind of a deal."

Program value doubted

Some Hawaiians agree the overthrow was wrong, but want no special help.

"My grandmother was full Hawaiian, and my grandmother worked all her life. It really ticks me off when I see Hawaiians squatting on the beaches and saying, ‘You owe me,’" said a 38-year-old participant who asked that her name not be used. One-quarter Hawaiian, she said she believes government programs often do more harm than good.

"I’ve seen what those programs have done to the Indians on the Mainland. It’s awful. I don’t think those programs benefitted the Indians," she said.

In the 1893 overthrow, a group of non-Hawaiian businessmen and citizens of Hawaii, the United States and other countries took over the Hawaiian government from Queen Lili‘uokalani to secure control over sugar lands.

A U.S. ship in Honolulu Harbor landed troops, ostensibly to protect American property and citizens in case of violence. But many, including the queen, saw it as a sign of U.S. support for

the overthrow. The Republic of Hawaii was formed, and was turned over to the United States five years later.

A century later, Congress apologized for the U.S. role in the overthrow. But Hawaiians today say that’s not nearly enough.

By a 5-to-1 margin, those polled by The Advertiser said the United States must provide restitution to the Hawaiian people. That overwhelming sentiment cuts across age, education level, gender and amount of Hawaiian ancestry, or blood quantum.

Hawaiians in the 35-to-54 age group were most uniform in their stance, supporting restitution by nearly 10 to 1, while those at the younger and older ends of the spectrum supported restitution by a ratio closer to 4 to 1.

Priorities vary

There were serious differences within the community, however, in what form of restitution would be appropriate.

"What I would like to see is to gain our sovereignty back. Give us our sovereignty and the money to start our sovereign government," said Emmaline Ihu, 57, of Waimea, Kaua‘i, administrator of a physicians’ group.

"Education and medical is the only thing (restitution) should go for," said Native Hawaiian Lance Dunbar, 55, of Kainalu, Moloka‘i, a banker and rancher.

"Land - legitimate land, good land, not something like out in Wai‘anae. And finances to operate it," said Kyle Nakanelua, 40, of Haiku, Maui, a firefighter.

Many Hawaiians said they specifically would like programs to help improve conditions for the Hawaiian community, that improve health and further educational opportunities. Such preferences were strongest among younger Hawaiians and those with less Hawaiian blood.

Almost an equal number expressed a desire for a Hawaiian land base. Those whose family members are not on the waiting list for Hawaiian Homelands lots were more concerned about getting access to Hawaiian lands, as were those below age 55.

The respondents who selected neither land nor programs as their primary concerns tended to favor the establishment of a Hawaiian nation. Many in this category also said money should be part of the restitution.

Alika Lambert, 65, Kahalu‘u. Retired from Hawaiian Telephone. One-quarter Hawaiian. Favors a nation-within-a-nation form of Hawaiian government. "The big beef is, what type of self-determination? "I’m not for a monarchy. Complete independence is ridiculous. ... I think a nation-within-a-nation would be something we could work with. "We have to get rid of this racial thing that’s been raised between Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians."

Ceded lands are among the thorniest issues in modern Hawaiian rights discussions, and only a quarter of Native Hawaiians say they understand the issue well, but a strong majority rejects the proposition that non-Hawaiians should benefit at all from ceded lands.

The survey of Native Hawaiians is a comprehensive examination of critical issues facing the Native Hawaiian community.

The Advertiser’s Hawai‘i Poll found that the more people say they understand the issue, the more they believe Hawaiians should be given control of ceded lands.

"I don’t think (the United States should be required to provide) money. They didn’t take money. They took land.

I think some of it should be returned," said Lokelani Morris, 22, of Kailua, a medical assistant.

But while many support placing ceded lands in Hawaiian hands, it is not an issue of overriding importance when compared with other issues. Self-determination and education rank similarly among primary concerns. And older Hawaiians said the community’s lack of leadership and unity is considerably more important.

Still, many Hawaiians feel the issues cannot be separated. Self-determination, lands and other programs are all part of restoring what has been lost, said Alika Lambert, 65, of Kahalu‘u, a retired Hawaiian Telephone employee.

"I think there has been a horrendous disenfranchisement of the Hawaiian people. We’ve been wards of the state and federal government, and they’ve done a terrible job of upholding the trusts," Lambert said.

Ceded lands make up the largest part of government lands in Hawai‘i. They were originally either crown lands, used to benefit the monarch, or government lands. Acquired by the Republic of Hawai‘i in the 1893 overthrow of the kingdom, they were passed on, or ceded, to the United States with the transfer of control over Hawai‘i.

These lands represent about 2 million of the state’s 4.1 million acres. Nearly 200,000 acres were set aside in 1921 as Hawaiian Home Lands; most of the remaining acreage was handed over to Hawaii by the federal government at statehood in 1959. Currently the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is designated to receive one-fifth of the revenue from the state’s use of its ceded lands.

Three-quarters of Hawaiians polled said they believe ceded lands were stolen from the kingdom. Two-thirds of those who said they understand the issue well believe Hawaiians should be given all ceded lands. But a third reject the idea that even 20 percent of ceded lands should be turned over to Hawaiians.

The complex issue is central to the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Many activists look to ownership of ceded lands as key to establishing a land base for any future Hawaiian nation.

"It is not an issue that is as clear-cut as, say · education; not as clear-cut as even sovereignty," said OHA chairman Clayton Hee.

Poll respondent Lambert said he worries about a backlash as Hawaiians move toward gaining access to more land.

"Everybody’s starting to balk because the Hawaiians are beginning to be a little assertive," he said. "We’re looking at repairing what has been done. Don’t stand in the way of justice."

The Hawaii Poll, conducted by Ward Research, has a margin of error is 4.9 percent. That means if the entire Hawaiian adult population were sampled, the results would be within 4.9 percent of the results obtained 95 percent of the time.

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