By Guest Column Andrew Walden——Bio and Archives--October 6, 2009
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The Akaka Bill is still before Congress, but Maui County Councilmember Gladys Baisa has a different idea about who represents native Hawaiians.
Baisa is proposing a "draft ordinance acknowledging the reinstatement of the Hawaiian Kingdom nation."
On October 2, the Maui County Council considers Baisa's "request that this matter...be referred to the appropriate standing committee for discussion." The council meeting convenes at 9AM.
(UPDATE: Reports from the meeting indicate that Baisa's request was referred directly to the Committee of the Whole. The next meeting of COW will be Friday, October 16.)
Baisa's September 10 letter--Maui County Communication #09-273--asks that the Council "please notify Mr. Henry M Noa (prime Minister, Reinstated Lawful Hawaiian Government, Kingdom of Hawaii...) and Mr. Nelson K Armitage, Sr (Minister of Foreign Affairs...) when the matter is scheduled for discussion by the committee."
Like many "sovereignty" activists, Armitage is a criminal. He has two felonies and five total convictions on his record. He is a convicted auto thief. He has a felony conviction for weapons charges. He was convicted in Family Court in 2000 for "violating an order of protection". Oddly, Noa's record shows only a single conviction--a 1983 misdemeanor DUI in Honolulu.
Baisa's motion is not mere symbolism. Section Nine of the proposed ordinance reads:
"The transition of the County of Maui from the jurisdiction of the United States to the reinstated Kingdom of Hawaii will occur over a term of four years, having commenced on February 1, 2009. All county officials and employees shall retain their positions during this transition period."
In addition to illegally seceding from both the lawful State of Hawaii and the legally sovereign United States of America, Maui County elected officials may have to answer to SHOPO, HGEA, and UPW leaders concerned about the disposition of their membership after February 1, 2013.
With the economy on the rocks, Baisa isn't shy about distributing tax revenue to the group headed by the "royal" auto thief and drunk driver. She proposes the County of Maui acknowledge "the perfect right of the Reinstated Hawaiian Government to initiate the transition of government powers and crown lands currently under County of Maui management...."
Baisa proposes in Section Seven that:
"Revenues generated by the taxes upon persons and businesses currently on Hawaiian Government lands and Crown lands -- including revenues generated by chattel on said lands -- shall be divided equally between the County of Maui and the reinstated Hawaiian Kingdom."
"Chattel" is defined as "Personal property, movable or immovable, which is less than a freehold; for example, a book, a coat, a pencil, growing corn, a lease."
An attached "Proposed Bill" dated "10/07/08" claims:
"...the Reinstated Hawaiian Government on July 31, 2006 executed perfect right under the international rule of postliminium to reclaim the island of Kahoolawe. As a result, the de facto State of Hawaii and the County of Maui enforcement officers violated the Human Right of Hawaii Nationals participating in the Hawaiian Government Authorized Exercise."
Armitage's most recent criminal conviction--the only one of the five which is overtly political--was for a misdemeanor July 31, 2006 "Prohibited Entry--Kahoolawe Preserve" (DLNR 13-261-10).
Baisa's current proposed ordinance would "prevent County of Maui government officials and employees from receiving human rights violations."
While lining the pockets of her favorite crook's organization, Baisa also helps lawyers. Section Six of her proposed ordnance reads:
"A moratorium shall be placed upon the sale of lands currently under the management of the County of Maui for public and private developments, until all matters are approved by the reinstated Hawaiian Kingdom. A moratorium shall also be placed upon County of Maui foreclosure proceedings involving the sale of private lands owned by Kanaka Maoli. These moratoriums indemnify the County of Maui from the liabilities otherwise accrued through acts of oppression and suppression against the reinstated Kingdom of Hawaii and its nationals." (emphasis added)
Baisa's reference to "liabilities otherwise accrued" if written into a County Ordinance could become a legally binding admission that the County of Maui has already accrued liabilities to the group headed by the drunk driver and the auto thief. Such an admission could become evidence in civil litigation against Maui County. The inability to foreclose could cause lenders to deny credit to native Hawaiians and could result in preemptive seizures of Hawaiian-owned property by lenders.
Several sections of Baisa's proposed ordinance appear to restrict the ability of Maui County police and other officials from enforcing the law. Section Four reads:
"...no restrictions shall be placed by the County of Maui upon the Government Authorized Exercises (GAE) of the reinstated Kingdom of Hawaii. These exercises include, but are not limited to the right to travel, to conduct business and reclamation of Hawaiian Government lands and Crown lands, etc."
Both Sections Four and Six could give "Reinstated" the ability to make demands on any business or person in Maui County without County or police intervening to uphold the law.
Baisa was re-elected in 2008 from the Upcountry Maui "residency area" of Kula, Pukalanai and Ulupalakua. According to her campaign website she received the endorsements of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, the Maui News, SHOPO, HGEA, UPW, and several other unions. On a page titled "Areas of Special Interest" Baisa mentions: "Providing opportunity to resolve Hawaiian Land issues", "Revising property taxes to be more equitable" and "Funding adequate enforcement of County laws."
Baisa's term ends in 2010. Election Day is November 2, 2010.
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UPDATE: Opinion on proposed ordinance by Maui County Corp Counsel (great read)
NEW: Maui News covers Oct 2 Council Meeting and does not mention discussion of resolution to seceed from Hawaii and from the United States.
RELATED: Kauai Garden Isle March 15, 2009 "Reinstated Hawaiian Government marks 10 years of sovereignty Prime minister (sic) requests County Council recognition" (Same scam--tried on Kauai)
PDF: Noa Criminal Record
PDF: Baisa's proposed draft ordinance
Other Maui "sovereignty" activists: Naming names: Who are the alleged Sovereignty-mortgage scammers
Other material:
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Items of notes and interest from the web.