The nation's first Hawaii-born president signed a statement Thursday proclaiming June 11, 2010, Kamehameha Day in honor of "King Kamehameha the Great," who unified the Hawaiian Islands under one government
King Kamehameha "united" the islands all right. Using cannons and guns provided to him by white men, he invaded the neighboring islands and slaughtered the people there. I was appalled when visiting Hawaii how Kamehameha's history has been sugar-coated. Everywhere he is presented as some sort of hero. His brutality is excused. I remember one exhibit at a state park where a recorded message told how any commoner caught looking at the King would be instantly killed by the King's guard. But, I was told, that was ok, because that's what Kamehameha thought the gods wanted. Well, ok then!
In his proclamation, Obama refers to Kamehameha as the "Napoleon of the Hawaiian Islands," as if that's a good thing. News flash for the white house: Napoleon not a good guy. Kamehameha, like Napoleon, was a bloodthirsty warmonger.
More from the president:
"It is the story of Native Hawaiians oppressed by crippling disease, aborted treaties, and the eventual conquest of their sovereign kingdom."
In other words, Kamehameha obliterating his foes and establishing his "sovereign kingdom" across the islands was good, as was his brutal Kapu legal system. But the transformation of Hawaii from a brutal dictatorship into a democracy with equal protection under the law was an evil conquest.
Obama's declaration is disgusting.
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