RSS Feed MenuClick here for all of Tim Mak’s reports from the RNC Summit in Hawaii.
If there is tea party-esque anger here, it is geared towards the U.S.A., which is viewed by some in Hawaii as a constraining force. Instead of blaming the American government for Hawaii’s problems, these extremists are blaming America itself.
I came across this sign in Waikiki, a touristy area near the site of the Republican National Committee winter meeting, and by no means an area where you would think that such radical ideas would be popular.
Stay tuned. On Friday, I’ll be talking to Republican candidates for Congress in Hawaii, GOP staffers, the state GOP chair and the Republican Governor, Linda Lingle. We’ll be talking about the state of the Republican Party in Hawaii, the same-sex civil unions bill in the legislature, and ideas like those expressed in the picture above.
If you have any questions you’d like to bring up, feel free to leave a comment below or tweet me at @timkmak!
Danny_K // Jan 28, 2010 at 2:16 pm
As a former maka’aina, I can tell you that a lot of Native Hawaiians bear a grudge about the coup that ended the Kingdom of Hawaii and the dispossession that followed. Much like how some Indians feel. Also, no local goes to WAikiki if they don’t have to.
balconesfault // Jan 28, 2010 at 3:12 pm
I’m reminded of the question that Obama fielded awhile back in a Q and A format with questions coming from the Chinese population.
One was along the lines of “would the US cede Hawaii to China as reparation for America’s debt to China?”
balconesfault // Jan 28, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Actually – I don’t think Obama actually fielded that question. But it was included in a Harpers list of questions that were submitted.
teabag // Jan 28, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Tim, If you knew any history of Hawaii and the disgusting way that the USA basically took over the country and unseated the royal family that had been in existence for many generations.
Then you would realize why they distrust us. It was probably as low as this country has stooped. Mind you there is Iraq so we are trying real hard to keep up the standard.
DFL // Jan 29, 2010 at 9:39 am
Surprisingly, I agree with teabag. The American role in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii is nothing to be proud of.