EVEN IN PARADISE, it's not always "Kupaianaha!" and "Please pass the poi." An independence movement is underway to free the Hawaiian Islands from American "occupation," which began when the United States seized the kingdom from Queen Liliuokalani in 1893.

Native-rights supporters—including Hawaiian Governor Linda Lingle—will take the fight to Washington in June, when a Hawaiian sovereignty bill (the Akaka Bill) heads for a vote in the U.S. Senate. The bill seeks to give Native Hawaiians the same independent nation status accorded to Native American tribes. But not all Hawaiians (haole and otherwise) support the current effort. Given how the U.S. Department of Interior has run its "Indian Affairs," many Hawaiians say they don't want to go down that particular Trail of Tears.

Given the enormous economic and political fallout of a national re-org, the dream of a "Free Hawaii" will most likely remain a dream, albeit a lovely hibiscus-scented dream. But as they say in the archipelago, "A`ole hiki ke `alo a`e" (which roughly means "The U.S. flag will keep its 50 stars"). •