Hawaii Senator Speaks in Support of Compact of Free Association

During a conference at the University of Hawaii Manoa earlier this month, Hawai'i State Legislator J. Kalani English said that he has worked to serve as a strong advocate for the full recognition and implementation of the Compacts of Free Association. He was referring to the agreement between the U.S. and the three Freely Associated States -- the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau. Thousands of FAS citizens have migrated to Hawai'i under the Compact agreement.

The text of Senator's presentation at the Center for Pacific Island Studies' Conference, "Micronesian Voices in Hawai'i," follows:

Senator J. Kalani English
Remarks before the UHM Center for Pacific Island Studies Conference
"Micronesian Voices in Hawai‘i"
April 4, 2008

I am very proud and extremely humble to have the opportunity to address you this morning. Aloha and welcome. As a graduate of the Center for Pacific Island Studies, and having worked with the government of the Federated States of Micronesia for some years, I want to thank you all for giving me a few minutes to share my thoughts and perhaps a few insights into my own experiences, and observations. Frankly, it is always a little intimidating for a statesman to stand before a group of academics, so I hope you will see me instead as a son of Hawai‘i, and a friend of Micronesia.

Given my place within the government of Hawai‘i and my strong ties to Micronesia, I have worked to serve as a strong advocate for the full recognition and implementation of the Compacts of Free Association. In my eyes, the Compacts are more than a mere treaty. It is the embodiment of our debt to the people of Micronesia, a people who stood steadfast when there was danger, gave support in a critical time of need, and assisted our nation in a just cause, all at a time when it likely would have been easier and safer to simply wait. So the Compacts are more than a piece of paper or an agreement between governments. It is an expression of a spirit of joint concern and mutual respect, the commitment of brothers who have shared a moment of sacrifice.

The relationship that grows out of the Compacts should be based on that spirit of sharing and joint endeavor. Any reading of the Compacts on the part of the U.S. government that has as its principal purpose a limitation of the duties of our government and the rights of Micronesians violates that spirit. But what hits closer to home for me is the disservice such a limited reading does to Hawai‘i’s long history of acceptance of new residents from all over the world.

I wish I could say that our story of welcome and acceptance was without challenges. It has been a human history, marked by the unique missteps that mark so many human endeavors. And yet we have shown time and again that we can rise above those momentary lapses, and make a place in our culture and our hearts for new brothers and sisters who bring so many new experiences, new views on the world, and new texture to our complex lives. We stand ready to do that again.

That should be the ultimate goal of the Compacts and the meaning we give it: To provide opportunities for us to demonstrate our capacity for acceptance. And opportunities for those who seek to live among us and share the immense benefits of our state, out nation, and our culture to make their contribution to our shared lives.

I am confident that through joint effort and a shared commitment to deeper understanding, we can guide the meaning and impact of the Compacts to those higher levels. I am also confident that those Micronesians who choose to join our society and culture will embrace their own responsibilities.

We value education, and make our learning resources available to all. Join us in our efforts to build an educated society. We value tolerance, and offer you understanding. Join us in building a more tolerant society. We value the individual efforts that build a stronger community for all. Join us in building a more productive society.

We as nations, states, and individuals do not need more reasons to see ourselves as different. We need the commitment that focuses us on how we are the same. Neither side of this debate should be saying, "This is all I am required to do." Both sides should be seeing an opportunity to do more.

"The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." As we examine our rights and responsibilities, let’s not forget that we accomplish more with a heart filled with hope than with a page filled words. Let’s keep alive the spirit that makes us brothers and sisters. And let’s advocate for an approach to these challenges that maintains our focus on what we will do together, rather than what we might do to keep us apart.

- Yokwe Online, April 16, 2008