[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E775-E776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING THE USE OF EMANCIPATION HALL IN THE CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER 
      FOR AN EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF KING KAMEHAMEHA I

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. TULSI GABBARD

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 18, 2015

  Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. Con. Res. 
3, a concurrent resolution authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in 
the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to be held on June 7, 2015, to 
celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha I.
  This annual celebration honors King Kamehameha I who established a 
unified Kingdom

[[Page E776]]

of Hawai`i in 1810. King Kamehameha Day was celebrated first on June 
11, 1872, and has been a Hawai`i State holiday since 1959. In 1970, the 
celebration of King Kamehameha's birthday in our nation's capital 
opened the rich history and culture of Hawai`i to more Americans.
  In 1758, with the birth of Kamehameha, a prophecy foretelling that a 
great leader would be born and unite the islands of Hawai`i was 
fulfilled. Born into royal families from the islands of Hawai`i and 
Maui, Kamehameha's mentoring started at a young age. He learned 
religion, oral history, culture, economics, governance, navigation, 
warfare, and other fields of knowledge necessary to build a nation.
  Kamehameha rose to power through political astuteness and superior 
forces. He was a visionary leader with a strategic mind, dominating 
presence, and persuasive personality. Kamehameha developed 
relationships with other royal families, built coalitions and sought 
the counsel of those steeped in modern warfare. By 1790, Kamehameha's 
modernized armed forces equipped with cannons and firearms and use of 
psychological warfare to undermine the spirits of opposing forces led 
to one successful military campaign after another.
  While uniting the islands of Hawai`i, Kamehameha contemplated on the 
future of the Kingdom of Hawai`i and reasoned that for a nation to be 
vibrant, its citizens must feel safe and secure. Kamehameha reflected 
on a military encounter with fishermen gathering food from the ocean 
for their families. As Kamehameha gave chase to the fishermen, his leg 
got caught among the shoreline rocks. One of the fishermen hit him on 
the head with a paddle that broke into splinters. The fisherman spared 
Kamehameha's life.
  Later, the fisherman was brought before Kamehameha. In his wisdom, 
Kamehameha ruled that the fisherman was innocent. The fisherman was 
protecting his family and land from an aggressor who could have done 
them harm. From that experience, Kamehameha embraced the inalienable 
rights of all men and women by proclaiming the Law of the Splintered 
Paddle (Kanawai Mamala Hoe), the law of the land. The law stated, ``Let 
every elderly person, woman, and child lie by the roadside in safety.'' 
The Law of the Splintered Paddle sets the moral tone to do no harm to 
fellow human beings, take personal responsibility and think before 
committing an act of violence. It is fitting that the words of the Law 
of the Splintered Paddle are enshrined in the Hawai`i State 
Constitution. Its values have become a model for human rights law 
regarding the treatment of civilians and other non-combatants.
  Kamehameha knew that in order to ensure the health, safety, and 
welfare of his people, it was imperative to create economic 
opportunities. Kamehameha invested resources to maintain viable 
fishponds and taro patches; protect fresh water streams, fertile soils, 
and forest lands; build schools and train a new generation of leaders. 
Kamehameha also bore witness to rapid unfolding events occurring since 
the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778. Kamehameha knew that it was 
the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Native Hawai`ian 
people, and he made wise decisions to prepare his people for the 
future.
  In closing, I would like to extend my appreciation to the staff of 
the Committee on House Administration, the Office of the Architect of 
the Capitol, and the Office of Sergeant at Arms who have helped make 
this annual birthday celebration for King Kamehameha I a success.

                          ____________________