Press Conference on Launch of New Currency for Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi

The Head Chief of the Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi, the ancestral name for the State of Hawaii in the United States, announced today at a Headquarters press conference, that the kala, Atooi’s sovereign currency, which had not been minted in nearly 130 years, had recently been introduced into the world exchange.

“The launch of this honest money will serve as a recognition of the responsibility that has been taken to help restore the nations of the world,” said Ali’i Nui (King) Aleka Aipoalani, who was joined by Edward Allen, International Currency Director for the independent American Open Currency Standard.  Mr. Aipoalani underscored the historic significance of the currency’s launch, recalling that the kala had last been minted in 1884, just before the Kingdom’s illegal overthrow.

Indeed, he said, the people of Polynesia had endured much since the overthrow of their monarchy.  Necessary steps were being taken — including the minting of their own hard currency — to protect their rightful sovereign status.  The kala, which was minted as a series of coins in copper, silver and gold, marked a turn away from “paper and ink” currency, he said, adding that it would help the Polynesian people move forward with development.

While the kala had been established based on the model promoted by the American Open Currency Standard, Mr. Aipoalani said that the Mulligan Mint had been chosen as the official and exclusive State mint.

Also touching on the benefit of a “hard” currency, such as the kala, Mr. Allen said that, in light of the world’s current financial instability, moves towards “honest money” were welcome.  While the history of paper money was a shaky one, the reputation of hard currencies remained solid.  “We’re honoured to be able to bring that back […] and bring them their own hard money,” he stated.

Mr. Allen described the kala’s three denominations, the one-ounce copper coin with a value of 2 kala, the one-ounce silver coin with a value of 50 kala and the one-tenth-ounce gold coin with a value of 500 kala.

Mr. Aipoalani and Mr. Allen responded to a number of questions on how and where the new currency would be distributed, as well as the future use of the United States dollar.  Mr. Aipoalani told correspondents that the kala would be used across parts of Polynesia and that people could be paid in that currency.  Further, arrangements were under way with other countries through which they would recognize the kala and allow for currency exchange.

Mr. Allen also added that there would be a period of transition as the new currency was introduced.  “It’s obviously not an overnight process,” he said.

Asked about the many sovereignty movements in Hawaii and other Polynesian islands and about the General Assembly’s vote last Friday to reintroduce French Polynesia to the United Nation’s Non-Self-Governing Territories list, Mr. Aipoalani responded that the Atooi Kingdom was working closely with the United States to increase their recognition of the Kingdom’s sovereignty.  Many strides had been made in that regard, he noted.

“There was no annexation of the Hawaiian Kingdom,” he stressed, adding that many Polynesians were angry about the history between the islands and the United States.  However, he personally espoused forgiveness, and felt that the Kingdom and the United States were “allies” who should work together for the good of both peoples.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record