Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 2, 1 September 1981 — «We have been waiting patiently...» [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

«We have been waiting patiently...»

— Quecn Lili'uokalani by Mrs. A. Frenchy DeSoto, Chairperson T X he Office of Hawaiian Affairs extends its sincere congratulations and piha aloha to three Hawaiians who were recently appointed to the Federal Study Commission: State Representative Kina'u Kamali'i, Kumu Winona Beamer, and Maui County Corporation Counsel H. Rodger Betts. In accordance with Public Law 69-656, this Commission is establishedto"study the culture, needs and concerns of the Hawaiian community." Special aloha is extended to our sister Kina'u who will be undertaking a monumental task as Chairperson of this Study Commission. (You are still not abne. Hi'iaka.) The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Trustees and staff stand ready, willing and abie to assist in any way possible. Many Hawaiians view this Commission as " Ho'ohuoi ," because of the ambiguous language in the Act itself. OHA, however, recognizes that the reestablishment of this Study Commission is a vital first step that provides for our Hawai'i a forum to address the alleged "illegal overthrow" and the subsequent consequences to our people. Our needs with respect to education, housing and employment are overshadowed by the real or imagined " 'eha" caused by the loss of our lands and sovereignty. If nothing else, the Commission must address this particular issue, whieh many perceive as the root of all of the other problemsthat Hawaiians have. Puhlie hearings held in Washington, should be minimal. Logic and reason prevailing, most hearings should be held in Hawai'i. It is also hoped that residents from Hawai'i, (those who have the ability and sensitivity that is vitally needed when working with our people), would be hired for staffing purposes. An example of that kind of ability and sensitivity ean be seen in Rodger's years of study and documentation of the events surrounding the overthrow. The President of the United States, the Honorable Grover Cleveland eommissionedMr. JamesH. Blountto investigatethe circumstancesrelatingtothe overthrow of the monarchy on January 17, 1893. The Blount Study and Report is an unbiased and detailed document by a non-Hawaiian and should prove valuable to the Commission's work. In the presentation of the Study to Congress, President Cleveland stated: ". . . By an Act of War, committed with the participation of a diplomatic representative of the United States and with authority ofCongress, the government of a feeble but friendly and confiding people has been overthrown. A substantial wrong has thus been done whieh a due regard for our national character as well astherights of the injured people requires, we should endeavor to repair . . . . " I believe that the Hawaiian people have attemptedto abide by the spirit ofthe statement made by Ka Mo'i Wahine, Lydia Lili'uokalani, Queen Sovereign of Hawai'i to Commissioner James H. Blount that ". . . we have been waiting patiently, and will still wait, until such time as the government of the United States, on the fact presented to it, shall undo the act of its representative . . . ." I'm quite sure that we ean all agree that eighty-eight (88) years has been a very long and sufficient time for our people to wait, with continuing humility. The findings ofthis Study Commission and its eventualrecommendations or solutions to the President and Congress are awaited with bated breath. May the spirits of our kupuna give you, our Hawai'i representative the courage and mana to guide and support you in your efforts to make right that whieh is wrong. E kama 'ilio 'oukou me ka 'oiai'o a me ka pono i noho mau ka mana me kākou nā 'ōiwi o Hawaii'i. Speak with the truth, and forever the power and the strength of Our People, is yours