Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 1986 — Tahiti — Part of Our Polynesian Roots [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Tahiti — Part of Our Polynesian Roots

By Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawaii

For the sixth year, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was invited to the South ' Pacific Conference (SPC) I as an observer, this being my first time. The SPC is made up primarily of govemment officials from the Pacific who promote eeo- ' nomie, social and cultural progress throughout the region. Renewable energy

was this year s focus for the conference held m Papeete, whieh was hosted by the French who colonized Tahiti. It ended up being a big public relations extravaganza by the French to impress the Pacific leadership with lots of "window dressing" as it was referred to by some of the South Pacific leaders. There were many extravagant cocktail parties and dinners until midnight at many hotels with booze and champagne flowing, beautiful Tahitian girls and hips swaying. For many of the delegates, it was "too mueh show and frills," butthe French have an image problem in the Pacific to "elean up" and these gatherings were an attempt to do so.

France's terroristic bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand last year caused one death. The boat's destruction is an example of France's arrogant and pilau image. It is eommon knowledge that high French officials were aware of that terroristic act from the beginning. The Rainbow Warrior was in Auckland on its way to Moruroa near Tahiti to monitor France's underground nuclear tests of that island. The tragic attack halted this action.

Tahitian babies are bom with serious birth defects and mutations that have only surfaced since the bomb tests started. It is feared that radiation poisoning in Tahiti comes from the migrating fish and a contaminated ecosystem, and underground Moruroa is like "Swiss cheese" with pukas. The French refuse to allow independent studies and cover up the statistics that will shed light on the situation, while the cancer, leukemia and reasons attributable to death are hidden from scmtiny. Gaston Flosse, president of the Govemment of French Polynesia (and part Tahitian though acting more French than the French), at the beginning of the

conference stated the other Pacific islands should follow the example of the French in the Pacific. This statement was not taken seriously by the majority in attendance. The majority of Tahitians and the Kanaks of New Caledonia are suffering under French oppression. It costs so mueh to live in those places, everything has to be imported (mueh like here in Hawaii), and these natives too are strangers in their own homeland. In the South Pacific, France is not known for democratic principles or practices, for if you do not go along with and agree to French control you are denied basic rights and opportunities. This is what I hear from Tahitians, whose roots are ours as the Hokule'a is proving.

The highlight of my trip to Tahiti was an invitation to a special torchlight walk and ceremony at a marae (heiau) in Fa'a'a District, built to honor Tahitian ancestors that in the 1840's died in battle fighting the French for their aina and independence. Hundreds of people gathered to remember and pay respect to those heroes who fought to save the aina. Tinae Haneoek, a Fijian woman who represents Baha'i International as a consultant and observer to the SPC, and I were honored to be presented with beautifully hand-carved spears by the Fa'a'a community at this gathering.

Mayor Oscar Temaru of Fa'a'a is also the head of the Tahitian Independence Movement that has been in existence for the past 10 years. Oscar, a father of six, is a devout Catholic. Though he is mayor, Oscar is eoncerned about the future for his children and other Tahitian children under the French. Fa'a'a, the second largest district in Tahiti, and one of the fastest growing as well, has a budget of $6 million a year and needs mueh more. Oscar, our hostess, Te'a, and I were told by one of the Cook Island officials that the three-day SPC bash hosted by the French for our benefit cost $3 million, half the year's budget for Fa'a'a. Oscar and his administra-

tion are also trying to take care of housing needs not only for the Tahitians, but for the many that emigrated from other South Pacific islands. President Flosse, who owns hotels, insurance companies, banks, ferries and more, is building himself a $5 million home high upon a hill with helicopter pad. There are many neh French in Tahiti, but many Tahitians may not have adequate food, according to Mayor Temaru's aide, Myron. So as you see, all is not well in that paradise either. Next month, I will write about the situation in New Zealand. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono.