Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 1988 — Our Readers Write. [ARTICLE]

Our Readers Write.

Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to thank all responsible for the publishing of Ka Wai Ola O Oha. I was very surprised to discover your editions existed. The issues I received dated back to November 1987. Every article that I read was most interesting, educational, informative and complete. OHA has certainly eome a long ways since the organization began back in the early 1980's. OHA has prospered very well over the years and has proven successful, keeping in touch with the people of Hawaii.

The many articles that I have read and shared have given me restoration and love for my people and I am very proud of my heritage. All of you have shared your enthusiasm, interest and hard work to put this paper together. Continue the good work and I look forward to reading many more of your issues. Mahalo Nui Loa, Kalani and Carolyn Seibold Paradise, Texas Editor:

State and federal bureaucrats and editors of the corporate press continuously sidestep or worse deliberately avoid the repeated calls for unfettered independence for Hawaii's indigenous people. Examples were demonstrated at the Native Hawaiian Rights Conference Aug. 5-7, Senator Inouye's restitution, reparation hearings Aug. 26, and the most recent Civil Rights hearing Sept. 6th. The lamentable failure of every single so-called trust on behalf of indigenous people of these islands, illustrates why sovereignty and self-govern-ment is so critical for our spiritual, cultural, physical, mental wellbeing and survival.

President Reagan, largely responsible for America's multi-trillion do!lar tail spin and humongous deficit, is the same person who literally stacked the 1983 Native Hawaiian Study Commission. He pitted six mainland bureaucrats against three Hawaiian individuals who were demographically swamped in every vote; resulting in a bias, racist majority opinion. Reagan's federal policy or the laek of, has been liken to a undeclared eeonomie war.

The more restrictive and subdued style of sovereignty, the "s" word finally out of the bureaucrats' closet, yet still discussed in hushed tones behind governmental doors, is the nation-to-nation version. Certainly a viable model and the most palatable to the late-arriving governments, a sure way estimated by some to keep the people powerless. We are well aware of the two most repressive eolonial powers left in the Pacific: the French, who above the protestations of global neighbors continue testing atomic bombs in territories historically inhabited by Tahitian ohana — the recent

slaying of 19 independence-minded Kanakys on the island of Ouve is still on the minds of many; the American government whose nuclear policy of non-disclosure, may keep the nuclear arms out of sight but certainly not out of mind. Many are aware of the potential for nuclear aecidents or the worst-case scenario of being first strike victims of a nuclear holocaust. Untold damage is presently being caused by military bombs and reoccurring fires in Makua Valley on

O'ahu. The special privileges allowing the destructive military misuse of Kahoolawe, Pohakuloa and other sites as well as the lands unfairly usurped without compensation as in Lualualei in Nanakuli and Mookapu in Kaneohe, must be reclaimed. Inspite of the aforementioned, with positive adjustments, the eolonial powers may still prove eapable of being good friends. We know they certainly make bad masters. Unfettered Independence is a sovereign model applicable now with an assurance for an indigenous future. It's the most reasonable and equitable way to fashion relief from the multitude of social and eeonomie maladies and repression following the armed U.S. invasion of 'Aina Aloha, Hawaii on January 17, 1893. Kawaipuna Prejean Honolulu, Hawaii

Aloha e Editor: The Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa is implementing a program for the on-going video documentation of kupuna throughout the islands. We are soliciting the names of kupuna possessing knowledge of Hawaiian language, culture, arts, politics or other specialized topics. Please contact the Center for Hawaiian studies at 948-6825 if you are aware of kupuna whose life histories should be recorded, or send your suggestions to us at: Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1890 East-West Rd., Moore 428, Honolulu, HI 96822. Me ka 'onipa'a, Kekuni Blaisdell, Acting Interim Director