Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 1992 — As we imua, puhhe support comes our way! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

As we imua, puhhe support comes our way!

by Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i

As the 100th anniversary of the overthrow of our Hawaiian nation approaches, the drumbeat of protest over the conditions of the Hawaiian people is becoming louder, according to a front page Honolulu Advertiser survey on August 7.

Ihe Advertiser/Uhannel 2 News Hawai'i Poll suggested "There is considerable voter awareness of the issue and a strong current of support for Hawaiians as they seek to better their social, cultural and pohtieal position." This poll found nearly half the voters in agreement with the proposition that "Hawaiians deserve greater restitution for losses suffered" when the monarchy was overthrown in 1893. It suggests there "is a fairly widespread base of public sympathy for the plight of the Hawaiian people." The Honolulu Star-Bulletin in early September did their own survey and their findings were more in favor of justice to Hawaiians. Their question was: "Do the overthrow

of the Hawaiian monarchy and the abuse of the Hawaiian Home Lands program obligate the

government to do more for Native Hawaiians?" Of those surveyed, 57 percent said "Yes." This was 10 percent more in favor than the Advertiser/Channel 2 poll. It should be noted that 65 percent of JapaneseAmerican respondents

questioned īn the Star-Bulletin support Hawaiian justice. "I think Japanese-Americans are beginning to recognize the injustices experienced by Hawaiians. As a eommunity we recognize Hawai'i has been good for us," stated William Kaneko, president of the Hawai'i chapter of the Japanese-American Citizens League. In August the national JACL, with encouragement from its Hawai'i chapter, adopted a resolution supporting Hawaiians in their push for native rights and sovereignty. Over six years ago I wrote in my eolumn about my eoneem over Japanese investments in our island home. Subsequently I received a very niee note from a president of

JACL, promised to support Native Hawaiian rights. I am happy to see their commitment today. These locals have benefited from our Aloha spirit and it is gratifying to me to see them supportive of our struggle. Since the Kālama Valley struggle, we have devoted more than two decades to educate Hawaii's population about the plight of our people. These polls indicate a growing public understanding, eoneem and support. An Advertiser survey in August showed that 60 percent of those questioned agreed that "a candidate's stand on the environment would change their vote." This is great news to me because it means the aloha 'āina consciousness is growing. We as a populaee are realizing that our island home is truly special and that we must vote for representatives who protect the 'āina and our quality of life. "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono" aren't hollow words. This survey shows we must vote that state motto and even change our vote or party, if necessary. Those sacred words seem to be the philosophy of the new Green Party. These are some of Hawai'i's

finest citizens who work to protect the 'āina. They say this is a oneparty state, but that survey proves this loyalty is not set in concrete. This is a wake-up eall to all you politicians — help us protect our 'āina or you lose our vote! This show of support ean eome at no better time — the problems are many. It is appropriate now to remember the great strides of the past two decades. Not only are we on our way to renewal, but it is also important to recognize, personally and culturally, that a significant number of non-Hawaiians are working to help us realize our aims. This is because many realize that aloha 'āina is not a step backward into our proud past, but is an intelligent stride toward an eeonomie and social organization that is appropriate to our environmental aims now. Contrary to what some would have us believe, this shift in eonsciousness is going to generate jobs and stimulate the economy as well as safeguard our sacred isles for future generations and we will become an example for others to follow. Mālama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono.