Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 8, 1 August 1996 — To (Hawaiian) vote or not to (Hawaiian) vote -that is the question! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
To (Hawaiian) vote or not to (Hawaiian) vote -that is the question!
by Moanike'ala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i It is unfortunate that the ongoing "Hawaiian Vote" onee called a "Plebiscite" continues to confuse and divide our people. We must remember that this
vote is but one "spoke of the wheel" in the struggle since the loss of our nationhood over a hundred years ago. Not one single Hawaiian group has a monopoly of all the answers for the Hawaiian people and our re-established sovereign nation at this time. The "Hawaiian Vote" is an important first step towards reestablishing Hawaiian sovereignty. The eleeūon of delegates to
our own constitutional convention will not take plaee until suffīcient time has allowed for needed sovereignty educational forums - including proposed government models - throughout these Islands. All groups and individuals ean run their own candidates for the constitutional convention. Elected delegates will eomhine the best of their eolleetive ideas for ratification by a majority of
the Hawaiian people. I was a founder and original legislator of Ka Lāhui whose eonstitution (combining parts of the Samoan Constitution, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Iroquois Nation, and the UN Commission on Human Rights) was put together by the late attomey
Mitsuo Uyehara. Though ratified by those of us gathered at the Ka Lāhui convention held in Keaukaha (1987), this document - excellent as it is - has never been legitimized by popular Hawaiian consensus. We delegates were all selfappointed; several other OHA trustees were legislators and financially supported the inihal Ka Lāhui constitu-
tional convention. In their passion to destroy the Native Hawaiian Vote, half-truths are being circulated by the anti-vote forces - that OHA is lobbying in Washington D.C. to become "... the sole representative of the Hawaiian nation" - this according to Mililani and Haunani K. Trask (Honolulu Advertiser 7/7/96). ThisisTOTALLYFALSE!! This
idea has never been discussed or voted upon by the OHA Board of Trustees. Professor Jon Van Dyke's statement referred to in the Hawai'i Law Review, 1995, are his own academic theories and have not been discussed or voted upon by the OHA BOT. Furthermore, the allegation that Hawaiians should be categorized by the U.S. Congress as a Native American tribe, was removed by Senator Daniel Akaka. The OHA Board of Trustees had no knowledge of this proposed amendment nor its removal. As OHA trustee, I have always felt OHA should be the bridge that leads to the new Hawaiian nation. Democracy through the Hawaiian Vote is our best bet. Any Hawaiian constitution must be ratified by the Hawaiian people at large — anything less smacks of totalitarianism. Are those Hawaiians who oppose the "Hawaiian Vote" afraid their ideas won't stand the test of Hawaiian popular scrutiny? My biggest fear for the Hawaiian nation is a burgeoning bureaucracy that will shortcircuit our resources. We need programs that touch the lives of all Hawaiians, rich and poor, especially in education, heahh and human services, housing and eeonomie
development. I have spent my life as, and am proud to be an advocate and activist of, the Hawaiian cause. George Washington was an activist as was Queen Lili'uokalani, Robert
Wilcox and my ancestor Abner Paki, father of Pauahi Bishop, whom no force in the nation could keep silent according to the archives, even when he defied the missionaries. While looking at candidates for election you must consider their track-record; what they have been they will continue to be. Watch out for grandiose campaign promises. Pie in the sky is easy to declare but most evasive to dine upon. Politics is unfortunately a mēssy business and we Hawaiians are a plural people with many diverse opinions and proposed solutions to our pressing problems. I have watched the bickering at OHA and it comes from 50 percent egomania; 25 percent frustration and 25 percent alienation from the Hawaiian struggle. I defend those who need defending - trying to maintain a safety net. We need more not less help for the Food Bank, AIDS prevention and support, as well as substance abuse and domestic violence programs, educational encouragement and assistance and environmental and cultural protection. I use the term Huliamahi - numerous currents coming together to become as powerful as the oeean. We today are the currents whieh
need eome together. HULLAMAHI! Everyone in Hawai'i should support the 16 citizens arrested at Mākua Beach. Let us remember that these arrests shed more light on the plight of our marginalized brother and sisters. Mahalo for your courage! Mālama Pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina I ka pono.