Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 1996 — OUR READERS WRITE [ARTICLE]

OUR READERS WRITE

Makua campers a disgrace Is it a matter of homelessness, laziness, or sovereignty? Some who were arrested at Mākua beach, although given ample time to leave, are disgracing the rest of us Hawaiians. They are not assisting in our plight as Hawaiians. They proclaim that they are sovereign and yet "recognize" the government when it comes to welfare benefits. Let's face it,

they want it both ways. While real Hawaiian people are working and attending college to make a substantial life for themselves, other so-called Hawaiians are living off of us through welfare. In the days of old Hawai'i they would have been outcast or put to death for such dishonor. Those arrested seem to have used Mākua as a "plaee of refuge." How long does it take to heal? Get on with your lives, quit

giving others a bad name. Others of us have adjusted to the situation. Though we may not like it, we are doing the best with what we have. Those at Mākua and others must understand that the way to save us and our culture is to adjust and leam Westem ways. After we have learned Western ways, then we ean use those methods to get what we want. You have to play by the mles of the game. After all, some, not all, of the missionaries leamed from us and then used this knowledge against us. Think! History teaches us many lessons, maybe this is another. Makana Beaver Honolulu