Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 4, 1 April 1999 — APOLOGY: Hickam Air Force Base commander regrets gaffe, affront to Hawaiians [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

APOLOGY: Hickam Air Force Base commander regrets gaffe, affront to Hawaiians

VIA LETTER and a personal appearanee before the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Committee on Governmental Affairs and Sovereignty, Hiekam Air Force Base Commander Col. Ann Testa apologized for an insensitive scenario published in connection with a base exercise. The hypothetical situation. as described in the exercise's Kukini Express Newsletter. alluded to a terrorist threat by a "Hawaiian Sovereignty Group." According to Trustee Mihlani Trask. OHA was first alerted to the publication in a letter written by several beneficiaries. Following are Colonel Testa's remarks at the March 25 meeting and the texts of her other messages 'Thank you for inviting me to the table to make an apology. I am very aware and very sensitive to the fact that our use of the Hawaiian Sovereignty Group was totally inappropriate. 'Two weeks ago, Hiekam Air Force Base conduaed a readiness training exercise

whieh included the use of an e-mail version of the Hiekam newspaper. So it's something we only do during exercises, and the e-mail version is used as a means of practicing our ability to communicate, to ensure the information is distributed to

the entire wing of about 3,500 people on Hiekam Air Force Base, and to the entire base populahon in case of a war-time event. Andthat'sthepurposeofthe e-mail we sent out. "Included in the newspaper were two

advisory statements that mentioned the threat of a fictitious terrorist group called the Native Liberation Front. Unfortunately, during the editing process, the name was changed, to make the group sound more community-based, to the Hawaiian Sovereignty Group in the e-mail. "I would like to address this mistake by first and foremost apologizing to anyone who may have been offended by the use of the group's name in the advisories. Secondly, I want to emphasize that there was never any intention to offend anyone. The person who edited the article, being new to Hawai'i, was ignorant, absolute!y ignorant, in selecting the words, 'Hawaiian Sovereignty Group.' And she was unaware that there was both an organized sovereignty movement and an official group in Hawai'i. We are now aware of the insensitivity of the inclusion of the group's name and we want to ensure you understand there was no malicious intent involved - none. See APOLOGY on page 11

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Colonel Testa provides an apologv to Ha\vaiians

PHOTO: JAYSON HARPER

"On behalf of all men anel women of Hiekam, I apologize to anyone who may have been offended by this oversight. "What I would like to do now is read an apology letter that I prepared as soon as this eame to my attention. I sent e-mail to the entire Hiekam community apologizing. I also prepared this letter to the Office of

Hawaiian Affairs and it reads like this: DearMs. Trask: Regarding our reference to the name "Hawaiian Sovereignty Group" in our Kukini Express Newsletter, I want to apologize to you and our fellow trustees for this terrible mistake. It was not meant to reference any group or types ofgroups, for we in the Air Force long recognize our strength comes from the great diversity that comprise us. The Hawaiian people have always welcomed us to these islands with a true sense ofaloha. I know this mistake does not reciprocate that same sense ofaloha. I am

including a copy ofan apology I sent by e-mail to every member ofour wing last week as soon as we realized our error. Again, I deeply regret this error, and respectfully requestyour assistance in sharing this apology with those we may have offended. Sincerely, ANNM. TESTA, Colonel, USAF Commander, 15thAirBaseWing E-mail attachment sent to Hiekam workers: To All: In a recent base exercise, the name

"Hawaiian Sovereignty Group" was referred to in an exercise newsletter. I apologize. In no way was the name meant to characterize people in this group, nor was it meant to unfairly target a specific organization. Part of the richness of our Air Force family is the fact that it includes so many people from all ethnic backgrounds. We regret offending any one group of our team here at Hiekam and any bad feelings this may have caused. Thanks for continuing to make this the best wing in the Air Force. Colonel. Testa M

APOLOGY From page 10