Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 6, 1 June 1999 — E Kala Mai! [ARTICLE]

E Kala Mai!

In our April issue, Ka Wai Ola incorrectly reported the Board of Trustees had approved a grant of $600,000 for the immersion school Ke Kula Ni'ihau o Kekaha. The correct amount of the grant is $511,300. We also said that Keith IkaiaPurdy was related to Palani Vaughan through his father and to Sonny Chillingworth through his mother. Mrs. Purdy called to let us know we had reversed the connections. See LE I I ERS on page 3

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LETTERS

From page 2 was not a treaty of annexation. There is no such thing as a resolution of annexation over international waters. No diminution of status as legal Hawaiian nationals is presently required by opinions. With friends like this, we don't need any enemies! Kupuna Alvin Hinau Hilo The State of Hawai'i must relinquish control in directing the Rice case whieh challenges the Hawaiian-only vote for OHA. Hawaiians are eapahle of handling our own case against Freddy Rice, the missionary descendant trying to rewrite history. The Cayetano administration feels OHA should pay for big-time attorneys. Shouldn't this mean that we Hawaiians should be directing our own defense? The state is not our parent, nor are we the attorney-general's wards. Though the state professes it will "vigorously defend OHA" against

Rice, Hawaiians remember that this administration has been trying to diminish what the state had already agreed to pay as revenues derived from ceded lands, to whieh OHA is entitled to on behalf of the Hawaiian people. There are those who feel it would be to the state's advantage if "Freddy" Rice should win, for it would mean the state owes the Hawaiian people nothing for the theft of our sovereignty when our queen was overthrown. The state has not adequately defended Hawaiians and will not. The state now says it intends to defend OHA and Hawaiians against Rice. Who then is going to defend OHA and the Hawaiian people against the state? Moanike'ala Akaka Hilo Kamehameha I said "All the lands from one end of the kingdom to the other belong to the chiefs and people in eommon. Kamehameha III said, "There are but three persons who have a vested interest in all the lands of Hawai'i:" the King, the chiefs and the tenants. All land titles eome from the

Māhele and the inherited eommon or vested interest give the descendants standing. The Resolution of Annexation recognizes the Kamehameha grant of this eommon and vested interest. It read, "After costs of government, all of the ceded land ineome shall be used solely for the educational and public purposes of the inhabitants." Who are the inhabitants? Natives residing in Hawai'i since time immemorial. Their vested interest is recognized in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921. The native is clearly identifed as the inhabitant in the Admission Act. The state constitution again recognizes natives' vested interest in all of Hawai'i's lands. The Apology Bill seeks reconciliation with native people of Hawai'i. It defines Native Hawaiians and confirms their vested interest in all the lands of Hawai'i. "Freddy" Rice does not have a eommon or vested interest in the ceded lands as defined by Kamehameha I and III. He does not have standing to sue. Buzzy Agard Honolulu