Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 3, 1 March 2000 — Trask/Inouye [ARTICLE]

Trask/Inouye

As loeal Japanese women, we recently wrote an article in the Honolulu Advertiser (Feb. 6) supporting OHA Trustee Mililani Trask,who has worked tirelessly to hold state and federal agencies accountable to Native Hawaiians and the

larger public. The recent Trask/Inouye controversy as portrayed by the media has diverted the focus from the real issue— the violation of Native Hawaiian human rights to self-determined sovereignty. Senator Inouye over the past 40 years has not worked to change the politieal status of Native Hawaiians so that they have direct control over their lands, revenues, and government and are no longer wards of the state. Since it is Inouye's job to allocate federal funds to his constimencies, no one should feel afraid to speak out against him for fear of losing these monies. However, there is a wall of silence and fear surrounding Inouye's abuse of power. As Hawai'i voters, we have the right to question how and to what agencies our elected officials are distributing public funds. Inouye does not provide clear, comprehensive yearly charts that break down the amounts of monies that go to eaeh agency (rather than just general programs/acts). We admire and respect Mililani Trask because she displays courage and integrity that many in our Japanese community and the larger Hawai'i community have forgotten. Ida Yoshinaga and Eiko Kosasa Co-chairs Loeal Japanese Women forJustice Honolulu Mililani's latest diatribe prompts this letter. After enjoying her rise to power off the Hawaiian causes du jour, a few pattems are evident: 1) her love for her Hawaiians; 2) she is an intelfigent and fearless woman; and 3) she lacks social aptitude. She confuses shrewdness with dishonesty and is quick to categorize Hawaiians as either oppressed or pork barrel.

Hawaiians proactive enough to eam a living helping our native causes, don't deserve chastisement from Mililani. (Isn't that a colonized paycheck she is drawing?) Three fingers point back when you stick your index finger out. You err when you categorize people like Nainoa as pork barrel when he has created a terrific program for kids across Hawai'i. So what if he gets federal funding? Doesn't the Gibson Foundation receive grant monies, where you sit as executive director? You keep doing good; that's why I voted for you. But honestly, I haven't been able to think up one positive attribute since your ascent to trustee. There must be a plaee for you in Hawai'i's politics, but you have yet to demonstrate what you are gifted at. You chose pofitics. Show. this Hawaiian you are worthy instead of crying because Inouye isn't the villain of your fantasy world. Get back to positive instead of pointing fingers. P.L. Simeona Kaua'i