Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 7, 1 July 2000 — Akaka bill pono? [ARTICLE]

Akaka bill pono?

No consensus exists. Most of our kanaka maoli people have not seen the Akaka bill and don't know what it means. Only we kanaka maoli ean decide what we want, not the U.S. Congress. Trust relationship means the United States becomes the guardian. We kanaka maoli become wards. Reconciliation must mean restoration of our nation. The U.S. must withdraw from its unlawful occupation of our homeland. United Nations international law provides for true and full self-determination. This means the ehoiee of independence for all peoples, including us kanaka maoli. Surely we are eompetent to rule ourselves. Our ancestors created a nation that spanned the Pacific long before there was an England or a U.S. Under international law, there is impartial international oversight and no time limit for redress by the U.S. Using only U.S. and Hawai'i law, however, means we kanaka maoli will remain colonized. Study and learn our true history. Live our true culture of caring for all, including our sacred environment. Always remember: We kanaka maoli have never given up our inherent sovereignty. We never will! Kekuni Blaisdell, convener Pro-Kanaka Maoli lndependence Working Group The United States recognizes 556 groups of indigenous people as possessing sovereign authority. Hawaiians are working to have their nation-to-nation status recognized onee again, but is the Akaka bill the proper vehicle? It appears to undermine selfdetermination, ignores Hawaiian input and establishes an impossible timetable. If this federal process is critical, why is there no money to ensure the trust responsibility of the United States and no recognition of the unique status of Hawaiians? The bill continues dependence on the federal dole. For years, millions of dollars have poured into the state because of the plight of Hawaiians - dollars to raise the educational status of Hawai-

ians, to improve Hawaiian health and to attack social problems. Are Hawaiians prepared to make intelligent decisions about their future? Even the gamblers in Chinatown knew Hawaiians would lose Rice vs. Cayetano. Shouldn't our congressional delegation have started work as soon as Freddie Rice filed suit? Our congressional delegation could promote a Hawaiian nation by ensuring Hawaiians receive airport revenues owed from federal funds and by changing the law so that surplus lands are held by the Hawaiian nation. Hawaiians need to strategize to build the best future for all. Lela M. Hubbard 'Aiea In a June 4 West Hawai'i Today article, Sen. Akaka told a group of state lawmakers the Clinton administration supports Native Hawaiians as an indigenous, aboriginal people. He said, "The time to move to clarify the political relationship is now. We must not let this window of opportunity close." The window is wanting Clinton to issue an executive order before he leaves office. The president's action would create a federal Office of Native Hawaiian Affairs and an interagency eouneil to coordinate federal policies affecting Native Hawaiians so the Department of the Interior ean ramrod its agenda. Akaka claims this will be a great benefit for Hawaiians. On behalf of all Hawaiians, we object to the intended manipulation of our rights and dignity and urge Hawaiians and the peoples of the world to condemn any deliberate efforts of the United States to continue, by its many subtle attempts, absolute control of the Hawaiian nation. For more information on Hawaiian sovereignty and Hawaiian civil rights issues, eall (808) 3343407. O'Ha Kūpuna Tribunal Assembly Kailua-Kona