Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 04, 1 April 2003 — KA LEO KAIĀULU [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KA LEO KAIĀULU

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Blood quantum

Rod Ferreira's letter (Ka Wai Ola o OHA, March 2003) illustrates that he, like many others, simply do not understand the significance of the blood quantum requirement of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA), 1920, and the Admission Act, Section 5(f) ceded land trust. The blood quantum criteria is designed to reach the closest relatives, by degree of kinship, that are heirs to the native tenants that never received their share of lands since the time of the Māhele of 1848, and for whom Congress sought to treat under the HHCA, 1920 and Section 5(f). Congress in 1920, then closer in time to the overthrow of 1893, looked right pass the overthrow, and further back to the Mahele of 1848, to find the root cause of the mass dispossession of native Hawaiians. Left landless and destitute and driven to a point near the edge of extinction, the conditions of native Hawaiians were so dismal by 1920, that Congress was moved to enact the HHCA to treat this particular class of native Hawaiians. Persons of half to full-blooded native Hawaiian are more closely related to the native tenants in the Māhele of 1848, than say, a l/64th Hawaiian under the Akaka bill. This is a simple concept. Yet, apparently too complicated for Mr. Ferreira and perhaps, painful for him to accept because he does not seem to posses the minimal amount of Hawaiian blood necessary to meet the criteria as a native Hawaiian. Regarding the Akaka bill, we all know that Lingle is wasting her time. Anybody on Capitol Hill will tell you that the Akaka bill does not enjoy the support of key members in the U.S. Senate, the Executive Branch, Department of the Interior

and Department of Justice. Emmett E. Lee Loy Honolulu Hilo protests On March 1, a group of Hawaiians were demonstrating near the Hilo Airport. I stopped at the entrance to the Hilo airport and went to see some Native Hawaiians who were eating in a large tent. I put some money on the table and said to some men, "I want you to know that I am proud of what you are doing." I believe that small groups that firmly believe in demonstrating and sacrificing for what they believe are doing the right thing. Just as Jesus stood for what he believed, you who are demonstrating should continue to stand firm and sacrifice for what you believe. Why should you take action, instead of waiting for lawyers, or OHA or other organizations to lead you? You will gain the support of more Native Hawaiians. Like you, they will stand and sacrifice for your beliefs. Think of Patrick Kahawaiolaa and Richard Kela. Though they lost their homes, they gained the respect of many other Hawaiians. Surely because of these men's protests, more Native Hawaiians are now willing to also sacrifice for what they believed in. I hope and pray that you who are demonstrating will continue to stand firm for what you believe, even if you are arrested. You will surely show Hawai'i's government leaders, our Native Hawaiian lawyers and leaders of Hawaiian organizations that you will continue to demonstrate and speak for what you believe in. Kahu Tuck Wah K. Lee Hilo

St. Joseph gala The alumni and friends of St. Joseph's Schools of Hilo will be hosting a three-day gala of events that will include the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Class of 1953, to be held on May 23-25. For information, please contact: Joseph Dart (808) 885-7176; Agnes Crivello 808) 935-7753, Tony Phillips 808-959-8303; McWarren J. Mehau 808-968-8833. We are also encouraging all those who attended St. Mary*s School for Boys and St. Joseph's School for Girls, prior to 1951, to eome forward, be recognized and be a major part of the first of many gatherings to eome. It is imperative that current addresses of all participants be made available so as to keep our files up to date. Your participation will be greatly appreciated. McWarren J. Mehau Mountain View People power Last October I learned that a zone change that could haim our Hālawa community was heading for a final vote at the City Council. By dialoguing with neighbors and community representatives, a handful of us united. We collected hundreds of signatures opposing the zone change. We went to eouneil and neighborhood board meetings and lobbied with those in power to stop this mistake. At the March 'Aiea Neighborhood Board meeting, Councilman Okino informed us that the developer withdrew the zone change request. Through this experience we learned: 1) The Neighborhood Board is more important than many of us realize. They are truly the grassroots connection to government.

Representatives from many important agencies and community groups attend these meetings eaeh month to give reports and listen to community concerns_. 2) 90 percent of the City Council return phone calls. Councilman Tam called me personally, and I'm not even in his district! Through open dialogue, we were able to share our concerns with several eouneil members. 2) It only takes a few concerned people to begin the process. Neighbors shouldn't wait until a tragedy occurs to talk with one another. I hope those in the community who believe "nothing ean be done" about a community problem will leam ffom our experience and begin to dialogue. Mahalo to our neighbors who helped and those leaders who listened. The voice of the eommunity has power! Mary K. Dias 'Aiea PKO, safety and youth I am writing in response to the Navy's attempt to restrict access to Kaho'olawe. My wife and I have participated in several Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana (PKO) accesses, and ean attest that the PKO is absolutely serious about enforcing safety rules, for obvious reasons. For more than 20 years, the PKO has been responsible for the safety of some 5000 visitors, and its safety record is excellent. No access participants have ever been injured by an explosive on Kaho'olawe. This is not to downplay the very real element of danger, but to make the point that the safety rules have been and are being followed by everyone who is fortunate enough to spend time on Kaho'olawe. See LETTERS on page 4

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LETTERS from page 3 I find it extremely disappointing that the Navy sees fit to handle the current misunderstanding with the PKO in such an arbitrary and draeonian fashion. If a communication breakdown is the cause of the eoncern, that problem needs to be addressed. Punishing the Big Island students and the Maui hālau hula by blocking the February access (and possibly future accesses) serves absolutely no good purpose. Many, many student groups and hālau hula have safely accessed Kaho'olawe over the years. I have witnessed some of the profound effects that an access ean have on a person of any age. But it is the younger people who are especially open to personal revelation. Seeing such an opportunity for growth denied is painful. For the sake of everyone eoncerned, I hope for a speedy resolution to this misunderstanding and that the final months of the Navy's control of Kaho'olawe ends on a note of goodwill. David Armstrong Honolulu The Queen's Trust I am a native Hawaiian, tracing my ancestors that go back thousands of years of ancient Polynesia and beyond. I recently read an article regarding the Trustees of our beloved Queen Lili'uokalani. I felt very disgusted and in shock that this all has gotten to this point. How ean Trustees use their power to deny subsistence — food, housing and clothing to innocent children? How ean they give themselves a 27 percent pay raise, and at the same time terminate 45 dedicated workers of the queen? Evidently, the L

trustees made some major mistakes and bad judgements in marketing investments, and now her workers and worse of all, her beneficiaries lose out. This is the only trust of its kind set up for a specific purpose of caring for Hawaiian orphans and others in need, not for the benefit of the trustees. They are taking advantage of these innocent children, who cannot stand up for themselves. We need to stand up for them. Administrators continue to cut thousands of children and many programs statewide. This is out of control. We need people in there that will use their ingenuity to help the children, not themselves. Enough is enough! The battle will go on until justice is served. The spirit of our queen is vigilant and her aloha for her children is her legacy. Stand up people and demand that this wrong be corrected. If we sit back and do nothing, these selfish, individuals will eontinue to run the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust into the ground. We demand a thorough investigation and their r resignation. For the sake of the i children, we need to be "'Onipa'a." Anela Kapule Volcano Research inquiry I am an Amenean Indian researching projects on WWII history and another on indigenous peoples survival. I hope to correspond with elders who either as an adult or child lived through 1939- ' 1945 and have memories to share. Native Hawaiian persons could have served in the military or on the homefront. Women are especially encouraged to reply. I hope this

inquiry ean be forwarded to eommunity elders. I very mueh want to include the diverse Native Hawaiian community for this project. There is a mistaken belief that only anglowhites contributed to the war effort. Contributions could have been made in the military, Red Cross, defense industries, etc. I am also trying to determine if the Civil Air Patrol allowed Native Hawaiian pilots and support staff during the war. Is anyone aware of Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion posts that are primarily Native Hawaiian? I am also searching for xeroxes of letters and e-mail from Native Hawaiians circa 1940s as well as duplicates of photographs of that era. Many department store photograph developing services have machines that ean make duplicates of historic/old photographs. The other project is on indigenous peoples surviving cultural and population genocide. I am very interested in hearing of the cultural renaissance that is growing amongst the Native Hawaiian people. I look forward to any replies, whieh may be mailed to me at PO Box 685 Collinsville, Illinois 62234. Robert }. Clark Collinsville, lllinois OHA reserves the right to edit all letters for length, defamatory and libelous material, and other objectionable content, and reserves the right to print. All letters must be typed, signed and not exceed 200 words. Send letters to Ka Wai Ola o OHA, 71 1 Kapi'olani Blvd., Ste. 500, Honolulu, Hl 96813 or email to kwo@OHA.org. ■