Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 7, 1 July 2003 — Ka Lāhui [ARTICLE]

Ka Lāhui

The letter "Ka Lāhui: Enā of a Natiori' (May KWO) was a sad commentary as to why some Hawaiians remain fractured and divided as a people. The allegations that two Ka Lāhui Hawai'i (KLH) executives manipulated the recent KLH eleetions are absurd. Sloppy and disorganized maybe, but "manipulated"" — nonsense! Until the answers are obtained and all facts are known, little is gained by "inciting" our citizenry. I wonder if the letter's authors understand or even care about the possible negative effects this brings upon the nation they so reverently elaim to believe in. There were several statements that were misleading: • "Present leadership has no intention of ever letting go of the reins of power over a diminishing constituency." What reins of power? The power resides with the citizens, the people, not the executives ! • "Ballot counting held without candidates and O'ahu caucus members present." All pertinent information regarding date, time and location were announced beforehand. All candidates and

caucus members were free to attend, including the 10 eomplainants. Nobody bothered to show. If there were suspicions of misconduct, why didn't they eome witness the counting of the ballots? • KLH database: Kia'āina-elect Lehua Kinilau was given the responsibility to update and maintain the database. To say she "eontrolled" it is a stretch. No one was excited to take the job. We need constructive criticism, not emotional tirades that divide our citizens. We need to ask ourselves if this was written as a lament of a few caring, loyal KLH followers or a deliberate, vindictive attempt by a few malcontents to publicly humiliate two candidates not of their choosing? If this is indeed the end of the nation, its demise will be marked by the 10 people whose names were affixed to that letter. Alika Lambert Kāne'ohe