Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 7, 1 July 2006 — GOP tonservatives effect federal blockage of Akaka Bill [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GOP tonservatives effect federal blockage of Akaka Bill

On the morning of Fri., lune 9, 2006, I was among several of my elected colleagues from OHA privileged to be in the same room - 141 Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. - with the epitome of a true modern-day Hawaiian Warrior: the Honorable Daniel K. Akaka, United States senator from Hawai'i. Less than 15 hours earlier, he was eloquently delivering supporting testimony in the hallowed chambers of the United States Senate, in the nation's capitol, in respect to S.147, The Native Hawaiian Reorganization Act (a.k.a. the Akaka Bill). He was clear, concise and confident in his remarks during the limited debate time allocated. I particularly noted in his delivery that Danny was the epitome of both a diplomat and gentleman. He was joined by his "brother in anns," Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, who also eloquently supported and critically defended the issue, especially when arbitrary, whimsical and capricious conunentary was offered in opposition. Sens. Stevens and Murkowski, both of Alaska, and Reid from Nevada covered the bases in support by illustrating total compatibility with the Alaska Federation of Natives and Native American Indians, respectively, and totally dispelled all arguments of disconnect that were suggested. Sen. Ohama of Illinois, former resident of Hawai'i, strongly supported as well. There were other supporters, too. In fact, there were 56 senators who voted "aye" for the cloture petition to advance the discussion on the bill. That's five more than the number required to move or pass the measure from the Senate on to the House of Representatives. However, the Senate rule regarding eloture requiring a supermajority of 60 votes out of 100 heeame indeed an effective federal "blockade." The Akaka Bill's Hawai'i based, birthed and resident detractors were there as well, among them a current state legislator, an attorney ostensibly representing a "colorblind" America and several koko Hawaiians

with widely differing philosophies. But, whether detractor or supporter, all present were caught up in the moment of intrigue that included all of the elements of politics, including betrayal and deceit, from the innocuous to the most blatant accusations of racism, including other arguments ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. History and a reading of our language will show that Hawaiians never had a word for racism. But we sure have cause to develop one now. Through it all, the magnanimity of the consummate Hawaiian man was and is displayed in Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, when in recounting the events of the previous day said, "I'm energized, not despondent, because this effort is now nationwide, not just loeal. I'm not deterred, I'm in it for the long haul and intend to 'stay the course' and continue to work with you all, including the governor, who has done a marvelous job." He noted that while he was disappointed on the one hand, there were more than enough votes to pass the measure. Moreover, he was particularly empathetic toward those colleagues who had conunitted their votes and then reneged at the last minute bowing to "poliīieal pressures" and apologized profusely afterwards. He understood, acknowledged and, most importantly, forgave them. I realized then that his strength, not weakness, is his empathy for those who "broke their word" (and a senator's word is a senator's bond). That's the mark of a man. He felt more hurt for them than for his own personal loss of opportunity. In that moment I knew I was in the presenee of greatness, He kanaka Hawai'i. Congressman Neil Abercrombie, in memorializing Kamehameha Day at Statuary Hall on Capitol Hill, acknowledged the Grand Eloquence of being Hawaiian as the defining characteristic of Sen. Akaka - that of genuinely feeling more hurt for the other individual who couldn't act on his or her own integrity. In retrospect, maybe this blockade was fortuitous, maybe we Hawaiians needed to get hit between the eyes with a "virtual two-by-four" to get our "collective" attention. When "they" talk racial, they're serious and they mean it. It's perfectly clear - hlaek and white, red and white, yellow and white, brown and white - it's all the same. They even threw into the mix white and white,

and named Hassidic Jews and Amish as the potentially next nation wannabes. As if that would be the ultimate demise of America. Neither of these groups are indigenous to America, but no matter. Unbelievable. When "we" talk racial, we laugh. We're anything, we're everything - mixtures, that is. Indeed, we are defined by our diversity, not divided by it, as our continental haole cousins want us to be. Imagine on the eve of the cloture vote, the Department of Justice tells the Senate: "The Administration strongly opposes passage of S.147. As noted recently by the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, this hill risks 'further subdivid[ing] the American people into discrete subgroups accorded varying degrees of privilege.' As the President has said, 'we must...honor the great American tradition of the melting pot, whieh has made us one nation out of many peoples."' Hell, it was Hawai'i that helped to invent the tradition of the melting pot. And we added more flavors as well, including brown, white, yellow, red and black, and variegations of the above, too. And so, that's where they think they've got us. They think we Hawaiians have been assimilated right out of existence, quite literally. And that way, too, they don't have to acknowledge that the Kingdom of Hawai'i existed as a viable, civilized, independent nation with whom the then "fledgling U.S.A." had formal friendship, navigation, trade and postal treaties. And somehow in today's world, some would feel that recognition as an aboriginal, indigenous people would require eonceding that the United States was a perpetrator, expansionist, usurper, interloper, occupier - and still is - and that might not sit too well with their perceived selfimage. So, what now? Let's join together to make sure this important measure is not lost and this great individual, Sen. Akaka, is recognized and appreciated, and more importantly, respected for his commitment and dedication to duty that supersedes all else. We maybe disappointed, but not daunted. We may be dejected, but not deterred. So by all means stay tuned. I mua Hawai'i! I mua Akaka! ImuaAmerica! E3

LEO 'ELELE • TRUSTEE MESSAGES

Dante Keala Carpenter TrustEE, O'ahu