Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 4, 1 April 2007 — Akaka Bill establishes a foundation for the future [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Akaka Bill establishes a foundation for the future

Aloha nō kākou. As OHA proceeds into the future, its existence will be limited to the time it takes to create a governing entity that is recognized by the United States as a domestic, dependent, sovereign nation. This will secure all that we have today and even more for our people both in Hawai'i and out. This security ean only be provided by success in the courts. International courts are not the answer, but perhaps ean be considered for another day and another century. Right now, we have a major threat facing all Hawaiians, and that is the movement to remove any recognition of us as the first people of our land and to treat us as merely another racial group living in the United States with no special status or rights. Success by these opponents of Hawaiian recognition would effectively and permanently end any hope for our people to perpetuate our rightful plaee traditionally, culturally, historically and in every other way, in our own homeland. It is the failure to understand this threat that seems to have confused many who question the purpose and need for the Akaka Bill. Bottom line is that, without this bill, we lose in the courts. If we lose in the courts, we become a people without a homeland. We will then assimilate eompletely into the rest of society as a historical footnote. Critics of the bill elaim it subjects Hawaiians to the authority and dictates of the United States. Well, suffice it to say that the United States is not now or in the near future going to give Hawai'i to the Hawaiians regardless of the illegality of the overthrow. Reason must rule here and so demands for complete independence are better reserved for a more appropriate time in history. Not now.

If we lose in Congress now and subsequently in the courts, just what will become of us? We lose, all of us, the homeless, the sick, the students, the hard working, whatever our positions on the Akaka Bill and independence. The one-color-one-nation, one-size-fits-all proponents win. Without a legal basis for our existence, we become a mere memory. Unfortunately, making it even more difficult is the number of Hawaiian kingdoms and nations whose leaders elaim absolute authority as the monarchs or chosen ones for the Hawaiian people. It should be apparent that even the independents can't agree as to who should lead the rest of us. Is this the kind of organization you want to lead you? Think about our ancestors and what they achieved as a people in the middle of the Pacific. We ean in the 21st century ourselves establish a highly accomplished society of Hawaiians if we focus on surviving first, then providing our people with solid education in technology, science, math and business, as well as language, culture and social work. We ean with competent governance establish ourselves in society as a solid force for good through skilled management, investments, housing and a rehabilitation of attitudes, whieh affect the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of our people. With the untimely passing of Trustee Linda Dela Cruz, OHA and all Hawai'i have lost not only a legend in Hawaiian entertainment, but a solid supporter of Hawaiian recognition and a person who was not one to be intimidated by practitioners, experts, politicians or anyone else. I will miss her and her contributions to the people she loved and commit to carry out her firm desire to secure the preservation of her people. May her journey through eternity be guided by her sweet and caring spirit. My sincere condolences to her daughter Iojo, her faithful and reliable aide, as well as to the rest of her 'ohana. God bless you, Linda. A hui hou. E

LEO 'ELELE ■ TRUSTEE MESSAGES

Bnyd P. Mūssman TrustEE, Maui