KA LEO KAIĀULU - LETTERS

Ka Leo Kaiāulu

OHA reserves the right to edit all letters for length, defamatory and libelous material, and other objectionable content, and reserves the right not to print any submission. All letters must be typed, signed and not exceed 200 words. Letters cannot be published unless they include a telephone contact for verification. Send letters to Ka Wai Ola, 711 Kapi'olani Blvd., Ste. 500, Honolulu, HI 96813, or email kwo@oha.org.

Waimea Valley

Kudos to OHA's Hi'ipaka at Waimea Valley on O'ahu's North Shore and the na'au knowing of interim director Gail Chew – a kūpuna wahi named and blessed as “Kūpuna Hāwanawana” is tucked away here ever so neatly for kupuna sharing and interaction. Here, kupuna comfort is observed and “talk story” is always the agenda. My precious time with kūpuna are times I value as they open doors and reconnect. Claire Hughes, who wrote a column on kūpuna in Ka Wai Ola's August issue, you and I understand “reconnect.” Our mothers taught us well.

Here at the kūpuna wahi we sing “I Ola Kākou Nā Hawai'i,” your mother's inspiration she shared with Kupuna Maile Lum Ho Pohaku Vargo, who set it to music, a song often sung by the Gora sisters who learned it when they were youngsters shared by their mother, Kupuna Rita Gora. Recently recorded in Nā Leo's newest CD E Hula Mai Kākou, it tells the story of how it all became a message, kupuna style.

In Waimea Valley's kūpuna wahi, laughter is contagious and sharing kolohe stories is an accepted thing, understood and appreciated. Here we can enjoy a cup of hot coffee, poke wai style. Memories flow freely and there is richness in the air. I am but a telephone call or e-mail away and my kāhea to our precious elders is sincere and open. E komo mai!

“Aunty Betty” Kawohiokalani Ellis Jenkins
Waialua, O'ahu

'Iolani Palace

Pardon me if I am mistaken, but the last time I checked, our Hawaiian Kingdom was a constitutional monarchy. Our monarchs were elected from the undisputed lineages of the ali'i class. It was the people who cast their votes for them. If not, the reigning monarch designated his or her heir to succeed to the throne.

I do not recall the people electing a new monarch, nor do I recall Princess Ka'iulani designating a successor. Who is His Majesty Akahi Nui? I do not recall voting for a king, nor do I remember him being designated heir.

If Mr. Nui wants to be a king, that's fine. But stay out of 'Iolani Palace. It does not belong to him. It belongs to all. If, indeed, the Creator instructed him to sit on the throne, one would think He would allow Mr. Nui to succeed in his plan, not be arrested and led away like a common burglar. Let him ponder that as he sits in jail, and let him wonder how he and his cronies will pay for the damages they caused to 'Iolani Palace.

Solomon Keala
Ha'ikū, Maui

Response to Akana

Trustee Akana's comments related to the Nelson v. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the state of Hawai'i Legislature law suit reflects a misunderstanding of the case filed by Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. on behalf of six native Hawaiian beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA).

1. The plaintiffs are suing the state of Hawai'i Legislature to meet its obligation as stipulated under Hawai'i state Constitution, Article 12, S1 – which simply states that the Legislature shall make sufficient funds available to DHHL to pay for its administrative costs and programs. The current wait list is over 22,000 applicants; quadruple the number in 1978 when this provision went into effect. The chronic failure to fund is the primary reason that hundreds of homestead applicants too often die waiting or wait a lifetime for homesteads.

2. Our lawsuit is not about Hawaiians suing Hawaiians. We are suing the state for breaking its clear promise to faithfully administer the spirit of the HHCA in exchange for tremendous economic benefits following statehood. The immediate winner, should we win this suit, is the DHHL.

3. OHA filed similar lawsuits against the state to enforce promises to pay OHA revenues from state leasing of ceded lands and to prohibit the state from transferring or selling ceded lands. Is OHA's insistence on enforcing those obligations any different or more important than trying to enforce this constitutional promise?

Richard “Dickie” Nelson
Kawanui, Kona Akau, Hawai'i

No more telescopes

The University of Hawai'i system and astronomers have been irresponsible in allowing the desecration and pollution to occur on the summit of Mauna Kea – and the courts have agreed. U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye insists that we must now allow a new Thirty Meter Telescope, a billion-dollar project, to proceed in spite of community concern about expanding developmental footprints. TMT will be the size of a football stadium. After 30 years this state still has not developed a comprehensive management plan for Mauna Kea. Surely a general plan is essential today before any expansion (especially one so vast) is even entertained.

We Native Hawaiians and the Hawaiian Studies Department should not be bribed with UH scholarships in exchange for the TMT telescope, nor should we be financially intimidated. Hawaiians are already owed these tuition waivers, now. The university campuses and community colleges are built on Hawaiian ceded lands for which no rent is being paid to the Hawaiian people; any Hawaiian who desires should be able to attend the University of Hawai'i free.

Sacred Mauna Kea is also on Hawaiian ceded lands. A dollar a year is being paid for rent for use of Mauna Kea at this time, foreign governments pay millions in operating costs for their observatories. Something is owed to the Hawaiian people for the use of these ceded lands by UH for the campus sites and the use of sacred Mauna Kea for the observatories. Tuition waivers would be fair without Dan Inouye's TMT project.

Moanike'ala Akaka
OHA Trustee 1984-'96
Hilo, Hawai'i

History lies in eye of beholder

Alika Poe Silva writes with justifiable passion – Tyranny and iwi exposed – in KWO's September issue. However, history is not quite as stated.

The Kingdom of Hawai'i was extinguished on Jan. 17, 1893, by the coup organized by Thurston, Dole and their co-conspirators, supported unofficially by American troops. Their provisional government was succeeded by the Republic, which vigorously sought the annexation that was granted in 1898. The United States, therefore, did not illegally occupy the Kingdom, as stated, as it was already extinct, but acceded to the wish of the then-de facto government – the Republic.

Reading the old accounts, it's surprising how many foreign residents, including Americans, wished the Islands to remain independent.

John Marsden
Sheffield, England

Reunion success

The families of 'Ohana 'O Kamukai are most grateful for the coverage you so generously gave us in Ka Wai Ola o OHA. With your help, our fifth 'Ohana Reunion here on O'ahu was a huge success.

Dwight Victor
Kunia, O'ahu

E KALA MAI

In last month's Tyranny and iwi exposed column by Alika Silva, an event promoting a student to full Kahuna, a Ho'ola'a, was misspelled Ho'ala. Ka Wai Ola regrets the introduced typographical error. This month, several regular columns did not run in Ka Wai Ola to make space for election coverage. Alika Silva requested that his column run in our online edition. You will find it at www.oha.org/kawaiola/2008/10/col-silva.php.

Notice to Readers Ka Wai Ola o OHA will accept for consideration news releases and letters to the editor on topics of relevance and interest to OHA and Hawaiians, as well as special events and reunion notices. Ka Wai Ola o OHA reserves the right to edit all material for length and content, or not to publish as available space or other considerations may require. Ka Wai Ola o OHA does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Deadline for submissions is the 15th day of every month. Late submissions are considered only on a space-available basis.