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.

A letter to Lingle

Gov. Linda Lingle needs to rethink her decision to sell our land for the simple reason that she does not own the land she intends to sell. As our elected official she is in authority to hold the land in trust for our future generations, period.

The idea that the State of Hawai'i owns land to be sold is neither true nor just.

When native lands are recognized for their value, it has been the policy of the U.S. government to find ways to relocate and even sterilize the natives who live on those lands. The useless treaties and failed programs are hundreds of years in the making.

Why should Hawaiians still suffer the results of those actions done by those Americans who commandeered the lands of Hawai'i, especially since they are still trying for the sovereignty by law that was once theirs by right? If we consider that the Hawaiian culture has been oppressed continually from the start of the occupation of the American government, it becomes difficult to try to talk about justice in terms of land use.

Gov. Lingle, we should not sell our host culture's land and you should work harder to bring about the fair and just use of those lands for the benefit of our Hawaiian people now and for the times ahead.

Mark Jeffers
Hanapēpē, Kaua'i

Letter to OHA

I don't know Rowena Akana, and don't believe everything she says is false. Trustee Heen stated that the trustees deliberated on the Moloka'i Ranch Land Use Plan before voting. I was there and it was a railroad job done in haste because trustees had to catch their plane. Moloka'i Ranch couldn't show their video because the Ho'olehua homestead farmers brought up a water issue that took up too much time. Trustee Machado was livid, and blurted out that the farmers should bring all issues to her first before coming to the trustees. Since when? The trustees hold meetings on Moloka'i once a year and sometimes don't even have a quorum. Why come?

At a recent Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce meeting, Trustee Heen stated that the Moloka'i people made a big mistake by not going with the Moloka'i Ranch plan. Making a decision after hearing only one side of the story is dangerous especially if it irreparably harms a Native Hawaiian community and compromises its water rights. If you don't know the issues, the best thing OHA can do is to stay out of our business. We know what we want and you don't.

Glenn Ioane Teves
Ho'olehua, Moloka'i

State's agenda

It seems that the relationship between the state and the Native Hawaiian community significantly worsened this year. No sooner than the state closed down Hale Na'au Pono in Wai'anae that the families of Kahana Valley were slated to be abruptly thrown out.

And then we read about Mākua Valley and the iwi kupuna there and at other locations. In a letter to Ka Wai Ola, a Mr. Prescott declares that King Kamehameha II banned the “old” – Hawaiian – religious practices and that, therefore, they could not and should not exist nowadays. How shortsighted! No decree and no ban can abolish the feelings and beliefs of the people involved. Any tyranny can last only so long even though it can persecute peoples' religious practices!

And our governor seems adamant about taking all Hawaiian ceded lands for the benefit of “all,” i.e., the United States of America! So, it would behoove us to remember that a government can appropriate the lands, that it can persecute religious practices, but that it can not legislate people's religion, feelings or beliefs.

So, State, what's next on your appropriations agenda?

Kosta Stojanovich
Honolulu

Gay equality

As citizens of the United States of America, we all have freedom and the right to express ourselves. On record, according to the FBI's statistics, in 2007 more than 1,000 hate-crime offenses were committed based just upon someone's sexual orientation. That's a huge number, and the number of hate crimes will only continue to rise if we do not immediately take action.

Statistically speaking, many hate crimes based on someone's sexual orientation go unreported to their local police or sheriffs department. Sadly, GLBTQA (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allied) youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers! Rights should not be taken away from any individual because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc. We are all human, and citizens, and when will equal mean equal?

Caleb Laieski
Surprise, Arizona

Rudy Mitchell

I read in Ka Wai Ola that Rudy Mitchell passed away. Rudy was a big help to me. We visited many of the archaeological sites on the North Shore together, including Kupopolo Heiau, Keahu o Hāpu'u, and Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau. It was because of Rudy's encouragement that I relocated Kohokuwelowelo Heiau, thought to have been destroyed.  It was with Rudy's help that I investigated reports of the discovery of human bones, and it was Rudy who let me know when the buried petroglyphs at Pūpūkea had been exposed by winter surf.

Rudy made frequent visits to Kalaupapa, because he was related to a resident, Sarah Benjamin (Miala Meyer), herself a recognized expert in Hawaiian language and culture. On one of those occasions he showed me how to make koelepalau, a kind of sweet potato and coconut pudding. Rudy gave me the rare Moloka'i white hibiscus tree I had growing in my Hawaiian garden at Kalaupapa. Rudy also gave me a beautiful Hawaiian shirt that I still wear to this day. He was a good friend.

Buddy Neller
Ellensburg, Washington

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.