Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 7, 1 July 1992 — Kupono -- Hana Kupono [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kupono -- Hana Kupono

By Rcv. Moses K. Keale Sr. Trustee, Kaua'i & Ni'ihau

Injustices precipitate a peculiar breed of events whieh are sometimes heralded by the clashing of cymbals and the beating of drums. But most often, injustices are subtle and frustrating or even deceitfully silent. History has recorded another quiet injustice

perpetrated against the Hawaiian people. During the week of May 25, a story of a broken promise to a Hawaiian began to unfold. Headlines proclaimed that the appointment of Dr. Hamilton McCubbin, a Hawaiian of great academic stature, had run afoul of the University of Hawaii's political system's strange twists and turns. Actually, this was not totally unexpected. I had anticipated some kind of action whieh would result in this tragedy. Why, you may ask, have I involved myself in this battle against the system? Because if we are to believe in the Hawaiian race and its people, eaeh of us must do our part to fight institutionalized injustice when it rears its ugly head. Dr. McCubbin's appointment to the university's number two position was doomed from its inception. From the very first day that we, the

Office of Hawaiian Affairs, chose to enter into the process of interviewing all the finalists for the position of vice president of Academic Affairs for the University of Hawai'i, my na'au told me that this would become a battlefield. 1 did not know Dr. McCubbin nor did I know any of the other candidates for the position. The only thing that was clear, was that we the Hawaiian people's representatives, had an opportunity to go on record to support a candidate who would be sensitive to Hawaiian needs in our children's quest for higher educational opportunities. I knew that Hawaiians were under-represented in the system and that our needs had been systematically neglected over the decades of growth at the University of Hawai'i. We invited all four candidates to eome and meet with the OHA Education and Culture Committee so that the board members could share their concerns with them and listen to their plans to address our community needs. Only one candidate chose to take advantage of this opportunity. Dr. McCubbin flew from the mainland at his expense and thoroughly impressed us as a man of deep commitment and impeccable credentials. So the Office of Hawaiian Affairs endorsed Dr. Hamilton McCubbin without reservation and we made our position known. The rest is history! The endorsement did not sit well with those in governance at the

University of Hawai'i who had other plans. The thought of a "keiki o ka 'aina" as an administrator was not to be included in the plans of a University whieh, over the years, has increasingly turned to talents elsewhere in order to fulfill the administration's dream of making this university the "Harvard of the Pacific." The American dream that hard work, diligence, patience, and dedication ean lead you to the top was onee again proven a dream that does not apply to native peoples. But should this really surprise us? Should it surprise us that the university talks a good story but fails to demonstrate its commitment through affirmative actions? Have we not been fighting this battle for more than 10 years — the battle to establish a Hawaiian Studies Center at the University of Hawai'i complete with building, program and commitment? There is still no building, no real center, no real visible commitment, just studies and more studies, reports and more reports. Yet the university spends millions of dollars to build the School of Oeean and Earth Science and Technology center and millions of dollars to create the School of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Studies whose very existence was predicated on the efforts of Hawaiians to produce a Hawaiian Studies Center. Promises and more promises! Hawaiians get the crumbs while others get eake and the frosting! contined on page 23

Trustee Keale

» /rom page 22 The message is clear — when you need a minority to grab the attention of the legislators or the support of the larger community, parade the Hawaiian's plight in front of the people. When the battle is won — forget the promised word!

A Hawaiian's word is his word. As reported by the newspaper, Dr. McCubbin said that administration "assured us that there would be no problems on tenure." What does the word mean to an educational institution? What is education without the word? Well, here is my word, my contract. I am disappointed. We have been cheated and deceived. Dr. McCubbin expressed eoneem for our problems and we felt that he would help us in our battle to carry out our mandate to better the conditions of the Hawaiian people. Onee again our voice has been diminished. Hawaiians have been patient for a very long time. We have tried to be part of the system, but the system continues to be manipulated by others. Well, the University of Hawai'i sits on large tracts of ceded land (approximately 1,879 acres) for whieh it pays no rent. By its own accounting, the value of this land approaches $534,289,000. The university should be paying rent for this land. OHA is entitled to 20 percent of the rental, that by some estimates would be worth more than $21 million per year. OHA's share of that rent would be more than $4 million annually. The back payment of such rent over the 12 previous years would amount to more than $48 million. Let us ask the University of Hawai'i to pay for what they use. Pay up now! We asked numerously that Hawaiians be given tuition waivers. We got studies and more studies. We asked that the university recognize the central role of the Hawaiian people in building this great land and in providing the wonderful host culture whieh we all enjoy by providing for a flagship symbol of the kanaka maoli, a Hawaiian Studies Center. We got studies, reviews, reports and drafts. We asked the university to consider hiring Dr. McCubbin, a qualified native Hawaiian whose accomplishments in the field of education are widely recognized in the educational community, for the position of second in command. Instead, we find that double dealing, broken promises and duplicity were the reward for the Hawaiian who only strived for the highest ideals in education. Now, I guess the university invites us to face off as adversaries instead of partners. If that is the challenge, then so be it. I am ready, willing and able. In my 12 years of service to the Hawaiian people, I never enjoyed battles but be not fooled, I will battle with all my conviction for what is right. Kupono — Hana Kupono — Pa'ahana — 'Oihana — Hana Ho'oko! A i mana'o kekahi e lilo i po'okele i waena o 'oukou, e pono no e lilo ia i kauwa na 'oukou. Na ke Akua e malama a e alaka'i ia kakou apau. Kupono — upright, honest, decent Hana Kupono — honest work Pa'ahana — industrious, hard-working 'Oihana — professional Hana Ho'oko — succeed