Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 6, 1 June 1988 — Our Readers Write. . . [ARTICLE]

Our Readers Write. . .

Your issues are excellent. The overall quality, the coverage, the well balanced presentations. I look forward to eaeh issue as it arrives in our mailbox. It is therefore somewhat ironic and perverse that my first move is to flip through the pages in anticipation of another eolumn by Ms. Akaka. These are sufficiently outrageous in viewpoint, inaccurate in fact, and miscast as to conclusion, that they are cause for amusement. Tempted as I was to comment on an earlier eolumn she had written with regard to Tahiti, it wasn't until the May issue eame in that she tipped me over the edge. She and I are in complete accord on the matter of French nuclear testing at Moruroa. Yet, and unfortunately, she uses selected examples, omission (by design?), and her own unique bias to present a fairly one sided situation. As one who has been living off and on in French Polynesia for the past thirty six years, speaks Tahitian far better than French, has an adopted Tahitian daughter, taught a graduate course at UH's Manoa campus, and feels there are no finer people anywhere than the maohi, I'd like to fill in some of Ms. Akaka's blanks and make some corrections. (Ummm, left this out above. The course was titled "French Polynesia".)

Where to begin? The first line of her article seems to indicate that Tavini Huiraatira is an individual belonging to the Tahitian Independ enee Party. "Tavini Huiraatira" is a poliheal party, one of the many whieh the T ahitians jump into and out of, and the words mean, roughly translated, "servant to the people." Huiraatira has shown up several times in designations of particular factions there, and is neither an individual nor the province of the independent movement. I doubt there are "1000 Tahitian workers" on Moruroa. Within the nuclear testing system, including the staging areas on Fangataufa and Hao, there may be this number, but they certainly don't sit around on Moruroa waiting to be eontaminated by the latest blast. It should be pointed out that none of them was forcibly conscripted, eaeh is there because of eeonomie opportunity. The absurdity of the "racist treatment" accusation takes the supposed inhumanity of the French beyond reasonable bounds. Does she really believe that the French afford less care for the Tahitians than themselves? Has she considered that it is the French who turn their scientists and military experts on to the latest results, and must closely monitor areas with the highest radiation? So. "Tahitians are sent to Paris". Would that it wasn't necessary. Yet, this has nothing to do with cruelty , with separation of the T ahitian from his or her homeland. It is simply because there is better medical treatment available there. Guarantee.

Moanikeala being what she is, she d reverse her castigation if the situation was the other way around. If afflicted workers were kept on Tahiti, she'd eomplain that the French were denying them the best medical treatment! Tell the Tahitian that he or she shouldn't eat loeal fish. Ridiculous. What Ms. Akaka is referring to is ciguatera poisoning, not contamination from the nuclear radiation. Independence. A great idea, with a few hitches along the way . As of now, only 35% of the ineome in French Polynesia is locally generated. The rest comes from France by way of subsidy for copra, all road construction and maintenance, monthly payments for children under fourteen, free medieal care, and employment. Take away the French now and you'd really have something for Ms. Akaka to eomplain about. Aside from the French doctors at the military hospital, they are not controlled by the government. France puts more per capita into French Polynesia than it does for any of its other possessions. Probably too mueh although, if only by default, the French have had a heek of a lot less impact on

French Polynesia than the United States has had on Hawaii. Let's look at the other side of the eoin, one that Ms. Akaka leaves out. For example, the riots, destruction of personal property, and the severe setback to the economy of last October 23rd. By Tahitians who wanted three fish when they deserved only one, and brought under control by the French. The Tahitians have become spoiled— they admit it themselves. Ask anyone in Tahiti what they would first like to do on a trip to Hawaii, and nine out of ten will exclaim "visit Ala Moana". They have become extreme materialists — all by themselves, without prodding by the French. What Moanikeala should do is; — expunge preconceptions and personal bias from her observations. — accept input from more than a selected few informants there, and — at least, attempt to measure up to the standards of your paper. Jan Newhouse Kaunakakai, HI

Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. by Hanalei Henry T. Nalaielua of Kalaupapa. Aloha ia oe Moke: Mahalo a nui ea, no ka mea e ika wala'au o ka aina o Kalaupapanei. A ka ka Ku'ikahi A Na Kupuna ma ka hale "hokela" Royal Hawaiian ho'i. Maika'i ka mea hanau kekahi po'e na makou po'e e hanau loa no keia lahui o Kupuna ma. Pololei no ka mea ai na mea a pau me ka la po'alima e hele ana a pau me ka hale Pule 'O Kawai'ahao e olelo mai na makou ka la pule a pehea la, e pau ka pono. The coming together of Ku'ikahi A Na Kupuna has reaped together an indigenous group who gave of their heart and their souls. What a wonderful feeling it is to belong! We are the people of Hawai'i; let us go forward! You and your group have done a remarkable job to bring together those who try hard to preserve our presence by what took plaee a week ago (Mar. 18-19) and 1 pray this is not the last nor the first of its kind. For what I saw at the Royal, we are no longer "indigenous;" we are in! How wonderful to be a small part of "kupuna" for 1 have eome, I have seen and I have learned. Thank you for caring, Moses Keale! Thank you for sharing, too, and in essence to all this thank you, I say thank you again.

Dear Editor: I'd like to take the time to thank you and INNOVATION as well as ROYAL FEATHERS for the opportunity to participate in the creative eontest and the gift certificate awarded as a winner. I have to admit that I was surprised when 1 received my letter of congratulations as my entry was a winning entry and I wanted to thank those who made it possible for me to enter and to be among the winners. I feel honored and privileged. I'm sure that it was a great experience for all those who participated as it was definitely a gogetter for achieving the spirit for the Year of the Hawaiians. I was truly inspired and I hope thatyou consider offering more contests as this previous one in the near future. Onee again, thank you so mueh for the opportunity and the congratulations as a winner. Aloha Nui Loa, Victorialei N. Nakaahiki Ele'ele, HI 96705

Editor's Note: The fol!owing letter was reeeiueā from a reader who simply signed it, "Proud to be Hawaiian." We are flattered by the contents and want to share them with you. Perhaps someone among you ean comply with the request being made in the letter. April 7, 1988 Dear Kenny Haina, Thank you so mueh for the excellent articles and photos in the April edition of Ka Wai Ola O OHA. We always look forward to receiving the paper from OHA. So mueh pages to read! Wonderful! Kenny, would it be possible for you to obtain the words to Onipa'a Kakou by Liko Martin (both Hawaiian and English) and have it printed in one of the future issues? Our ohana loves the song but no one knows the words! Everyone sings his or her own version. Auwe! When the song was sung at Ho'olako (Ho'olokahi Unity Day), it was just so special when everyone joined in. It brought tears to my eyes. Onee again, Mahalo Nui for a fine job you're doing as Editor.

Apnl 8, 1988 Dear Mr. Haina: I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your kindness in sharing with me the past and current issues of your important publication. KA WAI OLA O OHA, of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. I ean fully appreciate the importance of your publication and cannot thank you enough for the opportunity to get in touch, more fully, with the concerns and needs of the Hawaiians as reflected in your publication. I was particularly impressed by the article you wrote on HO'OLOKAHI and the importance that the event served as a marker of new beginnings for Hawaiians. I was also interested in the article written by Linda Kawai'ono Delaney on attitudes of schools and the home environment as important factors in the achievement of Hawaiians and education. As you know, in the native Hawaiian Educational Assessment Project, we also underscored the very same points. I look forward to our continued correspondence and am most appreciative of the very special opportunity that you have provided me. As you know I am very interested in Hawaiians and their future, even while I am here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Therefore, your publication takes on added meaning as a link whichmightsuggest ways in whieh I could be helpful as an educator. Thank you again. Aloha, Hamikon I. McCubbin, Dean

April 24, 1988 Aloha Kenny, First let me compliment you on your excellent publication. Look forward to receiving it and naturally spend an enjoyable time reading it through and rereading those articles I find especially enjoyable. Good work! I would like to comment, however, on the spelling of the word meaono puaa in your article on page 12 of the April issue. This Chinese delight — a type of eake filled with a pork mixture — is correctly spelled meaono (a type of eake) puaa (pork or pig). This I know from my pure Hawaiian father and verified in the Pukui-Elbert dictionary. (Editor's Note: This matter was clarified in the auwe stoiy appearing in the May issue). I pass this along only because I enjoy your publication so mueh and want it to be the best! Sincerely, Aliee K. Kea Honolulu i