Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 4, 1 April 1994 — Our readers write... [ARTICLE]

Our readers write...

Sovereignty: educate, don't alienate Please listen to a voice of reason! Two wrongs don't make a right. Onee we are all properly informed about the illegal take-over, exploitation and injustices, the world will help and everyone will be on your side. Education (and) information are the answer. not shock treatment: "Tourists go home!" Many saved for years to escape cold winters for two weeks, expecting the "aloha" they heard so mueh about. I may be one of a few who took the interest to study Hawaiian history, and I often get emotional about ihe injustices. I also feel blessed to have Hawaiian friends who teach me so mueh of their culture that I now "live" it at home in Canada where I reside most of the year. Yes! Something needs to be done. And, yes, if properly informed and petitioned, many groups and individuals from all over the world wUl help you politically by influencing those in power. But this is not accomplished in anger and scaring people off. As prayer is a powerful force for good, please gather and organize positive forces to make the changes needed. And God bless you on your journey toward self-government! You all deserve it. Aloha nui loa. Ingrid (Ilima) Szabo Bumaby, Canada Mokulē'ia — an unforgettable scene I heard that the Beltran family was ousted from Mokulē'ia Beach Park

on Jan. 17. It was sad that their seven children had to see their mother and father handcuffed and taken away by the Honolulu Poliee Department and armed officers of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The scene that they saw may make the children have dismay for the government. Also, the seven children who saw their mother and father taken away will have ehildren, who will have children, and pass on their hatred toward the government. The scene that the seven children saw on Jan. 17 at Mokulē'ia beach will probably never be forgotten. Matthew Kawika Ortiz, age 10 Lā'ie, Hawai'i Mauna Roy, Kona authority Excellent interview with Mauna Roy! (March 1990 Ka Wai Ola O OHA). He is one of the great people of Kona and the leading authority on Kona Hawaiian traditions. Aloha! Herb Kawainui Kāne Captain Cook, Hawai'i

First radio, then TV Thank you so mueh for the terrifie coverage by Jeff Clark of Ke Aolama in the March Ka Wai Ola O OHA. A1 Hulsen and everyone at Hawai'i Public Radio seem equally thrilled and happy that they chose to go with something so very Hawaiian when others were not interested. They really deserve the niee pat on the back. Bishop Estate/Kamehameha Schools has joined Bank of Hawai'i and the

Queen's Medical Center as a show sponsor. If we ean now secure funding to pay the dedicated UH students who are doing the work, we will guarantee the show's continuanee. My next project is a televised newscast in Hawaiian, inspired by the Maori language newscasts we saw and heard in Aotearoa about 12 years ago. If they ean do it, why not us? E olamau ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i. Keith Haugen, (Executive producer, Ke Aolama) Honolulu, Hawai'i

Hawaiian news radio Thanks for your excellent, detailed coverage of the Ke Aolama project. Your providing detailed information about the Monday-Friday Hawaiian language newscast on KHPR and KKUA to the readers of Ka Wai Ola O OHA, including many very kind references to the various project participants, is very mueh appreciated. A1 Hulsen, president and general manager, Hawai'i Public Radio Honolulu, Hawai'i Kā'ai's return pono The present problem involving the kā'ai (stems from) the decision by OHA Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Council to plaee them at Mauna 'Ala (Royal Mausoleum) on O'ahu. The past problem was Ka'ahumanu's decision to have the kā'ai removed from Waipi'o Valley, Hawai'i. The iwi at the Smithsonian, at

(Honokahua, Maui), Henry Opukahaia, were all returned to their respective islands or 'ohana, and received a traditional Hawaiian and/or Christian burial. Is it not culturally, traditionally and spiritually pono for the kā'ai to be returned home with the same aloha and reverence? All Hawaiians must understand a spiritual "ea," freedom. It involves aloha and forgiveness if all is to be pono. We must open our hearts in order to open doors. We must first forgive ourselves, Queen Ka'ahumanu, our 'ohana and all involved with the kā'ai, who made decisions that were not pono. We must also forgive those who may be clinging to that whieh is still not pono. The Akua, the kā'ai and the spirits of our kūpuna are far above all. I ask everyone to focus on these lines of "Hawai'i Pono'I:" "Makua lani e, Kamehameha e." We sing the song but do we see that the song is being sung because the remains of Kamehameha 'Ekahi are not at Mauna ' Ala but in Hawai'i? Kamehameha 'Ekahi is home. Līloa is home. Abraham Kahinuonalani Kamakawiwo'ole Honoka'a, Hawai'i Kā'ai's theft sows bitter seeds The thievery of the kā'ai brings forth several important issues that are symptomatic of the present state of our Hawaiian people when leadership becomes assumed. The very act of thievery, presumably on the behalf of descendants of

the high chief Līloa, demonstrates an irresponsibility and disdain for the acknowledged guardianship of the kā'ai. But it ean also set the stage for a bitter and acrimonious feud between Hawaiians. Therefore, when Hawaiians are now being called to eome together in eommon bond as a people, any defiance of the pleas of aloha for the return of the kā'ai may sow the seeds of bitterness and mistrust. By the thievery of the kā'ai, the perpetrator(s) appear(s) to signal that he, she or they are better and more sensitive guardians than those entrusted by Prince Kūhiō and Queen Lili'uokalani. It will be everyone's prayer, if the kā'ai are not retumed, that they be such vigilant guardians, for it is a grave and serious responsibility that those individuals take upon themselves to keep those interred in the kā'ai, whoever they are, away from any more thievery, particularly by artifact collectors. Maleolm Chun Honolulu, Hawai'i

Letters to the editor are gladly accepted for publication on a spaceavailable basis. Letters shall be: • specifically addressed to Ka Wai Ola O OHA; and • legibly signed by the author; and • accompanied by an address and/or telephone number(s) for verification purposes. OHA reserves the right to edit all letters for length, defamatory and libelous material, and other objectionable contents. Letters cannot exceed 200 words and must be typewritten and double-spaced. Send letters to: Editor, Ka Wai Ola O OHA, 711 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 500, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813.