Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 2, 1 February 1997 — KA LEO O KA [ARTICLE]

KA LEO O

KA

Letters _ T O T H E Editor

Fix OhlA elections Many Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians agree that the OHA election process has to be cleaned up. Registered Hawaiian OHA voters are not offered OHA election ballots, and non-Hawaiians are offered OHA ballots. Everyone wants OHA's business to go forward. The Supreme Court is the avenue for challenging eleehon prob!ems. The question comes up of former trustees being "self-serving" by asking for contracts to work with and oversee the cleaning up of the OHA election process. To get OHA moving forward it was suggested by OHA administrator Linda Colburn, in a phone eall on Dec. 3, 1996 (in the presence of Chairman Clayton Hee), and in a letter dated Dec. 4, 1996, that a task force be set up to see that the integrity of the OHA voting process be established and investigated with my participation, if we would agree to drop the suit. People who worked in voting polls have given written statements of the irregularities they witnessed in the OHA election. We have responsibilities to continue OHA business, and we also have responsibihties to investigate shortcomings of the electoral process. The Supreme Court will decide whether a new eleehon is necessary. Trustee (Samuel) Kealoha and I offered a resolution through our attomey Eric Seitz. This offer follows administration's suggestion and was an attempt to expedite the continuity of Hawaiian business and correct the irregularities in the OHA eleetion process at this time. Payment for my services ean be

worked out as 1 have worked for Hawaiian justice unsalaried for 23 of the past 26 years — twelve of whieh have been as OHA trustee. If the OHA eleehon process is not fine-tuned and corrected, the integrity of our Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections will also be questionable. Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike should be eoncerned. We asked that all Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians who have experienced irregularities in the OHA eleehon process eall (808) 935-7981 in Hilo. Moanike'ala Akaka Hilo

Defining "lokahi" Too often the basic Hawaiian concept of "lōkahi" is defined superficially. I wish to share what I was taught. Lōkahi is defined as unity of three major forces as the core of the universe: 1) the environment or natural resources, 2) the people or living creatures, and 3) the spiritual forces. This unity or one-ness of the universe is maintained through a harmonious halanee among these forces. The basis for this harmony is mutual respect in the relationships among the three areas. The basic lōkahi concept undergirds our values whieh promote caring for the land, water and resources; caring for eaeh other regardless of origin; and caring for or perpetuating our culture and traditions as part of our spiritual core. Discussions, debates, decisions and agreements accomplished with lōkahi will be pono for all. Differences of opinion done in the contest of respect are consistent with lōkahi. If we are to mālama Hawai'i nei, we will need to make decisions whieh at times will be difficult but need not be confrontative. Our ancestors treated people and our environment with respect. They chose to remain silent rather than speak prematurely and possibly in error. When making a statement they chose their words carefully in order to avoid hurting others unnecessarily. This is a strength. Passion on behalf of any cause does not excuse disrespectful or derisive words and behavior. Our ancestors respected the truth and were not devious in their deal-

ings. Truth, respect, compassion and humility were paramount. Why should we function any differently? Winona E. Rubin (Winona Rubin is former director of the Department of Human Services.) Individuals put themselves in prison Your January 1997 issues states "native Hawaiian inmates are the majority in Hawai'i prisons, a minority in the state." Native Hawaiians are the 50 percent or more Hawaiian blood. Any person less than 50 percent Hawaiian is a native of Hawai'i.. For example, a person 50 percent Chinese, 25 percent English and 25 percent Hawaiian. Prison officials must state a pmoneh s blood quantum. Good citizenship starts at home. Discipline, respect and responsibility. Some parents pamper their children when they do wrong. Some parents encourage their children to do wrong because they themselves do wrong. Things don't eome free. Individuals must set a goal for what they want to be and work towards that goal by hard work instead of wishing and doing nothing. Individuals put themselves in prison. Benjamin H. Olepau Waimānalo

New J>9tUy 9H tetta* Letters to the editor are encouraged for publication on a space-available basis. Longer letters may be considered for editorial commentaries. Letters to the editor shall 1)6 * • specifically addressed to Ka Wai Ola O OHA; • legibly signed by the author; and • accompanied by an address and/or telephone number for verification purposes. OHA reserves the right to edit al! letters for length, defamatory and libe!ous material, and other objectionable content, and reserves the right to print. If you do not want to see your letter cut, be sure it does not exceed 200 words and that it is tyf>ewritten and dou-ble-spaced. Send letters to Ka Wai Ola O OHA, 711 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 500, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813. ,,

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