Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 12, 1 December 1998 — Ka Leo Kaiāulu [ARTICLE]

Ka Leo Kaiāulu

APPRECIATION I am a 27-year-old Hawaiian Chinese from the Kekahuna 'ohana of Papakōlea. I am writing from Lompoe prison concerning the beautiful stories in your wonderful paper that brings me so mueh happiness. Sometimes I push myself away from the letters that children write. Our keiki are so precious to me! Living in this eell, I hold on to this paper, for it is my hope. I am so proud of Māhealani Kamau'u who is all over the Ka Wai Ola. I owe great thanks to Bumpy and Amy Kanahele for letting us kanaka maoli here be part of what is happening at home and for looking out for us in these human warehouses the white man has built for those who have been rebellious toward the system. I will never give up being Hawaiian. Our blood and eulture are the most precious in all of Polynesia and Akua has given us a heart that is unique. Kanaka maoli blood is the prize of my life. To all of you at OHA. take care of eaeh other. The children are in your hands. Thank you for this opportunity to write to you. Boogie Kekahuna Lompoe, CA SEARCHING Information is needed regarding my great-grandparents Sam Koko

and Nanea. Both were bom in Lahaina, Maui. Sam Koko's parents were Koko and Kaohiwelu. Nanea Li'ili'i's (Sylva) parents were Daniel Li'ili'i and Kameheaiku. Their children were Sam Koko Jr., Jennie Koko and also Rebecca, Charles and Hannah. I would be most grateful and appreciative for connecting me with my family. Please contact me at 6881 143 or 449-7465. Mahalo. Terry Shinjo Waipahu I am seeking any information anyone may have on Joseph Kealoha Keohookalani bom May 1 7, 1905, inKona. Myfatherwas killed when I was a young child. I was told he had a brother named Harry and a sister named Elizabeth. Please send any information to me at P.O. Box 101 1, 'Aiea, HI 96701; 836-5035 (phone); 851-5529 (pager); or 538-3883 (fax). Leilehua Kealoha Keohookalani 'Aiea CLAIMS PANEL In the September issue. Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation attorney Melissa Seu discussed the impact of Judge Marie Milks' order declaring Act 382 unconstitutional. Judge Milks determined the members of the working group created by Act 382 had an appearance of

bias. Some had testified before the legislature against the types of claims they later found non-eom-pensable. Now that the standard for bias has been clarified, I wonder whether the Hawaiian Home Lands Trast Individual Claims Review Panel, whieh reviews these breach of trust claims, would withstand the same scratiny. Doesn't the panel have an obvious bias when one of its members is also a claimant? Wouldn't he be biased in favor of fellow claimants and against the state? How then ean Seu pretend the panel is "fair and objective?" Is Seu ignoring the state's right to an impartial factfinder? The state is denied this right when one panel member is also a claimant. I don't know what the legislature will do with the awards recommended by the panel. However, as a Hawaiian and a taxpayer, I do hope that, before the legislature appropriates any money for these claims. it will consider the source and investigate the biases. Francis Paul Keeno Honolulu MĀLAMA MAHALO I would like to thank the participants who helped make Pu'uiki Cemetery elean-up a success. Participants include Dole Foods, ine., the Outdoor Circle, the U.S. Army's

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25th Infantry Division and descendants of individuals buried in the cemetery. These include individuals of Hawaiian ancestry such as my family. The community responded to a very cultural and historic issue. Efforts are being made to put Pu'uiki Cemetery on the Hawai'i list of historic places. This would protect it from the vandalism and desecration committed previously and whieh could jeopardize its existence. We must take care of this because those individuals ar e the foundations of some families with deep roots in Waialua. Mālama 'āina and mahalo nui loa. Thomas T. Shirai Jr. Mililani

OHA reserves the right to edit all lettersfor length. defamatory and libelous material. and other objectionable content, and reser\>es the right to print on a space available basis. The inclusion of a letter author's title is a courtesy extended by Ka Wai Ola and does not constitute validation or recognition of the writer as such. All letters must be typed, signed and not exceed 200 words. Send letters to Ka Wai Ola o OHA, 711 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 500, Honolulu, HI 96813. Readers ean also email their letters to oha@aloha.net. ■