Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 2, 1 February 2000 — Response: Keale's record [ARTICLE]

Response: Keale's record

Last month, Mrs. Gladys Rodenhurst wrote that at the Kaua'i board meeting I had said, "Kaua'i has not had a representative for 19 years." Mrs. Rodenhurst, who was assisting the board secretary, did not quote me accurately nor explain that the context of the reference to "19 years" was my vote for Warren Perry as Kaua'i/Ni'ihau interim trustee. Fortunately, I recorded my statement. The following is verbatim exactly what I said toward the end of my explanation of my vote in favor of Attorney Perry: "We have critical issues that require not only historic and legal knowledge, but critical thinking as well. Finally, we sit here as seven

today. Trustee DeSoto would have been here today had she not been hospitalized last night. Seven trustees that face the selection of the Kaua'i/Ni'ihau trustee. And I've heard people eome here and say, 'We have not had a voice for 18 or 19 years.' And I say to you, 'How eome?'" I spoke an additional seven sentences on the importance of the decision before Chair Akana called for the vote. I hope this sets the record straight. Haunani Apoliona Trustee-at-Large Office of Hawaiian Affairs