Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 11, 1 November 2000 — Discussion Forum [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Discussion Forum

www. OHA. org

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs' discussion forum is at www.OHA.org. The purpose of the forum is to share different points of view on issues important to the Hawaiian community. In the few weeks since its ineephon, lively exchanges have begun on federal recognition, sovereignty and Forbes Cave Divergent opinions have been posted by participants anonymously, using their real names or taking such online identities as Takspayr and Commoner. The forum is open to all. Participants ean access existing messages, post their own message or set up a new topic to be discussed. To enter the discussion, go to www.OHA.org.

Following are excerpts from the current online discussion: Sovereignty Takspayr, 10-14 If I had a ehoiee of taskmasters such as Ceasar, Stalin, Hitler, Mao Tse Tung, the U.S. government or "The Trask Sisters," you know where my vote will be. I already have three taskmasters, the city and county, the State of Hawai'i and the federal government. I don't need a fourth taskmaster with a new name. Sovereignty Anonymous, 10-16 Takspayr, I agree with you that a Hawaiian government would be worse than our present semi-socialist state government, that is why I am going to use barter and encourage you to do the same. If the communist government is a good example of what happens when a government becomes too heavy handed then we all need to be prepared. Sovereignty Takspayr, 10-16 Anonymous, you may be sympathetic to parts of my opinion but I don't agree with you that a barter system will work well at this time in world history. A barter system doesn't lend itself to the efficiencies that is required in an industrial economy engaged in building ships, bridges, aircraft or creating jobs, etc. Neither is it appropriate in an information economy for eommerce in cyberspace. Sovereignty Hank, 10-20 The recognition of limited sovereignty for Native Hawaiians is merely a first step. Following recognitior will be a continuous process of building blocks, one thing at a time, painstakingly conducive of making Hawai'i a better plaee for all. In the very least, the Akaka Bill is an opportunity for Native Hawaiians to take their rightful plaee in deciding their own future.

Sovereignty Takspayr, 10-21 The conflict in Ireland is not about Catholics vs. Protestants. It is not about religion. The bloodshed in Ireland is about who wants to belong to Great Britain. The unionists want the benefits of staying with Great Britain. The nationalists want sovereignty. The Indians went through a similar phase of bloodshed and reconciliation. The Irish for over a hundred years are still at war with one another. Do we in Hawai'i need to make the same mistakes or ean we learn from other peoples' experience? What's wrong with the Akaka Bill? David lngram, 10-1 So what to do? Out of the frying pan into the fire? Or vice versa? There are really only three options for Hawaiians 1. You ean do nothing and deal with the future that others deal to you from a stacked deck... i.e., the status quo or federal control of the status quo. 2. You ean participate in and attempt to influence the status quo. 3. Convince yourself that you, your children, and their children are entitled to their birthright and support efforts to achieve full and complete sovereignty and do everything in your power to achieve it. As I said... I'm not Hawaiian.... but if my birthright was on the line... and federal control of my land was the only other opūon.... well ...you figure it out.... its your 'āina. Forbes cave Tisha, 10-13 Aloha. I am 22, Native Hawaiian, and currently studying the art history of Hawai'i. Although I am , aware of these items being hidden as a form of respect, I have to disagree with that method. By studying these artifacts, I have felt more pride for my eulture and feel a responsibility to make these images and art available for our future generations. Of course, most Hawaiians have not seen what I, and a selected few, have seen because these treasures get mysteriously taken or given to someone to put and rot in a cave

somewhere. I seriously think that was the only thing our ancestors could do to preserve them for the future. Now we ean do more by keeping them in an environment designed to preserve them, as long as its not Bishop Museum who poorly displays them and lists entirely wrong information. Forbes cave Tane, 10-17 There was a period of time when archaeologists were sacrilegious and insensitive to the respective eultures and were no less than grave robbers. Today, I believe they have a conscience and want to do what's right and not profit from it. I would feel more comfortable if items were not on the auction block and placed in that country's respective museums to preserve for posterity. It should be reverently displayed and respected. If direct descendants are living, they should have the right to dispose of it as they deem fit. For example, such items could be put on loan to the museum or the family could keep it in their possession and show it by appointment. There are various possibilities. Remember, in Hawai'i, some families still have their family caves whieh is their domain and sacrosanct. It is still used today and tended by them. We have to show regard for their feelings and respect them. Many family caves have been plundered already; so we must take care of how this is handled. Not every artifact should go to a museum's storage plaee. It should be left where it is; hoarding is not an alternative. Stop fighting Tane, 10-17 I believe everyone is working towards the betterment of the Hawaiian people and everyone else. In order to reach a eommon ground we have to listen to the different schools of thought. We ehampion our viewpoints and others give us food for thought. Definitions are clarified so we have a better understanding. ■