Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 5, 1 May 2001 — For the record [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

For the record

In a recent Ka Wai Ola o OHA issue, the author stated that there are no similarities between the Native Hawaiians and the American Indians regarding the takeover of their nations. I believe that there are. Hawaiians, like the American lndians and the Eskimos, did not choose to migrate or immigrate to the United States. Others did, whether from Europe, Asia or elsewhere. On the other hand, Hawaiians and American Indians were denied their language and religion. Many American Indians were killed for practicing their beliefs. Hawaiians were not allowed to practice their religion and their language was discouraged. Above all, both nations lost their land and became third-class U.S. citizens. They lost their pride and esteem, have high rates of health problems and high rates of incarceration. Important decisions are made for the Hawaiians by others who do not understand the people or eulture, similar to what the American Indians are experiencing through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This is "institutional racism." 1 believe that the takeover by the U.S. has hurt the Native Hawaiian people just as it did the American Indians. Frank Dang La Mesa, CA Via the lnternet

Many people at Kamehameha Schools knew what was going on, and were helpless to do anything. Facing the politically compromised state judiciary and the "old-boy" democratic maehine, seemed insurmountable. My, how things have changed! Hawaiians have known that there was never a legal overthrow, nor was there ever a legal annexation allowahle under international law. The dilemma that the Kamehameha family was faced with is the same that Hawaiians are faced with today, only the culprit is not the illegal State of Hawai'i, but the all-powerful U.S. It has been concluded by Hawaiian patriots that any attempt to adjudicate their grievances in the U.S. Supreme Court is an exercise in futility. The U.S. Supreme Court is as politically tainted as the Hawai'i State Supreme Court. The case that is winding its way through the international court at the Hague will expose the truth. It would behoove Dasog and the media to report fairly on what is happening today rather than what already is in the distant past. The question that Dasog should be writing about is, "Does the State of Hawai'i legally exist, or is it a figment of American duplicity?" Rod Ferreira, KS '52 Kamuela

Ka I fo Kaiāiii ii

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