Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 9, 1 September 2005 — What do you ihink should be done to protect Hawaiian assets? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

What do you ihink should be done to protect Hawaiian assets?

Personally, I think the way is to stand together and do it legally. We need to use the U.S. system to get back what is rightfully ours. We ean protest and split apart, but that's what they want us to do. If we don't stand up as one and make our voice heard, then our keiki will be lost. — Tessie Fonoimoana, Hau'ula

Ultimately, I think independence is the only way. A lot of people are scared because they don't want to lose what little we have right now, and they're saying we have to take what we ean. We need to bust out of that, or we risk losing everything. But I also think it's key that people talk and be open, whether they are for the Akaka Bill or against it. We need to eome together, regardless of the political rhetoric. — Steven Hanaloa Helelā, Hakipu'u

I think the first thing we need to do is to be educated on what the issues are, and what it means to be a Hawaiian for eaeh and every one of us. We're all diverse, and it's okay to have a lot of different opinions. But I do think that when people have a better understanding of their connection with this land, they will be able to make more pono decisions. — Kanani Texeira, Ha'ikū

Hawaiians need to eome together to the table, regardless of what standpoints they may have, and decide what to do from here on out. But personally, I think we should have our own independent nation, instead of fighting over the scraps the U.S. gives us. — Lanee Kainoa Kaleimamo, Nu'uanu

Hf Aha Kou Mana'o? -t V 'on

[?]