Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 12, 1 December 2005 — Blood quantum [ARTICLE]

Blood quantum

I was disgusted to read that a lawsuit has been initiated by a few people over Hawaiian blood quantum. This outrageous act only serves to feed the few at the expense of many. We all realize that blood quantum issues need to be resolved, but why now, before Sen. Daniel Akaka's bill for federal recognition has been

through all the hoops? Being 47.5 percent Hawaiian, I don't feel one bit bad about doing away with the whole blood-quan-tum requirement. The smallest percentage should count just as mueh as the largest. Only as a cohesive unit ean we progress and thrive as a culture. All this posturing and protecting of blood quantum is degrading and displays negative, eannihalistic tendencies. For shame. Everyone - regardless of blood quantum, regardless if they live on the islands or on the mainland or the moon - deserves equal recognition of their Hawaiian heritage by the federal government, deserves an equal voice in sovereignty issues and deserves to share equally in eeonomie payback provided for in the act. Linda Kapi'olani Fonville Otis Orchards, Washington