Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 6, 1 June 2006 — Akaka Bill represents fairness and justice [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Akaka Bill represents fairness and justice

Bnyd P. Mūssman TrustEE, Maui

Aloha kākou. I am an American of Hawaiian descent. I have taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and do so willingly and without reservation. I served my country during the Vietnam conflict and have a son who now serves in the United States Air Force in the Iraq war. I have many friends and family who are of Hawaiian descent who have also served their eountry, some giving their lives to protect our freedom. In 1893, a small, well-organized group of foreigners and others opposed to the throne convinced the United States to support their unilateral decision to take and give Hawai'i to the United States. There was no majority vote or decision of the people. With the fire power of the United States Navy and Marines in plaee, our Queen determined to avoid bloodshed and instead pursues diplomacy. Though the end result, whieh converted Native Hawaiians into American citizens, is not necessarily a bad one, nevertheless it was not a voluntary one. As the American Indians did not give up their nations willingly to American colonists, neither did Native Hawaiians. The elaim that Native Hawaiians had already given up their government to non-Native Hawaiian and foreigners may have some historical argument but is simply inaccurate. The Kū'ē petition of 1897, signed by 21,000 Native Hawaiians, was an effort to demonstrate that the overthrow was not the result of a popular movement by the people. The fact is that most Native Hawaiians and most non-Hawaiians in Hawai'i today support federal recognition for Hawaiians as reflected in successive legitimate and professionally conducted polls. The state Legislature, including all but two legislators (Senators Sam Slom and Gordon Trimble), Governor Lingle and her administration, both the Republican and Democratic parties in Hawai'i, and numerous national organizations including the American Bar Association and Native American and Alaskan organizations also support federal recognition of Native Hawaiians, there-

by demonstrating that recognition is not viewed by them as the creation of a racial divide amongst the people of Hawai'i or the nation. Allegations of balkanization and the clamor of a vocal minority of independents cloud the issue of what is just, fair and supported by the Constitution. We are Americans because we are citizens of the United States, but all Americans have eountries of origin, including 550 American Indian nations and numerous Alaskan Native corporations. Without S. 147, Native Hawaiians will be deprived of any identification, heritage, or homeland. We will, as our opponents demand, be assimilated into oblivion. Is there something wrong with continuing a congressional policy of recognition, compassion, and understanding of a people who have historically opened their arms to all who eame here and now face legal extinction from some of those who eame, saw, conquered and now want to extinguish onee and for all any legal referenee to a proud and loyal people? Threats of Native Hawaiians getting tax favors, avoiding civil rights laws, starting gambling casinos, seceding from the union and dividing our country are spurious, speculative, argumentative and not based on anything close to fact. Suffice it to say that the Department of Interior will have, to the consternation of some Native Hawaiians, the final say on the Native Hawaiian govermnent organization and its operation. The state and federal governments will not give up anything, including land, unless they want to do so. Native Hawaiians opposed to recognition need not participate. A Hawaiian nation within the nation will empower the aboriginal people of this land to continue to recover from a near terminal wound inflicted with the cooperation of the United States and will prevent our protagonists from pulling the plug. It will create a stronger Hawai'i and preserve an entire people and their culture in their own homeland. Other minorities in the United States have no similar elaim as aboriginals whose nations were wrongfully taken by the United States. I am sure that Native Americans and Alaskan Natives, the only other recognized aboriginals in our country must be apprehensive as the vote on S. 147 approaches. Will their existence be in jeopardy too? Let us hope that not only will God bless America, but also that He will include its host cultures. Mahalo ke Akua. S