Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 10, 1 October 2006 — 'Nutgrass network' conspiracy?- part 3 [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'Nutgrass network' conspiracy?- part 3

Aloha e nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, a puni ke ao mālamalama. This October article follows my August and September as the third in my series entitled "THE NUTGRASS NETWORK CONSPIRACY." Mahalo to Trustee Linda Dela Cruz for lending me her 600 word space to allow

me to provide a more full and final comment on the "nutgrass network." Those individuals and families in Hawai'i, the nation and the world who support Native Hawaiians in the reconciliation process need to stay informed and enlightened about those who do not support successful, just, or fair reconciliation for Native Hawaiians; and, who very likely hold similar sentiment against Alaska Natives and American Indians, the other indigenous people of America. The "nutgrass network" rose to prominence in 2005 and 2006, as the federal recognition hill (S .147) was making its way through the U.S. Senate as well as gaining attention in the U.S. House of Representatives. Their shared mission to harm and delay passage of any federal recognition hill for Native Hawaiians accelerated the collective activities or antics of the "nutgrass network" members and elevated them above ground into the light. In addition to those in the "nutgrass network" noted in my August and September articles, there are a few more that include: The Hawai'i Reporter of Malia Zimmerman, president, editor and founder of the Hawai'i Reporter website, who has also served on the Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i board of directors. The Hawai'i Reporter has reported on the Akaka Bill since 2002, and the majority of the guest editorials and other reported pieces are mischaracterizations of the Akaka Bill or statements in opposition to the Akaka Bill. Americans For Tax Reform, of whieh Mr. Grover Norquist is president, is based in Washington, D.C. Mr. Norquist serves on the Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i board of advisors and on the board of directors of the National Rifle Association of America, the American Conservative Union and the American Society of Competitiveness. The document entitled Hawai'i Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand, prepared by Bruce Fein, contains an analysis mischaracterizing the Akaka Bill and attacking the facts of Puhlie Law 103-150, the Apology Resolution. Fein's document was distributed at an Americans For Tax Reform meeting in Summer 2005. The Heritage Foundation, founded in 1973 is a Washington, D.C.-based research and educational institute - or think tank - with a mission to formulate and promote conservative puhlie policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values and a strong national defense. The Heritage Foundation held two forums opposing the Akaka Bill. One, entitled An Unconstitutional Act Is Back: the Return ofthe Native Hawaiian Sovereignty Act, was held on May 26, 2006, featuring U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (Tenn.). The other, Native Hawaiian Sovereignty Act: A Step Toward Secession, was held on August 30, 2006, featuring Rubellite Johnson, Emeritus Professor, University of Hawai'i; Larry Arnn, PhD., President of Hilldale College and Heritage trustee; and John Fund, Editorial Board member of The Wall Street Journal. Edwin Meese III, Heritage Foundation expert, Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow in Puhlie Policy and ehainnan of the Heritage Foundation's Center for Legal and Judicial Studies; and Todd Gaziano, director of the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, co-authored a pieee entitled Racist Bill Wouhl Segregate Hawai'i, posted June 6, 2006 on the website Human Events - the National Conservative Weekly. The Reason Foundation/Reason Puhlie Policy Institute, founded in 1968, is a California-based think tank that says it "advances a free society by developing, applying, and promoting libertarian principles including individual liberty, free market and the rule of law." Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i has collaborated with Reason. The Heartland Institute is Chicago based. Dr. Milton Friedman calls it a "highly effective libertarian institute," and Cato Institute President Edward Crane says Heartland "has had a tremendous impact, first in the Midwest, and now nationally."

Don Newman, of the Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i, wrote Politics Rules In Debate Over Hawaiian Ethnicity Bill, whieh was published July 1, 2006, in Budget and Tax News of the Heartland Institute. Aloha For All (AFA) of H. William Burgess, Sandra P. Burgess, Kenneth Conklin, and Thurston Twigg-Smith notes that their mission is ... "to spread the word that Aloha is for everyone and that all citizens of Hawai'i, whatever their ancestry, are entitled to the equal protection of the laws. To save Hawai'i from being torn apart by racial strife. To eliminate all government programs Federal, State or loeal, whieh award benefits to or impose detriments on Hawai'i citizens based on race or ancestry." The mission statement of Wisconsin-based Citizens Equal Rights Allianee/ Foundation (CERA/CERF) notes: "As Federal Indian Policy is unaccountable, destructive, racist and unconstitutional, it is therefore CERA's mission to ensure the equal protection of the law is guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution of the United States." The Pacific Legal Foundation, headquartered in California with a Hawai'i office, says, "PLF is renowned for battling those who would tread on individual liberty, for confronting government bureaucrats who confiscate private property rights, for opposing government programs that grant special preferences on the basis of race and sex; and for challenging misguided environmental laws that degrade human values." The website of PLF's Hawai'i office site notes: "There are many hot issues bubbling in Hawai'i right now that present a tremendous challenge to the continued certainty of established rules of property - issues that warrant the proactive involvement of Pacific Legal Foundation. "A classic example involves the loeal application of a 1996 case in whieh the Hawai'i Supreme Court obliterated hundreds of years of established American property law in favor of a system that legitimizes trespass or "gathering" rights by descendants of Native Hawaiians on private property. In a single ruling, that court transformed private property into puhlie property without compensation (Public Access Shoreline Hawai'i v Hawai'i County Planning Commission)." The Atlas Eeonomie Research Foundation (AERF), based in Virginia since 1981; the State Policy Network (SPN), founded in 1992 and based in California; and the Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) are also noteworthy to the "nutgrass network." Questions posed regarding the "nutgrass network" in my previous columns have answers: Q: How are these organizations connected; and, what values and priorities do these groups hold in eonunon? Q: Do they suggest that no fair and just reconciliation is necessary to heal the deep and profound effects of the methodically planned, manipulated and implemented actions that culminated in the illegal overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani, the existing sovereign leadership? A: Reference the August and September Ka Wai 01as, in addition to the information above. Q: Do they intentionally disregard or mischaracterize the indigenous legal and poliīieal status of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, the three groups of aboriginal, indigenous, native groups in the 50 states? A: YES Q: Do they trivialize or mischaracterize the real and lasting negative consequences to Native Hawaiian families caused by the erosion of self-determination, loss of connection with the land, degradation of cultural and social institutions and forced removal of indigenous governance for commercial gain at the expense of Native Hawaiians? A: YES. Q: Do the values and priorities motivating the Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i and its "nutgrass network" partners strengthen or destroy the unique spirit of Hawai'i that honors obligation to Native Hawaiians, celebrates diversity of cultures for a healthy society, and seeks to sustain our fragile ecosystem? A. DESTROY. (Preamble, Hawai'i State Constitution): "We the people of Hawai'i, grateful for Divine Guidance, and mindful of our Hawaiian heritage and uniqueness as an island state, dedicate our efforts to fulfill the philosophy decreed the Hawai'i state motto, "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono." 23/48 ^

LEŪ 'ELELE ■ TRUSTEE MESSAGES

Haunani Apoliona. MSW Chairpersūn TrustEE, At-large