Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 2, 1 February 2008 — Racist cartoon [ARTICLE]

Racist cartoon

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs called on the website "Hawai'i Reporter" to pull a racist cartoon titled "Cow Inoa" from its site, calling the cartoon a "racial slur." In an email to the website, OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona wrote, "Where is the humor in comparing Native Hawaiians to cows? Is 'Hawaii Reporter' saying that Native Hawaiians should be 'good cows' and sit back and 'graze' while watching opponents of Hawaiians dismantle programs that benefit the bottom-line of the State of Hawai'i by providing assistance to Native Hawaiians?" Apohona said Hawaii Reporter is finally showing its "true colors" and pointed out the association between Hawai'i Reporter co-founder and director Malia Ziimnennan and the Grassroot Institute, whieh is opposed to the Native Hawaiian Govermnent Reorganization Act, also known as the Akaka Bill. In response to the demand, "Hawai'i Reporter" wrote that it "has had a policy of printing all editorials received, as long as they are clear and not libelous."