Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 6, 1 June 2008 — Apoliona's column [ARTICLE]

Apoliona's column

OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona did a good job in referencing the opposition of the settlement in her May eolumn. However, the dynamics of the opposition is not clearly defined when naming the individuals. The incomplete list omits Robin Danner of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, who also objected, besides other groups. Opposition is lumped together regardless of their stance. Hawai'i nationals object to the wording and intentions of the Akaka Bill with OHA's intervening actions; the suppressive blocking of their voices urging the U.S. belligerent de-occupation from Hawai'i; shunning international issues, embracing the U.S. tribal system; the conflict of interests; the sponsorship in creating a tribal governing entity usurping the jurisdiction of the legitimate existing Hawaiian Kingdom; ignoring non-Hawaiianmultiethnic Hawai'i nationals; OHA doesn't represent us but the coimnunity-at-large who has elected them. Antagonists cite racism and the constitutionality of OHA, Kau Inoa, Akaka Bill and trust obligations. Feeling threatened, they resent indigenous Hawaiians as having an officially recognized nationstate, want OHA disbanded, and obligatory responsibihties, liabilities and trusts eliminated. They insist on U.S. citizens' status quo in Hawai'i and it being part of the USA. They profile all native Hawaiians as being on welfare, lazy, terrorists and racists wanting special privileges; yet they want to preserve privileges and advantages they're accustomed to on the U.S. continent. They use reverse-racism and revisionist history, openly declaring war against Hawaiians while seeking

support from business clubs. The most vocal being Ken Oonklin, Senator Slom, Malia Zimmennan, William Burgess, Thurston TwiggSmith, Earl Arakaki. OHA ignores Hawai'i nationals, connecting them with the Federalist Society, making it appear that all native Hawaiians are pro-Akaka Bill. Unresolved issues related to the so-called "ceded" lands known as the Puhlie Land Trust is an international issue, not a USA domestic/internal issue. The courts looked at our legitimate complaints, then responded that this issue needs resolving. In statements regarding the thenproposed ceded land settlement, OHA Land Management Director Ionathan Scheuer connected the dots: OHA would have to initiate or sponsor a native governing entity using the Kau Inoa registry to advance the Akaka Bill. That was its strategy from the beginning - herding Hawaiians under the ruse of a tribe, creating a "Reorganized Hawaiian Government" that would be recognized as the legitimate representativetosecurelandclaims, negotiating with themselves in stealing from Hawai'i Nationals, and maintaining the status quo we now experience. History does repeat itself ! Has OHA done any good for the native Hawaiians? Yes, they have in some cases, but that's for another discussion. īane lnaong Pearl City, O'ahu

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