Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 9, 1 September 2009 — Enough is enough [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Enough is enough

It is not often I feel compelled to submit a eolumn to Ka Wai Oīa because my views are personal, and I don't want these views to be misleading as to say my fellow trustees feel the same way I do or that OHA, as an organization, holds the same views. To be honest, sometimes I do not enjoy being attacked by those with conflicting views. That stated, I am sure many will be offended by my statements; however, this time, I need to say it. On Aug. 8, 2009, a summit was held at the Sheraton Waikīkī with groups who hold views different from the views held at OHA and who disagree with most everything OHA does (or doesn't do). This meeting, prompted by Trustee Mossman, was an attempt to acquaint the Trustees with the different viewpoints of eaeh organization in the hopes of better understanding their mana'o as well as possibly finding eommon ground from whieh to move forward as a cohesive group. It was an opportunity for the Trustees to ask questions and engage in dialogue so that all those present could try to truly understand what eaeh was thinking. It was an opportunity for all of us to eome with open minds and open hearts. After contacting various organizations to participate in this summit, eaeh group was asked to participate in the planning of the event so that this event would encompass factions seen as important by all participating organizations. This meeting was an effort to dialogue with those who oftentimes feel OHA never really listens to or hears them about issues they feel are important to Hawaiians. In my view, the end result of this meeting followed the end result of the coalition meetings - failure. While there were some very respectful group representatives in attendance, the delegation of those bent on disrupting the meeting by shouting, name calling and selfish disrespect of others turned what could have been a peaceful sharing into something that was so reminiscent of all other failed attempts made by OHA to find eommon ground and move ahead. The display of angry outbursts, disregard for ground "rules," disregard for other organizations, basic mistrust of anything contrary to personal beliefs, and plain disrespect certainly are not behaviors or characteristics our kūpuna would have been proud of. I am ready to throw in the towel and walk

away from the disruptive group of Hawaiians. I am ready just to eonhnue helping those who are doing great things in our conununity as well as those who are trying to partner with us to find solutions rather than screaming and yelling at us without providing solutions. I ask myself, "Why does anger and hateful conunentary continue?" I conclude, obviously, that Hawaiians still hold the hurt caused by those who wronged us all those years ago. Hurt feelings run deep, and anger has been passed down from generation to generation; some are unable to let go and some refuse to let go. While we try to make elaim on things that will benefit our people, we cannot agree on any solutions. I agree that the Māhele was the beginning of the stealing of Hawaiian lands, that the Bayonet Constitution was designed to take away the voting rights of Hawaiians, that the 1893 overthrow of our kingdom and the 1898 annexation was unjust and illegal by Amenean law. I get that Hawai'i, under westem law, is governed by nonHawaiians who own most of the land in Hawai'i. However, all the crying and whining about what went wrong all those years ago will not get us anywhere; and while the vocal minority eontinues to scream of injustice without solution or resolution, non-Hawaiians are quietly trying (through the legal process) to dismantle Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Lili'uokalani Trust, Kamehameha Schools, OHA and every entitlement we have that provides for our incarcerated, uneducated, substance abusers, welfare recipients and homeless. While some appear to care more about our historical injustice and how we ean regain what was taken, those who spend their work hours at OHA as well as those who work alongside us and within our conununity, do care about what is happening today and are trying our best to help our beneficiaries. Senator Akaka proposes the Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act (commonly known as the Akaka Bill) that OHA supports, but those who only mistrust OHA, the govermnent and any movement initiated by them, allow their anger to rise to its pinnaele and their hatred is spewed. We are not a tribe, and we are not Indians; but we have the same legal category and many of the same issues. Some will say the Indians are worse off now than they were before they were "recognized." I know many who will disagree. The Akaka Bill is not a perfect bill, but it is a start. Until we eome together as a people - as Hawaiians - our efforts to get what we deserve will continue to fall by the wayside and those non-Hawaiians who do not support us and who do not embrace us as those who are of this 'āina (Ken Conklin, Bill Burgess, Grassroots Institute and the like), will eonhnue to cry "racism" and keep us at the bottom. It is time to rise up, stand tall and say together, "Enough is enough." ■

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