AN HAWAIIAN PATRIOT SPEAKS OUT!
OHA AND THE AKAKA BILL
In his May 2nd Commentary, OHA's Administrator; Clyde Namu'o finally admits that "the Hawaiian people" do not support the Akaka Bill. OHA has tried for over 3-years to shove the Akaka Bill down our (Native Hawaiians) throat, as Mr. Namu’o puts it, "to preserve federal recognition as an option should the Hawaiian people later decide that they want federal recognition as a form of government." The keywords that Mr. Namu’o wrote are "later decide," showing that OHA understands that "the Hawaiian people" do not support the Akaka Bill today.
Looking at the results of Native Americans and Alaska Natives federal recognition, I doubt the Hawaiian people or the non-Hawaiian descendants of citizens of the Kingdom of Hawaii would ever want to go there. Hawaiians are in better shape now than most of the federally recognized folks, and our claims to our sovereignty and our national lands are intact as well. If OHA should succeed in shoving the Akaka Bill down our throats, the only hope for our nation will be with the non-Hawaiian descendants of citizens of the Kingdom of Hawaii because they are not included in this force-feeding and their claims will remain intact.
I have learned in dealing with the unlawful occupying government that when you cite a specific issue like "lobbying," you give them the opportunity to focus their response on that singular issue. Everything else is not included, i.e., OHA’s propaganda campaign expenditures, etc. Since OHA approved only up to $450,000 for Patton-Boggs lobbying effort, and airfare, hotels, and associated expenses for the Trustees' lobbying trips to Washington, DC, as well as the costs of those Hawaiians they took along for the ride, Mr. Namu’o is probably accurate in his statement regarding the million bucks OHA spent on “lobbying.”
Interestingly, Mr. Namu’o never discounted the statement that lobbying support for the Akaka Bill was illegal other than stating that OHA has an obligation to preserve federal recognition as an option. I believe OHA should be lobbying to preserve our right to independence. This is the only lawful and righteous thing to do on behalf of OHA’s beneficiaries. The latest amendments to the Akaka Bill are a blessing in disguise since many former supporters now oppose the Akaka Bill. These amendments are an excellent excuse for OHA to get out of the sinking Akaka Bill canoe with a little of their dignity intact.
OHA can make amends for their unfortunate decision to dictate our future through the Akaka Bill, and I have a proposition to help them. I propose that OHA appropriate a million bucks of our beneficiary funds to purchase Hawaiian flags and American flags so that every one who wants can join us in waving a Hawaiian flag and burning an American flag on July 4th to support Hawaii's independence can get involved if they can't afford their own flags. The only way the United States will give up the stolen goods (Hawaii) is for us to embarrass them into doing so. This is lobbying for the truth!
Very Sincerely,
Isaac D. Harp
Lahaina, Maui,
Ko Hawaii Pae Aina
