NATIVE HAWAIIAN FEDERAL RECONITION BILL A RACIST STEP TOWARD GENOCIDE
In his June 6 commentary, "Recognition bill a step toward reconciliation," US Senator Daniel Akaka states, "I see this as the next step in the process of reconciliation between Native Hawaiians and the United States." Reconciliation, as called for in US public law 103-150 adopted in 1993, is a process between two or more parties whereby a process of negotiation to repair damages takes place. In this case, the offender is the US, the injured are Hawai'i nationals, the lawful claimants to Hawai'i's sovereignty and national lands.
Over the past four-years, there were seven substantive amendments to the Akaka Bill with no process to receive comments from the injured parties. Akaka bill supporters proclaim how great the Akaka bill will be for Native Hawaiians, but we can see by the language in this so-called "step toward reconciliation" that the Emperor has no clothes. The Akaka bill is promoted by US representatives such as US Senators Akaka and Inouye, US Representatives Abercrombie and Case, State of Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, and the State of Hawai'i Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA).
The Akaka bill is also a racist effort that excludes non-Hawaiian nationals. Hawai'i was a multi-racial nation, not one comprised of Native Hawaiians only. Shame on all who support the racist Akaka bill! Shame on OHA for attempting to rob a beneficiary of $4,000 to access public information involving the expenditure of millions of beneficiary dollars in support of the Akaka bill! Shame on Governor Linda Lingle for spending untold sums of public funds to support the Akaka bill.
In his closing paragraph, US Senator Daniel Akaka states, "After coming so close to losing that language and heritage, we have made great strides in ensuring their protection." The US has done much damage in their effort to commit genocide of the Hawaiian people, our language, and our culture throughout their 111-year belligerent (hostile) occupation of Hawai'i. Understanding and bitterness in Hawai'i nationals grows, calling for a true reconciliation process, one that begins with Hawai'i nationals proposing remedies to the offender, not the other way around. Funds to bring the collective thoughts of Hawai'i nationals together are required. The federal government, as the offending party should make these funds available.
Billions of dollars are going toward repairing US inflicted damages in Iraq, and the US is now poised to return sovereign control to the Iraqi people. Thousands of Iraqi people have died because of US policies. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Hawai'i nationals have died under the 111-year belligerent US occupation of Hawai'i. Are Hawai'i nationals less worthy of justice than the Iraqi people are? Is Hawai'i a country less worthy of justice than Iraq?
In conclusion, some may recall a television interview with Saddam Hussein during his effort to occupy Kuwait. Saddam said that he would withdraw from Kuwait when the US withdraws from Hawai'i. The US government calls Saddam a "terrorist." So, who is the terrorist here in Ko Hawai'i Pae Aina? As a sign of good faith toward ending the hostile US occupation of Hawai'i, de-occupation should begin with withdrawal of US military forces from Hawai'i and putting a halt to RIMPAC and other military exercises in Hawai'i. Hawai'i is a peaceful neutral nation, inappropriate for any military presence other than for Hawai'i's domestic protection.
Sincerely,
Isaac D. Harp, He Hawai'i Au
Lahaina, Maui
