AKAKA BILL = LEADERSHIP BY FEAR
Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Friday, September 9, 2005
Deceptive public statements continue to be made by supporters of the Akaka Bill who insist that we need immediate protection against the legal assaults on Hawaiian trusts, programs and entitlements.
They declare -- with absolute statements -- that upon the Akaka Bill's passage the programs will be protected.
These statements instill fear among people so that they become willing to sacrifice anything, including their birthright, to protect these programs.
The Akaka Bill is not federal recognition; it only describes and allows the process toward that end. Section 7 of the bill outlines approximately 17 steps that must be fulfilled before federal recognition can be extended to the native Hawaiian governing entity.
How long will this process take? Best-case scenario is that it is a three-year process, but realistically, it could take five years or more.
Bruce Fein, the constitutional lawyer who opposes the bill based on racial reasons, has declared that the constitutionality of the bill will be challenged in court -- if it passes. He has also predicted that it will be years in litigation.
This should not be a surprise to anyone.
I am sympathetic and care for the programs that help our people. However, in consideration of court challenges and elapsed time of at least three years or more before federal recognition could be extended: Where is the immediate protection for the programs? And how do the supporters propose to protect the programs in the interim?
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs should be forthright and provide an answer to all the stakeholders.
Rather than leadership by vision, we kanaka maoli [Native Hawaiian] are witnessing leadership - by fear - into an eventual universal settlement with the state and federal government resulting in the extinguishment of title to our remaining lands forever, slam the door to all future claims and provide second-class citizenship as wards of the federal government.
Where is the vision for a better life for our people?
Charles Lehuakona Isaacs Jr.
Kailua, O`ahu
