AKAKA BILL MEETING JUST ANOTHER PUBLIC RELATIONS PLOY
From The Honolulu Advertiser - January 18, 2006
Editor,
"Unity has Hawaiians hopeful on Akaka bill", Honolulu Advertiser, January 12, 2006 ignores the reality of the ever-expanding, overwhelming opposition to the Akaka bill.
The recent $595-a-head "leadership forum" was yet another public relations ploy to foment the illusion of "a sense of softening in the resistance" against federal recognition of Native Hawaiians.
Was there "a shift"? No, just the same groups eternally hopeful of perpetuating their heavy funding from US grants.
Who else could afford to participate for three days at the Hilton Hawaiian Village?
Was there a "strong feeling of unity"? Perhaps, but, once again, who was there?
The article said Native Americans and Alaskans; those already locked in the federal recognition dead end; and Maori, who accepted the guardianship of the British Crown when the sovereign constitutional monarchy of Hawai`i was already internationally recognized.
The most important questions are, who wasn't there, and why?
Kai`opua Fyfe, Director
The Koani Foundation
Lihu`e, Kaua`i
