HAWAIIAN ASKS "WHY NO HEARINGS IN HAWAI`I ON AKAKA BILL?"
Letter To Editor In OHA Newspaper Takes Office Of Hawaiian Affairs To Task
"Regarding the Akaka Bill, I am still very confused about a couple of points.
It’s ironic that both Senator Akaka and OHA have never conducted hearings among anaka maoli (native Hawaiians) to get input as to which form of “self-government” they would prefer to have.
How contradictory is it to the whole concept of “self-determination” that both Akaka and OHA would be moving full speed ahead with S. 310 without ever getting feedback first from the people they both purport to serve?
What could OHA possibly have to lose by conducting hearings on all the islands to get input from its constituents about what form of self-governance they would want?
(OHA Trustee Chairperson) Haunani Apoliona invoked the name of Lili`u herself in justifying federal recognition, even speculating that the Akaka Bill would fulfill the “queen’s dream” if it became a reality.
Well, since we’re speculating, isn’t it more reasonable to think the queen would view the Akaka Bill as another form of servitude and acquiescence to an admitted usurper?
Haunani, do you really believe that Lili`u would want kanaka maoli to continue to serve the same invading forces that have dispossessed them of their precious `aina (land?)
A`ole! (NO!")
Hanalei Pi`imanu Vierra
Encinitas, CA
