Jim wrote:

In all the heated debate about the Akaka bill, I think the
real issue has slipped by completely unnoticed. Where in our
Constitution, our laws or our traditions does it give the federal
government the right to confiscate nearly half of a sovereign state?
And what entitles it to do so without giving the owners (us) just
compensation for the billions of dollars we will be losing in land
values and lost revenues? I am quite certain that a similar seizure of
land by the federal government in the other 49 states would be
considered plain old-fashioned stealing and would lead to uncivil
disturbances and general unrest. Maybe Hawaii should take notice.

Other important considerations have been ignored. If we are
a democracy, why doesn’t the federal government hold hearings in Hawaii
to explain how this legislation would benefit Hawaii’s U.S. citizens and
residents?

If congress demonstrated that the Akaka bill would result in great good
fortune, it should be pleased to hold a referendum, which is certain get
the approval of our voters. This is what it did in 1959 and the
economic and social benefits were enormous. If the Akaka bill holds the
similar promise, the approval of the voters could again reach 90%.

And, if the Akaka bill is pono, the people of Hawaii will cherish the
memory of Senator Dan Akaka forever and ever. The end.