My wife’s parents came here in 1919 from the Philippines (many of us share a similar story). They had a bunch of children who have served in the Military, the Hawaiian Air Guard, Hawaii National Guard, built homes, had families, and contributed to the culture and the economy. My wife was born in the Territory of Hawaii. One of her daughters teaches our children here in Hawaii. Her grandchildren go to school in Hawaii. When my daughter read the changes that would be wrought by the Akaka Bill, she said, “What? I’m not Hawaiian?!?” A friend, a cleric who has devoted his life to ministering to the people of Hawaii (including those inconvenient vows of poverty and chastity), is fifth generation Hawaiian. Oops, I shouldn’t call him “Hawaiian”. He’s fifth generation of a Portuguese family who came to Hawaii in the 19th Century. That family has built businesses, families, homes, and faith in these islands. Presented with the Akaka Bill he asked me, “What? I’m not Hawaiian?!?”
A good friend’s family came here in the early 19th Century. People were still living in lava tubes on the Big Island. His ancestors served the Kings and Queens with loyalty and distinction. They served the people of Hawaii, generation after generation. He is Caucasian. Not Haole – for those of you who are completely clueless, Haole means foreigner, not white. According to the Akaka Bill about 80% of this state’s residents are Haoles. My Caucasian friend asks, “If we’re not Hawaiians, what are we? We have nowhere to go. This is our home.” Read the rest of this entry »
December 17, 2007 at 1:24 pm
· Filed under Commentary
In the Hawaiian language Aloha is used as a traditional greeting or farewell. Yesterday 261 Members of the House of Representatives said Aloha to the principles set forth in the Constitutuion by voting in favor of H.R. 505, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act….
December 11, 2007 at 9:05 pm
· Filed under Uncategorized
Honolulu Advertiser says “Mixed-martial arts superstar B.J. “The Prodigy” Penn, 28, was sentenced today [December 11] to one year probation and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution for hitting a Honolulu police officer during a melee outside of Waikiki bar two years ago.” Since the crime happened two years ago, OHA clearly knew about it when they chose him to be the star of a Kau Inoa commercial. The ad shows him throwing a rapid flurry of punches while background music features an ipu [gourd] being hit, slapped, and pounded (just as Penn hits, slaps, and pounds his sports opponents and that policeman). Obviously there’s a message of strength and pride being sent to ethnic Hawaiians. Equally obviously there’s a message to the larger community that ethnic Hawaiians are quite capable of using violence to get what they want. Mr. Penn laments that someday there might be no “pure” Hawaiians left — thus implying that 99% of ethnic Hawaiians are impure, having their genealogies stained by “outsiders.” He concludes: “Before anything, be proud to be Hawaiian.” That’s what Kau Inoa is — a racial registry. There is one thing and only one thing required to sign up — a drop of the magic blood. Individual accomplishment is irrelevant. See transcript, complete analysis, and link to movie of the commercial, at http://tinyurl.com/33j6qk
December 9, 2007 at 2:33 pm
· Filed under Uncategorized
In late 2007 Malia Craver made two commercials for Kau Inoa. One was in Hawaiian language, using her prestige to ask ethnic Hawaiians to sign up on the racial separatist registry despite her previous speech to the United Nations urging love, forgiveness, and inter-racial unity. The other was in English, scolding Caucasians for coming to Hawaii in the 1800s and not helping ethnic Hawaiians (false), inferring that Hawaiians were not capable of managing their own affairs; even while she supports a program whose purpose is supposedly to foster self-reliance and self-determination. Transcripts and commentary on both commercials are provided on a webpage, along with an English translation of the Hawaiian ad. The commercial by Dennis Kamakahi gets straight to the point, saying that ethnic Hawaiians share one thing (and only one thing) in common — the blood. Therefore sign up for Kau Inoa (whose only requirement is to prove a genealogy including at least one drop of the magic blood). See:
NationalCenter for Public Policy Research press release
For Release: October 24, 2007
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives today approved a far-reaching bill that would create a race-based government with substantial power over the affairs of the state of Hawaii.
The “Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2007″ (H.R. 505, also called the “Akaka Bill”) was adopted by a 261-153 vote.
Members of the Project 21 black leadership network say the legislation directly conflicts with the spirit of inclusion and equality that civil rights activists fought so hard to create.
“It is contemptibly dishonest, not to mention completely disingenuous, for the very politicians who are best known for decrying racial division to eagerly push legislation to institutionalize race as the guiding principle for a body of government within our United States,” said Project 21 Chairman Mychal Massie.“Surely, such a radical proposal deserves more attention and certainly a lot more debate.” Read the rest of this entry »
A friend, a cleric who has devoted his life to ministering to the people of Hawaii (including those inconvenient vows of poverty and chastity), is fifth generation Hawaiian. Oops, I shouldn’t call him “Hawaiian”. He’s fifth generation of a Portuguese family who came to Hawaii in the 19th Century. That family has built businesses, families, homes, and faith in these islands. Presented with the Akaka Bill he asked me, “What? I’m not Hawaiian?!?”