SECESSION

DON'T CONFUSE RADICALS WITH MOST HAWAIIANS

Mahalo, Mr. Dave Shapiro. It's not enough that opponents of the Akaka bill lie and say federal recognition for Native Hawaiians will bring secession, even though four years of civil war proved that is not possible; they also resort to calling the bill's supporters "America haters."

I support the Akaka bill, I am not an America hater and I would never support secession. My Hawaiian father was there at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and died with asbestos in his lungs from working on boilers for America's naval force for 35 years. My son Charles is currently training in Pensacola for a career in the United States Navy.

I wish people would not confuse the minority radical separatists/supremacist group (who have been around for decades) with the majority of Hawaiians who only want what's pono: for the United States to continue its trust responsibility to promote the welfare of the aboriginal people of our state granted by Congress in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act in 1920 and allow the ali'i trusts, especially Kamehameha Schools, to restore and empower our own people.

CULTURE

HAWAIIANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE IN OWN LAND

I attended a forum on the Akaka bill on Aug. 23, and as a Hawaiian, I came away most disturbed and offended by a statement from Bruce Fein, a man who is not from Hawai'i but who has come here to tell us what is best for the Hawaiian people.

A question was posed to him: "In the past, America has occupied many countries and later helped to restore their governments; as an example, Iraq. How is it that only the Hawaiian people have to be Americans?" His answer was that you are American citizens and if you do not want to be American, then you can give up your citizenship and go to another country.

That response is so insulting and typical of the anti-Hawaiian mentality that has been surfacing in Hawai'i recently.

One wonders, how is it that of all the countries in this world, only the Hawaiians must be Americans? Every other country is allowed to maintain its identity, and American dollars have been spent to support those countries, including countries that we have defeated in wars, such as Japan, Germany, Italy, etc.

But for the Hawaiian people, this is not an option. We must be Americans. If we do not like it, then we should go to another country, according to Mr. Fein.

The question is, where should we or can we go? What Mr. Fein and people of his ilk fail to or refuse to understand is that we have no place to go. The Hawaiian culture exists in only one place, here in Hawai'i.

AKAKA BILL

POSSIBLE SECESSION? IT'S NOT SHAPIRO'S 'LIE'

It saddened me to read the Aug. 30 column by David Shapiro that resorts to name-calling. Shapiro's claim that it's a "lie" that the Akaka bill could result in secession of Hawai'i (or parts of it) from the United States isn't denied by even Sen. Daniel Akaka himself.

Shapiro ought to more carefully vet his own verse — instead of taking cheap shots such as calling Akaka bill opponents liars. Perhaps Shapiro ought to focus on bootstrap ways to better assist those in Hawai'i who really need it — regardless of ancestry.

AKAKA BILL

RETAIN DESCENDANTS

Could this be an answer to the charge that attempts to afford autonomy to Native Hawaiians are "race-based"? Let anyone descended from a citizen of the Hawaiian kingdom before the overthrow, of any "race," become a citizen of whatever political entity may emerge if the Akaka bill passes.

MISSED CALL

CREDIT COACH ALIVIADO FOR THE SPORTSMANSHIP

In the Little League World Series, the most important play in the final game will not be seen on instant replay and will not be talked about years from now.

It happened in the third inning when Curacao took the lead on a missed call by the umpire. Coach Aliviado walked to the mound and, in a demonstration of true leadership, encouraged his players to maintain their composure and to rise above adversity.

Coach, you exhibited sportsmanship at its highest level. Mahalo for representing Hawai'i with dignity and integrity.

NO COMPLAINING

TEAM WAS CHAMPION EVEN BEFORE BIG WIN

Because of business travel, I had to rely on my wife's updates by phone on one of the greatest baseball games ever. As she relayed the questionable call by the ump and Coach Aliviado's reaction — no complaining, just a can-do attitude — I realized then that the 'Ewa Beach players were already champions, no matter the outcome.

Grace, poise and class under those conditions are certainly qualities that the whole world could learn from.

Way to go, team, you are true champions inside and out.

LITTLE LEAGUE

VONN FE'AO PUT ON A GAME FOR THE AGES

I thought I saw a child turn into a young man during the Little League World Series championship game. The fifth inning, to be exact.

Vonn Fe'ao "willed" himself into a major-league 101-mph fireballing man-child, in front of my eyes and those of millions of other sports fans around the world. I saw him appear to take personal responsibility to win this game for himself, his family, his team, his town and his state.

He put on an adult-sized game face that spoke volumes about where he comes from and how he is raised. I could see generations of prideful family history fly past his eyes as they focused, in laser-like fashion, to sever veteran Curacao players from an expected repeat.

After only a nano-second look of doubt, I saw Vonn Fe'ao waive his rights of childhood and step up to the next level, intent on saving the day. His body language told Curacao, "No way; not now, not while I'm here!" His speed, situational awareness and clarity of purpose tripled.

He will never be the same Vonn Fe'ao that he was before the fifth inning of what Hawai'i people will recall as the game.

LITTLE LEAGUE

FANTASTIC FACES OF OUR BOYS TOLD IT ALL

The excitement just won't go away. Precious names and faces: Vonn Fe'ao's fierce stares of determination; Kini Enos' gleaming home-run smile; Ty Tirpak's jubilance at first base for his perfect bunt-scoring hit while Fe'ao did his "gotcha" safe-slide, swift-standing hand-jiving run at home plate. Michael Memea's smiling, game-winning, one-finger, home-run romp; so many more faces — a father crying in the stands; our shy pitcher/home-run-hitting Alaka'i Aglipay and Sheyne Baniaga. Coach Layton Aliviado's "go get 'um" calm kept this team's mind focused on working forward (I mua), not on what "should have" been; that was the key!

Coach Aliviado, staff, team and parents, we tip our hats to you, just as Curacao did following the game. You're an example of true champion sportsmanship, something to never forget. Be humble, be proud! Congratulations, 'Ewa Beach — Hawai'i Champions of the Century! Thanks for the whole week, an incredible ride ... and watch your real estate!

GOOD JOBS BOLSTER SECURITY, BUT MANY ARE BEING LOST

This Labor Day, where have all the good jobs gone? Since 2001, over 3 million manufacturing jobs have disappeared in the United States. Between 2002 and 2012, job-creating occupations will pay primarily low wages, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

In Hawai'i, these are jobs that average less than $24,000 a year, such as wait help, retail sales, cashiers, security guards and food preparation workers. How can these workers afford a home on Oçahu with a median price of $600,000? While real estate and construction are booming, clearly many workers are having a tough time making ends meet.

Is it any wonder that the number of schoolchildren qualifying for free and reduced lunches in Hawaiçi has increased in the past year?
We need jobs that respect workers’ rights with family-supporting wages, good benefits and opportunities for workplace advancement. Our nation’s middle class is built on jobs like these.

The jobs problem is not just that we are losing good jobs; it is also that the jobs we are creating are not as good as those we have lost. Study after study has found that the share of America’s jobs with higher pay and better benefits is shrinking, while jobs in industries that are expanding pay less and provide inferior benefits. Low-paying, no-benefit Wal-Mart-type jobs are not the solution to the jobs problem.
More working people than ever — some 57 million — say they would join a union if they had a chance, according to a survey from Peter D. Hart Research Associates. But employers routinely harass, intimidate and coerce workers who try to exercise their right to form a union at work.

Under current law, few workers will have a chance to exercise their freedom to form unions. Employers routinely wage a vicious war on workers trying to form unions — using legal as well as illegal tactics. At the federal level, the bipartisan Employee Free Choice Act would strengthen protections for workers’ struggling to form unions. Passing this legislation would be a good start.

This Labor Day, let’s make sure good jobs with good benefits are our No. 1 priority.

For our nation’s security and future, nothing beats a good job.

STRONG UNIONS HELP COMMUNITIES

On Labor Day 2005, it is appropriate to reflect on the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, the champion of worker and civil rights.

It was 50 years ago that the two giants of labor merged in 1955. The AFL-CIO then had the strength of numbers to improve wages and benefits, make the workplace safer and healthier, and provide fairness and justice for all Americans by commanding an equal place for them at the bargaining table.

Now, on the eve of its golden anniversary, four major unions have quit the AFL-CIO and formed their own federation. Yet, they and the AFL-CIO want the same thing: better lives and livelihoods for workers and their families.

The divisive issue is how to attain the political power to achieve the common goal. The splinter group believes the answer is more organizing and less party politics. As these unions see it, membership growth leads to greater power at the voting booth, which elects politicians, regardless of party affiliation, who support labor.
The AFL-CIO believes political action is necessary to organize and bargain effectively. The federation knows that membership growth can be wiped out with the stroke of a pen. Just this year, the Republican governors of Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana unilaterally revoked the collective bargaining rights of their state workers. While organizing is important and the AFL-CIO has pledged to do more, as long as collective bargaining is at the mercy of anti-worker legislation, the AFL-CIO’s overriding priority must be to elect pro-worker politicians.
Locally, whether or not they are affiliated with the AFL-CIO, Hawai‘i’s labor unions have shown a strong willingness to work together. With 150,000 union households translating to 300,000 to 500,000 votes, labor in Hawai‘i knows there is strength in unity. Believing that a rising tide lifts all boats, unions have supported gains by workers in the private and public sectors. Over the years, Hawai‘i’s workers, both union and non-union, have benefited from advances in the minimum wage, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, occupational safety and prepaid healthcare.

History shows that when unionized workers gain, the effects ripple throughout the economy and everyone benefits, including businesses and nonunion workers. Good union jobs mean stronger communities. Unions, the people who brought you this holiday and weekends, make good things possible.

So enjoy Labor Day 2005. Hawai‘i’s 150,000 unionized workers are at work for you.