COMMENTARY
Efforts for Native Hawaiians now focused
By Haunani Apoliona
While Cliff Slater and Leon Siu are entitled to their opinions about efforts underway for Native Hawaiians (Advertiser, 7/21) both are ill-informed, and their shared mean-spirited and paternalistic tone is continuing evidence of the mindset of those who rail against Native Hawaiians' exercising a basic right of democracy to organize to form a political body to represent our collective interests.
Native Hawaiian assets, heritage and institutions are under attack. Moving forward our Native Hawaiian process in a credible and methodical manner will, once and for all, set a focused direction for our Native Hawaiian community versus being scattered in various directions.
The success of this process will produce a collective Native Hawaiian voice through the Native Hawaiian governing entity. This entity will work to protect the programs, lands and assets that serve Native Hawaiians, will include 'ohana living away from the homeland and will establish and grow partnerships benefiting Native Hawaiians and all who live in Hawai'i.
Slater and Siu's opinions conveniently ignore a few facts:
That authority extends to the Native Hawaiian people and permits Congress to adopt NHGRA, which would recognize the Native Hawaiian governing entity and initiate a process for its restoration.
For the people of Hawai'i, kama'aina and malihini, Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian: Native Hawaiians are at a turning point in our generation, our lifetime and in the history of Hawai'i. Native Hawaiians are ready to lead and guide the shared participation and shared responsibility of all Hawai'i in reconciling the wrongs of the past. However, our success will be impacted by your support or lack thereof.
The July 2006 poll in The Honolulu Advertiser noted: 63 percent support for the question, should a Hawaiian entity be formally recognized by Congress and the federal government as a distinct group similar to the special recognition given to American Indian tribes? On a more broadly stated question whether an entity of some kind should be formed, 40 percent agreed.
We look to your continued and increasing support, all of you who love Hawai'i and honor our ancestors, as we work to heal the past toward well-being of all Hawai'i nei for the future.
Haunani Apoliona is chairwoman on the Board of Trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.
