Hawaiian Culture and Independence's topics - tribe.net

Your Kanaka Opinion Wanted - ceded lands and how to respond to bigotry and racism?

2009-02-10T23:18:48Z

Aloha Kakou,

A few months ago I posted an opinion on my blog concerning the ceded lands debate and recently a mortgage broker from the Big Island made some interesting and in my opinion borderline racist comments. I would like to know my fellow Kanakas opinion on the comments and their take on the ceded lands issue as a whole. The URL for the post is listed below- mahalo for your responses.

activerain.com/blogsview/...-doesnt-own

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

Ku'e in Naue You Tube Video - Protesting Burial Desecration

2008-06-08T18:25:36Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-W8Zy5_0SU

E kala mai. The right URL did not show up in my previous post. Here it is. Watch. It is heartbreaking.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Burial Desecration Threatened in Naue, Kaua'i - Write to the Developer

2008-06-08T18:17:33Z

Aloha kakou,
I've been running some quick internet searches on Joseph Brescia, the man who is trying to build over the graves in Kaua'i. Go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-W8Zy5_0SU.

I suggest we write letters to express our support for the people camping out to prevent his desecration of the kupuna -- show him this is getting more than local attention. This is his email:
jbrescia@aga-ca.com.

He is the president and chair of Architectural Glass & Aluminum Co, with an address in Southern CA:
2691 Richter Avenue, Suite 120, Irvine CA 92606, (949)797-9000.

And an address in Northern CA:
1151 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 101, Alameda, CA 94501 (510)444-6100.

He is also on the board of the Northern CA Glass Management Association, 5677 Horton Street, Emeryville, CA -- just a couple miles from here.

In a recent election he gave $2,000 to a series of "Rebuild CA" initiatives and said he was in Oakland. Therefore, I presume the guy is a Bay Area resident.

Is this info of strategic use? Anyone got relatives here who want to email, phone or picket any of the above addresses? We can email if nothing else!!! And be sure to use your tags and keywords to link his name with burial desecration in all internet posts -- especially those will Google ads -- this will facilitate the search engine placement.

Amy

Web References
. 1. Business licenses for State of Nevada: published June 6, 2004
www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/ - [Cached] Published on: 6/6/2004 Last Visited: 6/6/2004
Architectural Glass & Aluminum Co.: Joseph A. Brescia, 1911 Union St., Oakland, Calif.; no bond.
. 2. IUPAT Int'l - pension
www.ibpat.org/pension/about.ht - [Cached] Last Visited: 1/15/2008
Joseph A. Brescia, Corporate President, Architectural Glass & Aluminum Co., Inc.
...
Joseph A. Brescia
...
Joseph A. Brescia, Corporate President, Architectural Glass & Aluminum Co., Inc. Joseph A. Brescia, is the corporate president and chairman to the Board of Directors at Architectural Glass & Aluminum Co., Inc. (AGA). Brescia became corporate president in 1983 after control was purchased, and implemented a program of staff improvement and sales expansion from a base of $1.5 million to the current level of $60 million annually. AGA has been affiliated with the Glaziers since its inception in 1970.

Brescia is a licensed B-General Contractor, C-17 Glazing Contractor and C-61 Specialty Contractor in California and is also a licensed glazing contractor in Nevada, Alaska, Texas, Washington and Hawaii.

He is active on numerous boards all over California. In 1998, Brescia started as a trustee in Northern California and, in 2003, he became involved in the Southern California Pension Fund, serving as one of the steering committee co-chairs in bringing the fund to resolution with the employers, PBGC and IRS. In the last several years, he helped form the negotiating committee for Northern California Glass Management Association (NCGMA).

In 1972, Brescia received his B.S. in business and in 1973 received his M.B.A in marketing finance from Bowling Green State University.
. 3. Summary: Economic Turmoil Tests Markets (3/26/01)
www.enr.com/new/coverstry_3260 - [Cached] Published on: 6/7/2002 Last Visited: 6/7/2002
"Everything in this market was short, even before this power thing hit," says Joseph A. Brescia, president of Garland, Calif.-based Architectural Glass & Aluminum Inc. "Glass lead times are up, manpower is limited and everything is running at capacity or above," says Brescia. "Now we are trying to push our engineering and design production plans by a full month, at least, to insure we have materials at the jobsite."

BPA says it is likely to boost the power costs of aluminum producers to $41 per Mwh from the current $23 when contracts are renegotiated in October. Aluminum officials claim that no smelter in the region will be profitable if power prices climb above $35. The area is the nation's second largest producer of aluminum.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Join Hawaiian Civic Club and support their work

2008-05-04T15:23:50Z

Aloha kakou,
Ka Lei Maile Ali'i Hawaiian Civic Club is a fantastic organization founded and peopled by some of the most active and progressive folks around. Annual membership of $25 does a lot to support this great grassroots cultural club.

In August, Ka Lei Maile Ali'i is bringing its short play about the resistance of Queen Lili'uokalani to the San Francisco Bay Area. There will be two performances in Berkeley, Aug. 2 and Aug. 3. We hope one at the Redwood Room and one at Ashkenaz (this is in the process of coming together.)

I am helping to get this together. We need places for the performers to stay, and we need people to kokua, provide food, transportation and aloha to our visitors here. Please contact me if you want to help welcome and support these folks, including Lynette Cruz, Baron Kaho'ola Ching and some other notable people.

To join Ka Lei Maile Ali'i Civic Club, mail a $25 check to Piilani Kaopuiki, Membership Chair, 838 Hauoli Street, Honolulu, HI, 96826.

The website is www.kaleimailealii.net -- check it out.

Malama pono,
Amy

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Update on Iolani Palace -- DLNR to Maoli "you have to pay to park"

2008-05-04T15:15:49Z

May 3, 2008 From Honolulu Advertiser
Law spelled out to protesters

Sovereignty group at palace must pay to park, DLNR warns

By gordon Y.k. pang
Advertiser Staff Writer
Officials with the Department of Land and Natural Resources are telling a
Hawaiian sovereignty group that has gathered daily since Wednesday on the
grounds of 'Iolani Palace that they need to abide by the same parking and
other park rules as everyone else.
Members of the Hawaiian Kingdom Government were told yesterday that their
cars would be ticketed if they did not feed their meters. The organization
also was told it would need to obtain a permit to assemble if it intends to
return to the palace lawn on Monday as it has announced.
"We've made it clear to them that if there are any violations, we are going
to enforce our existing rules and whether they understand those rules or had
read them previously is irrelevant," said Laura H. Thielen, the state's Land
Board chairwoman and head of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Mahealani Kahau, described as "head of state" for the Hawaiian Kingdom
Government, said her group has applied for a permit to assemble next week,
but stressed that it attached language from the Hawaiian Kingdom civil code
and penal code.
"We're complying with our civil code and penal code," Kahau said yesterday
afternoon. As for whether she and her staff will begin feeding parking
meters on the site, Kahau said, "if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't,
it doesn't. Everything we do is under kingdom law."
The group has occupied the mauka lawn of the palace over the past three
days, stating that it is the legitimate government and that the palace
grounds are its "seat of government."
Up to 75 of its members have spent the daylight hours of the past three
days, in the words of the group's leaders, "conducting business" on the
property, although they have not entered the palace itself. On Wednesday,
for about eight hours, it also blocked access onto the grounds to
non-Hawaiians.
A number of the group members have parked at metered stalls on the property
and not fed the meters but have not been cited, according to state
officials.
Thielen said two of her top lieutenants — Parks Division Administrator Dan
Quinn and Conservation and Resources Enforcement Division Administrator Gary
Moniz — met with leaders of the Hawaiian Kingdom Government yesterday
morning to detail the specific rules the group needs to follow if it intends
to stay over a longer period of time.
Among the areas covered by the state administrators were "parking rules,
assembly rules, (and) noise levels," she said.
The two administrators also explained areas that contain burials or cultural
or historical objects that the public is asked to stay away from "in order
to protect those resources," she said.
The group also was instructed on the procedure for applying for a permit to
conduct a First Amendment rally, required when there are gatherings of 25 or
more people.
"They also discussed the consequences for failure to follow the rules, which
include civil penalties and petty criminal misdemeanor (charges)," she said.
Thielen said group leaders were agreeable to the rules. "They understand
what the consequences are," she said, noting that yesterday's talk was one
of a series that have been held with the group since Wednesday.
The group submitted an assembly application to DLNR yesterday, but it was
returned because it was incomplete, Thielen said.
Kahau insisted that the application will point out that the group will abide
only by its laws. "They said we need to abide by administrative rules, and
we said we will abide by Hawaiian Kingdom law, which they are also subject
to," Kahau said.
Group officials have asked for office space at the Kana'ina Building as well
some free parking stalls. "We told them that request cannot be accommodated,
that these are public park lands," Thielen said. "They need to abide by the
rules like anybody else."
Thielen said she understands the group's position that it has a right to the
property. "We have told them that if they want to claim ownership to the
area, the venue they would have to take that to is the courts," Thielen
said.
Kippen de Alba Chu, executive director of Friends of 'Iolani Palace, which
has the lease to maintain and run the historic facilities as a museum, said
the Hawaiian Kingdom Government's presence has been disruptive. Some palace
volunteers uncomfortable with the presence of the group chose to stay home
this week.
Meanwhile, parking was at a premium through the week, he said. That issue
began to ease yesterday afternoon when state officers began citing cars that
were illegally parked, Chu said.
"Some of their (Hawaiian Kingdom) cars got cited and then they moved them
off the property," he said.
Group members have criticized the media for unfair reporting of the
situation. For instance, the group vehemently denies placing locks on any of
the gates to the palace grounds on Wednesday.
But Thielen said it's clear to her that the group placed chains and locks on
the gates when they arrived Wednesday morning and began turning people away.
State law enforcement officers who arrived at the palace at 6 a.m. Wednesday
"observed there were cables and locks around the gates for the four main
vehicle access gates, that people had brought in a gate for one of the
pedestrian gates, and had other areas closed and barred," Thielen said.
"These were not the state's cables or locks."

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Bush administration 'strongly opposes' Hawaiian recognition bill

2008-05-04T03:59:48Z

HONOLULU: The Bush administration "strongly opposes" a House of Representatives bill that would grant federal recognition to Native Hawaiians, calling the measure discriminatory and divisive.

The White House Office of Management and Budget on Monday said the measure supported by nearly every elected Hawaii official would reverse the American melting pot, divide governing institutions and raise constitutional concerns by separating Americans into race-related classifications.

"The administration strongly opposes any bill that would formally divide sovereign United States power along suspect lines of race and ethnicity," the White House said in a statement.

The bill, to be heard on the House floor Wednesday, is identical to the Senate's so-called Akaka bill, named after its sponsoring Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka.

The bill, which has failed in several previous attempts to get it through Congress, is designed to secure for Native Hawaiians the same self-governance rights held by American Indians and Alaska Natives. It provides a broad framework for creating a Hawaiian government responsible for managing about 2 million acres (810,000 hectares) of former Hawaiian lands and $15 million (€10.6 million) per year in ceded land revenue.
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If passed and eventually presented to President George W. Bush, his senior advisers would recommend a veto, the White House said.

"The president has eschewed such divisive legislation as a matter of policy, noting that 'we must ... honor the great American tradition of the melting pot, which has made us one nation out of many peoples,'" the statement said.

The White House cited a recommendation by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which urged that Congress reject the bill because it would discriminate on the basis of race and "further subdivide the American people into discrete subgroups accorded varying degrees of privilege."

The House version was introduced by Rep. Neil Abercrombie, a Democrat, and co-sponsored by five other representatives: Democrats Raul Grijalva, of Arizona, Hawaii's Mazie Hirono and Virginia's James Moran, along with Republicans Tom Cole of Oklahoma and Donald Young of Alaska. Delegates Madeleine Bordallo, a Democrat representing Guam, and Eni Faleomavaega, a Democrat representing American Samoa, are also signed on as co-sponsor.

Abercrombie and Hirono, in a joint statement, stressed that the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act does not create a program or entitlement, require an appropriation, nor turn over assets of the U.S. government. It also does not give anyone title to anything they do not already own, the Hawaii Democrats said.

They said it simply provides a method for Hawaii to divest itself of requirements for administering land and dollar assets to a native entity, which will take full responsibility. The House members said Native Hawaiians would be able to decide for themselves the organization of the government entity to represent their interests in a relationship with the U.S. government.

"The relationship parallels that of Native Americans tribes and Alaskan Natives," they said.

The White House argued Native Hawaiians cannot be compared with other indigenous peoples, given the "substantial historical and cultural differences."

"The administration believes that tribal recognition is inappropriate and unwise for Native Hawaiians and would raise serious constitutional concerns," the White House said.

Last year, the measure was held up in the Senate on a procedural vote amid concerns from Republicans that it could lead to race-based privileges in a state known for its diversity. The Bush administration also questioned some provisions of the bill, despite strong support from Hawaii's Republican governor, Linda Lingle.

There are about 400,000 people of Native Hawaiian ancestry nationwide, and 260,000 of them live in Hawaii. No one would be required to join a Hawaiian government if the Akaka bill is approved.

___

On the Net:

HR 505: www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd
posted by:

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 5 replies

Input and Guidance

2008-05-04T03:53:34Z

I would like to invite the people of this tribe to give me their input and if they can and wish to their guidance. The following as a paste from my blog, I find my self in a conflicted place and would like to hear what others feel.

Mahalo a hau'oli makahiki hou

******************
Well, 2007 is behind us and 2008 is all around us. My wife is to deliver our first child any day now, she was due on 12.31.07 - though it is very common for first time mothers to carry past their projected due date. By January 8th we should have our little girl in our arms, one Mia Kekai. I am sure that anyone who has children can attest to this; the whole process, the whole notion, the reality, it changes you.

I am a firm believer that where individuals come from, the cultures and places in which they are raised in have a profound impact on the development of who they become in life as either an acceptance or rebellion. Not so much what they do, perhaps that is to a lesser extent but most certainly on who they become. I believe the orientation of what I have come to refer to as their moral compass or their system of values is, to a large degree determined by where they came from and the experiences they had. A healthy dose of nurture with perhaps a pinch of nature.

For me this is true. The place and culture in which I was raised has calibrated my moral compass and guides me through my life, though admittedly there have been times when I was too clouded to listen. While not Hawai'ian by ancestry, Hawai'i is where I am from and where (by and large) I was raised. Nearly all of my living memories of growing up are there with the land and with the people; kanaka maoli, kama'aina, ha'ole, all of them. I have lived on the mainland since 1996 and the longer I am away from Hawai'i the more I find myself looking back and in doing so, learning just how important Hawai'i is to me as a priceless and powerful land and and how important Hawai'ian culture (both modern and traditional) was to the development of me as an individual.

Now that I am to be a father there is a strengthening in my desire to pick up where I left off in Hawai'i. To continue learning what being part of Hawai'i was teaching me as a young boy and struggling teenager so that I may pass this on to our little one, because these things are too important to loose. How to live with the land as steward to the land, the Hawai'ian language, Hawi'ian legend, myth and history, song, music and dance. This is an obligation I feel because I feel it is the right thing to do, to give to someone else what was given to me. Our parent's, our child's grandparent still live in Hawai'i and most likely always will. We will always go home to Hawai'i. But unlike me it is not likely our children will be raised there. I am concerned that in absence of guidance our child or children will take Hawai'i for granted as a pretty place where grandma and grandpa live that they get to visit, and that it will mean nothing more to them. The idea of this makes my heart recoil.

As with most things in life there is a duality here. At the moment this is creating a conflict within me I am struggling to resolve and just as much as I wish to give guidance and knowledge to my child, I am in need of guidance myself. Growing up, in school we learn that Queen Lili'uokulani was overthrown by the American business interests in Hawai'i and that in 1959 Hawai'i joined the Union as the 50th state. This is the white washed version of history written as history most often is in school, by the victor. The truth of the matter is that Hawai'i is not a state but rather an occupied nation. There is a political and cultural struggle going on for Hawai'ians to reclaim what they have lost in terms of land and ways of life. My own values have me siding with the sovereignty activists, because they are right. Hawai'i from a legal stand point never was state and this needs to be recognized beyond former President Clinton's 1993 paper based Apology Resolution. Sovereignty activists come in many varieties from extreme to moderate, from native to non-native residents and even non-native, non-residents who have never lived there and have no family there. Having moved to O'ahu from Alaska I was about as ha'ole as ha'ole could be so the "ha'ole go home" mentality is not new to me and does not surprise me. Most Hawai'ians are, in my experience moderate and look at people's heart, beyond their skin. As the sovereignty movement and awareness grows, I find myself trying to reconcile what is pono (right); the recognition and restoration of the Hawai'ian Nation, and the practical pragmatic fact that many non native Hawai'ians call Hawai'i their home and some of these non-native Hawai'ians have a deep rooted love for the land and culture.

I sure I am not the only kama'aina, ha'ole, or foreigner to struggle with this and in conclusion I invite and ask for the input of others, native or not. I want to go home. I want to raise my family in Hawai'i. Should financial prosperity allow it I want to buy our home and live the rest of my life there, be close to our family and the land and ocean I love. Allow my children to grow up in the same culture I did, have a Kapuna and a halau. But that would mean that I as a non-native would be buying land or a home which sits on lease held land that does not rightfully belong to the person selling it. I grew up there, as far as I am concerned I am from there, it is my home in my heart, but it is truly someone else's and I was never more than a guest. I seek guidance on the matter. Mahalo.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 3 replies

Hawaiian Genocide

2008-01-02T21:44:39Z

Genocide

The following is a link to the United Nation’s Convention on Genocide which took place on Dec. 9, 1948:

http://www.hrweb.org/legal/genocide.html

It defines genocide as:

• (a) Killing members of the group;
• (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
• (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
• (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
• (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

The Historical context of this definition is the post genocide of the Jewish people during WWII. While the definition is taken by some to be mean a calculated and conscious annihilation of people of a certain group, there is actually a deeper wisdom as to the true nature of genocide found in this definition. Genocide in this definition is ANY effort made, whether conscious or not, which causes a certain group of people to be destroyed in any manner.

One method of genocide which is being experienced by the Hawaiian people is “diaspora,” which is the spreading out of people which causes them to cease to exist by assimilation into other cultures and geographic locations. As we know today (through the US Census), almost half of the Hawaiians in this world are having to live outside of Hawaii.
Another form of genocide which is especially egregious is the internment of Hawaiians in the concentrations camps that are better known as “corrections facilities.” These jails and prisons located on the Hawaiian islands consist of around 40% Native Hawaiians, while the Native Hawaiian population in total in Hawaii is only around 12-20% (statistics on Native Hawaiian population in Hawaii differ depending on where you look, although all ranges of statistics are reported by equally legitimate sources.) What is the worst of all regarding these concentration camps is that the Hawaiian people are now being forcibly removed from their land and put in facilities on the mainland because of “overcrowding.”
I recently had a conversation with a representative from Kau Inoa because I wanted to get access to the prisons in order to register Native Hawaiians living there. It turned out that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs had already tried to do this and that it was stated that no project could take place in the prisons which would heighten the awareness of racial differences due to an already apparent problem within the prison system over racial tensions.

Ironic isn’t it?

To look at this situation more abstractly – The Hawaiian people are being forced to undergo an unnatural poverty which has resulted from the robbery of our land. Poverty, no matter which way you look at it, results in certain behavioral outcomes for people. If you rob us – as a group- of our land, thereby forcing us into poverty, and then make laws against the behavioral outcomes which are natural to poverty, and then use those laws to render the “law-breakers” unable to participate in their own government, you have a formula for genocide.

I mention all this because it’s important to detect genocide in all its flavors. Last time I was home, a certain group of Hawaiian home owners were bragging to me about how they “cleaned up” their neighborhood and got all those evil drug dealers sent to prison. After they were through, they washed their hands of the whole situation.

Those evil drug dealers, however, were other Hawaiians and their being sent to prison IS genocide. Why would we be doing this to our own selves? How could the colonization in our minds become so thick that we’ve become unable to see the true process at work against us, that we should offer our own selves up as willing culprits?

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 3 replies

Recipes

2007-12-29T01:29:18Z

As Waihili told me. There is no thread for food. This is where all of you come in. I want to learn to cook authentic Hawaiian food and the cookbooks will take awhile to get here. So, do you have a favorite recipe you would like to share with me? I would really appreciate any I could get.

Mahalo.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 8 replies

i want to get traditional hawaiian tattoes

2007-12-18T18:30:20Z

i want to get traditional hawaiian tattoes
in the traditional way the way the ancients did it
can anyone help me or point me to the right direction

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 3 replies

VERY IMPORTANT! Letters of support needed!

2007-09-26T07:03:26Z

Aloha kakou,
This forward, which I received from Jack Kelly's Green Flash service, is of the utmost importance. Please read it and if you are moved to send a ltter of support please, please do! Please tell the Pacfica Hotel Corp. that Mikahala Roy must remain "kahu" of Ahu Ena heiau at the King Kamehameha hotel site, which was originally a very sacred site (and still is).
Mahalo!

July 2, 2007

The following Press Release from the Kanaka Council is of Utmost Importance. If you are concerned about this ongoing threat to Hawaiian culture please address your comments to:
Mike Bernard, president of the Pacifica Hotel Co. Pacifica Hotel Company 1933 Cliff Dr. Suite 1 Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805) 957-0095 Fax: (805) 899-2426. Let him know to not interfere with Hawaiian sacred sites!

Press Release:

Rally to Support Continuity at Ahu’ena Heiau in Kona

July 1, 2007 Kailua-Kona, HI

A Rally was held yesterday to support Kulana Huli Honua in their care of Ahu’ena Heiau, beginning at 4:00pm. The rally, Ke Alo Naue I Ka Honua (meaning The Presence that Moves the Earth) was attended by Hawaiian heavyweights Kale Gumapac of Hui Pa’a and the Kanaka Council, Palikapu Dedman of the Pele Defense Fund and Kanaka Council, Jimmy Medeiros, of Protect Keopuka Ohana and the Kanaka Council. Also in attendance was Uncle George Naope, Kumu Hula, is the Founder of the Merrie Monarch Festival and a Hawaiian Living Treasure. All were there to lend their support to Mikahala Roy as Kahu (caretaker) of Ahu’ena Heiau.

The King Kamehameha Hotel was built on the site in 1975 in conjunction with the restoration of Ahu’ena Heiau. David Kahelemauna Roy, Jr. supervised the project with the Bishop Museum. Ka’imi Spinney was Kahu of the heiau until his passing, when David Roy was recognized as Kahu. Mikahala Roy has been Kahu of the heiau since April 6, 2005, when David Roy named Mikahala Roy and Kaleokalani Nakoa as his successors at his passing.

The new corporate owners of the hotel, Pacifica Hotels Co., claim that they will provide their own caretaker for the heiau.

The rally began at the Kona pier adjoining the heiau. Mikahala said that the Hawaiian people, their customs and sacred sites are endangered species in Hawaii. 70% of Hawaiians live without houses. This pier (black asphalt) was constructed on Kamakahonu, Eye of the Turtle. This site was chosen by Kamehameha the Great because of its sacredness and mana. “Under this concrete is a turtle stone. How old is that stone? What is your connection to it?” She asked the crowd. “How many places can you go to see a pier? How many kamakahonus are there? This is what we are talking about”. The desecration of our holy places by people who only understand greed and who do not know what they are taking away.

Jack Kelly stated that the new owners needed to be taught the ways of this place. “They are from out of town. There is a way of doing things in Hawaii that they do not know. It is our job to educate them, as it is better for them, the community, their business and the people.” “This is our Kahu,” he said, his hand on Mikahala’s back.

“We’re all here to support Mikahala Roy as Kahu,” said Kale Gumapac. “Our ancestors brought us together to do this sacred task. Our ancestors are up there talking to each other right now! We all came to Hawaii for a reason, and today that reason was made clear, to protect this sacred site“.

“So many people here are concerned with the disappearing species of plants. It’s time that they also become concerned with the disappearing people. We have a government that doesn’t support or protect the Hawaiian people,” said Palikapu Dedman.

“There should be more Hawaiians here,” said Uncle Naope George. He later added, “The Creator made this place and made it holy.”

Barbara Moore, proprietor of the Dragonfly Ranch, said that though she had lived in Hawaii for 38 years, she was humbled by how much she still had to learn. She said that many of people were there because they know that the disappearing Hawaiians and their culture is likely the very culture that will save the future. She stated her intention to fly to Oahu to talk to the new owners of the hotel to help them understand what this place is and means, as her offering.

“This is my religion,” said Jimmy Medeiros, highlighting the importance of the event. No outsider would tell the Vatican to replace their caretaker, nor would anyone allow it.

Kealoha Pisciotta, Kahu of Mauna Kea, said it is time to send light to the new owners and to enlighten them. There are only 6000 full blood Hawaiians left! There are so many people who come here for healing and for paradise. Paradise is a consciousness, a way of being, it is aloha. By taking away the people who live aloha, our culture and our sacred places, it is taking away the very reason that people want to come here.

Mikahala Roy asked for prayers. Some attendees, who missed the initial gathering at the pier but were interested in the rally, asked what was going on. When informed that the new corporate hotel owners appointed a new caretaker of the heiau, a man laughed and said, “Kind of like the Chinese Government appointing the next Dalai Lama.”

This year the carvings encircling Ahu‘ena are draped in white. The effect is very brilliant. Mikahala said she was looking for maaloa plant to make the whitest tapa. She said they pray that it still exists.

The group then moved to the heiau for prayers. Though the rally was scheduled to end at 5:30pm, many attendees lingered much later, until around 8:00 and still others until 11:00pm. The feeling of Ohana was very tangible.

If you are moved to lend support to the continued stewardship of Ahu’ena Heiau, send a letter to Mike Bernard, president of the Pacifica Hotel Co. Pacifica Hotel Company 1933 Cliff Dr. Suite 1 Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805) 957-0095 Fax: (805) 899-2426. Let him know to not interfere with Hawaiian sacred sites!

###
Media Contact Information:

Lizz Christed; living.rose@hotmail.com; (402) 981-3424 cell (808) 328-8760
Kale Gumapac; moku_okeawe@hotmail.com; (808) 982-9020 (808) 896-7420

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

MONK SEAL SIGHTED AT PUNALU`U -- X-post

2007-09-24T20:29:51Z

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MONK SEAL SIGHTED AT PUNALU`U
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
September 19, 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MONK SEAL IS ONE OF ONLY 2 FEMALE SEALS ON ISLAND
-- STAY AT LEAST 150 FEET FROM SEAL
-- PUNALU`U IS IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR MONK SEALS
-- PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION 169-07 PROTECTS HABITAT

According to Dr. Jason P. Turner, Assistant Professor Department of Marine Science University of Hawai'i at Hilo: "We need everyone's help in monitoring an endangered monk seal female that has recently been hauling out around Punalu'u. I developed the Hilo Marine Mammal Response Network in conjunction with NOAA and DAR and have several UH-Hilo students monitoring monk seals throughout the Big Island. The pup that was sighted at Punalu'u was born at Papaikou last summer and is one of only 2 female seals known to inhabit Hawaii Island. It is essential that we collect information regarding her whereabouts and protect her from well meaning visitors and tourists.

Any information people can provide regarding where the seal is located would be greatly appreciated. You can contact me directly at 808-217-6812 (cell) or 808-933-3114 (office) or call the student network coordinator Melissa Netze (808-756-5961 -cell). Melissa will be surveying Punalu'u and areas around South Point tomorrow (Thursday 9/20) and would appreciate any information anyone can provide. She also plans to be down at the beach on Thurs., Sept 20th. Thanks and again I appreciate any help you can provide."

STAY AT LEAST 150 FEET FROM SEAL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While seldom seen along the shores of Punalu`u, the Hawaiian monk seal (Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua) is known to use the area as a habitat and has been sighted along the coast of Ka`u. Researchers are discovering that the population of monk seals in the main Hawaiian islands is less than fifty, but may play a critical role in the survival of the species. The Hawaiian monk seal, Monachus schauinslandi, is Hawaii's only pinniped. It is a species that is considered endemic to the islands and is believed to have evolved there. The monk seal is one of Hawaii's two endemic mammals. Hawaii's only other endemic mammal is the Hoary bat.

PLEASE STAY AT LEAST 150 FEET FROM SEAL

Learn More About Monk Seals

PUNALU`U IS IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR MONK SEALS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The population of the Hawaiian monk seal is currently estimated to be between 1,500 and 1,200 individuals. They are considered an endangered species and nearly all live and breed in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The monk seal is extremely sensitive to human activity. Mothers often abandon preferred pupping and haul out areas and even their pups prior to weaning, when disturbed by human visitors. Therefore, in order to help protect the species, it is important to enjoy monk seals from a distance, and give them the solitude they need to survive. Scientist believe the population in the main Hawaiian islands may be increasing, making the isolated and sandy coves around Punalu`u critically important to the monk seal's survival as it is one of the last undeveloped beaches left in Hawai`i.

Learn More About the Critical Habitat at Punalu`u

PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION 169-07 PROTECTS HABITAT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just two days after the Monk Seal was sighted at Punalu`u, the Hawaii County Council passed Resolution 169-07 that will protect this important habitat at Punalu`u forever.

Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email: danny@kaupreservation.org
phone: (808) 928-8144
web: http://www.kaupreservation.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Puna Unity and Liberation @the Shire Sept 28, 29, 30

2007-09-15T22:04:20Z

Aloha Family
I want to let y'all know about the gathering September 28, 29 and 30th @ the Shire..
This will be an awareness raising and community sharing event, dealing with the very real invasions of homes and families in Puna, due to a plant the earth grows naturally. Testimonies will be shared by individuals who have been affected by this including mothers and children. Many bands soon to be announced. Activism ideas and support by Roger Christie and others. High Times magazine will also be coming to do an article about the event. Any singers, dancers, musicians, poets or other creative souls who want to contribute, share testimony, support or learn can contact me for more info here on tribe or at www.myspace.com/irisohana

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Punalu`u on YouTube

2007-09-08T03:07:02Z

My friend has been working with Ka`u preservation and has uploaded some videos. Check em out....
http://www.youtube.com/kaufilms

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Good news on Mauna Kea

2007-07-02T12:27:24Z

Mauna Kea Ruling Halts Telescope Expansion

Hawai‘i Land Board Rebuked for Ignoring Law Requiring Comprehensive Planning

Building new observatories atop Mauna Kea will now be more difficult after a Hawai‘i judge ordered the state’s Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to come up with a comprehensive plan that protects the mountain’s natural and cultural resources.

Third Circuit Court Judge Glenn S. Hara issued his final order this week, voiding BLNR’s permit for six new Keck “outrigger” telescopes proposed by NASA, the University of California, Caltech and the University of Hawaii. In issuing the order, Hara affirmed his January 19, 2007 ruling on the permit and rejected a UH Institute for Astronomy petition to reconsider it.

The order comes at a time when astronomers are vigorously pushing two new summit projects, an Air Force telescope to scan the sky for near-space objects and a giant University of California/Caltech thirty-meter optical-infrared telescope.

The judge rejected BLNR’s approval of the outriggers because BLNR failed to adopt a comprehensive management plan that conserves the natural and cultural resources of the summit, a state-designated “conservation district.” The judge ruled that BLNR’s approval was “not consistent with the Legislature’s stated purpose for managing the Conservation District” and that “the resource to be conserved, protected, and preserved is the summit area of Mauna Kea.”

He further affirmed that appropriate management is for the promotion of the long term sustainability of the protected resources of Mauna Kea. The 14,000-foot volcano, sacred to Native Hawaiians, is home to fragile ecosystems and ancient cultural and religious sites.

“Judge Hara’s order makes clear that Mauna Kea must be managed in the public’s interest for conservation, not to promote observatory development for international astronomy,” said Kealoha Pisciotta of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, which joined Sierra Club, the Royal Order of Kamehameha I and several Native Hawaiians as a plaintiff in the lawsuit that led to the order.

The ruling challenges the legal status of the University of Hawai‘i’s 2000 Master Plan and the UH Office of Mauna Kea Management the plan created—neither reviewed nor approved by BLNR. Environmentalists and Hawaiians have long urged Hawai‘i’s Legislature to create an independent management authority composed of representatives of the conservation district’s legally defined rightholders—Hawai‘i citizens, in whose interest the district was created, and Native Hawaiians who by law are beneficiaries of Mauna Kea’s ceded lands. Funding for the proposed agency would come from lease rents assessed on existing observatories who now pay the state only one dollar a year and forfeit some observatory time to UH in exchange for their district subleases.

“This ruling is significant for all conservation districts where astronomy development is proposed, including Haleakala as well as Mauna Kea,” said Clarence Ching, a Native Hawaiian practitioner who was a plaintiff in the suit.

The judge’s order also overruled BLNR’s 1995 attempt to transfer their authority to manage Mauna Kea to UH, which later created its Office of Mauna Kea Management. “Now maybe UH will stop spending public funds to circumvent laws meant to conserve our vulnerable resources for future generations,” said Deborah J. Ward of Sierra Club.

Hara’s ruling opens up the question of what to do about telescopes built under the university’s now defunct master plan, including the Gemini Telescope and at least two of the Smithsonian Institution’s submillimeter antennas. The last BLNR approved plan, created in 1985, allowed only eleven major telescopes (and two then existing small 24 inch telescopes). Depending on how they are counted—a longstanding bone of contention—as many as twenty telescopes now exist on Mauna Kea.

Hara’s ruling was the second legal setback for the observatories. In 2003, Honorable Susan Oki Mollway judge of federal district court, district of Hawai`i, found NASA’s environmental assessment for the outriggers inadequate, a decision that compelled NASA to prepare the first federal EIS ever submitted for a Mauna Kea telescope. Previous U.S. government projects that violated U.S. law requiring such reviews include the NASA Infrared Telescope, the Smithsonian Institution’s Submillimeter Array, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Very Long Base Array and the Gemini Telescope. Both decisions reflect continued public discontent about the way Mauna Kea has been managed by BLNR and UH.

“We pray the state and federal governments take these court decisions to heart,” said Paul Neves of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, “so people will be relieved of the burden of going to court to force these agencies to do their jobs and protect the people’s rights and resources.”

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

Looking for People who do Hawaiian String games and Figures!

2007-06-19T04:29:08Z

Aloha, Kia ora and warm greetings from Aotearoa NZ.

I am currently researching for a documentary I'm making on String games and figures from around the world. The doco focuses on indigenous stories about people who have an interest in string games. I am looking for people in Hawaii who practise or love doing traditional Hawaiian string games and figures. I would love to hear from anyone who has an interest in string games! Any help is appreciated!

Mahalo
Naku noa

Thank you!
Wiremu!
wiremu.tekiri@maoritelevision.com

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Hi Statehood Vote: FWD Scott Crawford's letter to Maui News

2007-05-27T14:19:26Z

This is a copy of a letter independence activist Scott Crawford sent to the Maui News:

Looking beyond totals makes vote suspect

Wendell Nakamura writes that “94 percent of the people of Hawaii voted yes to becoming the 50th state” in 1959 (Letters, May 18). Fact check: Only 22 percent of the population even voted in the so-called plebiscite for statehood.

More importantly, though, are the questions of who was allowed to vote, and for what. Any U.S. citizen who had resided in the islands for a year was allowed to vote, which included large numbers of American military servicemen and their families, who were essentially the occupation force that has held Hawaii since the purported annexation in 1898. Imagine U.S. soldiers being allowed to vote in Iraqi elections today!

The question on the ballot was: “Shall Hawaii immediately be admitted into the union as a state?” Yes or No? Yet, the U.N. resolution guiding the process for removal of territories from the List of Non-Self-Governing Territories under which Hawaii was administered (Resolution 742) stated: “the manner in which Territories . . . can become fully self-governing is primarily through the attainment of independence.”

Why was the option of independence not on the ballot in 1959?

But with the wrong question asked of the wrong population, even the vote in 1959 was not a valid act of self-determination, and did nothing to legitimize the occupation or legally transfer Hawaii’s sovereignty to the United States.

Scott Crawford

Hana

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Important FWD -- one Kupuna's response to Akaka Bill

2007-05-17T14:20:48Z

Dear Sirs:

Subject: Testimony in Opposition to S.310

Time and Place: Hearings being held in Washington DC on May 3, 2007.

From: Clarence Ching, PO Box 6916, Kamuela, HI 96743

Email: kahiwal@cs.com

1. I object that these hearings are being held in Washington, DC - a great distance from the bulk of native Hawaiian people - the principle peoples who are supposedly whose issues are the subject matter of the proposed legislation.

2. I object that S.310 has been designed, drafted, being heard, and is being totally acted upon in Washington DC. The proposed legislation is sooo far removed from the people that it supposedly will affect - that it is immoral and dishonest to carry out these hearings.

3. I object that no Workshops have been held in Hawaii or anywhere else - so that the people - the native Hawaiians - would be assisted in understanding what this proposed legislation is all about.

4. I object that the Senatorial sponsors of this bill have not had the honesty and openness to educate those who are to be affected by this bill.

5. I object that there have been no press releases, editorials of any kind in any media - that would explain what the bill is all about and how it would affect the subject peoples.

6. The United States of America, by any of its divisions, is in violation of its "supreme" law (Constitution and Treaties) by attempting to provide a process by which the non-suspecting peoples involved in that legislation are encouraged to modify their existing government (a separate nation/state than the United States - being the Kingdom of Hawaii) - that the United States actually "recognizes" by supporting such modification.

In other words - by this proposed legislation - the United States is interfering in the internal affairs of a different and separate nation/state.

7. Hawaii is NOT part of the United States of America.

While the United States has historically shammed the Annexation of Hawaii - nothing meeting the minimal requirements of international law pertaining to annexation has ever taken place.

For background - Hawaii declared itself to be constitutional monarchy in 1840 - First Constitution. In 1843, Hawaii was recognized as a full-fledged member of the Family of Nations (by England, France and the United States). Hawaii declared itself to be a "neutral" nation in 1850 - and therefore could not be conquered by war.

Therefore - the only legal process for annexation of Hawaii by anyone would have to be by Treaty of Annexation and a majority plebiscite vote of the people.

There has been NO Treaty of Annexation regarding Hawaii NOR a plebiscite approving of such "ficticious" Treaty.

While the United States attempted to "annex" Hawaii by a Resolution - a domestic instrument that is in noncompliance with the "supreme" law of the land - such "fiction" does not pass the test of annexation as set forth by accepted international law.

Therefore - this attempted legislation is WITHOUT necessary jurisdiction in international law.

8. Hawaii is "Occupied" by the United States - just as Iraq is today.

9. An occupying nation must comply with the laws of the "occupied" nation-state. And any attempt to creat legislation in opposition to the laws of the "occupied" nation is illegal.

10. This proposed legislation is non-compliant with the "supreme" laws (the Constitution) and treaties (for instance - treaties with the Kingdom of Hawaii that the United States has violated) - of the United States.

11. This proposed legislation violates the "supreme" (Constitution and Treaties) law of the (United States) land.

12. This proposed legislation should be placed delicately in the round file (trash can).

Thank you for this opportunity to express my sincere and correct by the standards of international law regarding this "sham" legislation.

It is decidedly unfortunate that such a "fictitious" attempt as this - to attempt to "correct" the mistakes of the United States of the past - to even see the light of day in the United States Senate.

/s/ Clarence Ching
DATED: May 2, 2007 at Paauilo, Hawaii.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

FWD Article on "The New Land Rush"

2007-05-14T20:35:10Z

This article addresses a little known consequence of global warming. We have to oppose this new use of the "doctrine of discovery."
-----

The New Land Rush

By Robert J. Miller <http://www.alternet.org/authors/8347/> ,
TomPaine.com <http://www.tompaine.com/> . Posted May 7, 2007
<http://www.alternet.org/ts/archives/?date[F]=05&date[Y]=2007&dat\
e[d]=07&act=Go/> .

Nations are racing to plant flags and claim the "new world" of
islands and sea routes that are emerging as Arctic ice melts.
Recent news reports state that global warming and the shrinking
Arctic icecaps are opening new sea lanes and making barren
islands suddenly very valuable. In fact, the international
community might experience a new race of exploration, conquest
and acquisition for this "new world" -- these newly available
lands and sea routes. Conflicts could arise over shipping lanes,
islands, fish stocks, minerals and oil that are now becoming
accessible and commercially exploitable.
Governments are even now engaged in asserting their sovereignty
over these areas and assets. Canada, Denmark and the United
States are already involved in diplomatic disputes over these
issues. For example, Canada and Denmark have sent diplomats and
warships to plant their flags on tiny Hans Island near
northwestern Greenland.

In 1984, Denmark's Minister for Greenland Affairs landed on the
island in a helicopter and raised the Danish flag, buried a
bottle of brandy, and left a note that said "Welcome to the
Danish Island."

Canada was not amused by this assertion of Danish sovereignty. In
2005, the Canadian Defense Minister and troops landed on the
island and hoisted the Canadian flag. Denmark lodged an official
protest. In addition, Canada, Russia and Denmark are claiming
waters all the way to the North Pole.

Moreover, the United States and Canada are disputing Canadian
claims that the emerging Northwest Passage sea route is in its
territory. The U.S. insists the waters are neutral and open to
all but Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper states that he
will place military icebreakers in the area "to assert our
sovereignty and take action to protect our territorial
integrity."

This kind of conduct is nothing new. It mirrors exactly the
actions taken by European and American governments in the 15th --
20th centuries in their race to claim the lands and the assets of
the New World of the Americas, Africa, and other areas.

That race was conducted under the international legal principle
known today as the Doctrine of Discovery. Under various papal
bulls, Spain and Portugal could establish claims to the lands of
indigenous, non-Christian, non-European peoples by merely
"discovering" the lands.

Spanish, Portuguese, and later English and French explorers
engaged in numerous types of Discovery rituals upon encountering
new lands. The hoisting of their flag and the cross and leaving
evidence that they had been there was part of the Discovery
process.

In 1776-78, for example, Captain Cook established English claims
to British Columbia by leaving English coins in buried bottles.
In 1774, he erased Spanish marks of ownership and possession in
Tahiti and replaced them with English ones. Upon learning of
this, Spain dispatched explorers to restore its marks of
possession. Furthermore, in 1742-49, French military expeditions
buried lead plates throughout the Ohio country to reassert the
French claims of discovery dating from 1643. The plates stated
that they were "a renewal of possession."

Americans also engaged in discovery rituals. The Lewis & Clark
expedition marked and branded trees and rocks in the Pacific
Northwest to prove the American presence and claim to the region.
They also left a memorial or memo at Fort Clatsop in March 1806
and gave copies to Indians to deliver to any whites that might
arrive to prove the U.S. presence and claim to the Northwest.

The memorial stated that its "object" was that "through the
medium of some civilized person ... it may be made known to the
informed world" that Lewis & Clark had crossed the continent and
lived at the mouth of the Columbia River on the Pacific Ocean.
This was nothing less than a claim of discovery and possession of
the region and a claim of ownership under the Doctrine of
Discovery.

A decade later, as the U.S. and England argued over the Pacific
Northwest and the possession of Fort Astoria at the mouth of the
Columbia, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and President
James Monroe took actions based directly upon the principles of
Discovery.

In 1817, as they despaired that England would voluntarily return
Fort Astoria, Adams and Monroe ordered an American diplomat and
naval captain to sail to Astoria "to assert the [American] claim
of territorial possession at the mouth of Columbia River." Adams
wrote that this mission was designed "to resume possession of
that post, and in some appropriate manner to reassert the title
of the United States."

Accordingly, Monroe and Adams ordered the American diplomat John
Prevost and Captain James Biddle to sail to the Columbia and to
"assert there the claim of sovereignty in the name of ... the
United States, by some symbolical or other appropriate mode of
setting up a claim of national authority and dominion."

The President and Secretary of State were ordering them to engage
in Discovery rituals. Prevost and Biddle did as they were
ordered. In August 1818, Captain Biddle arrived at the north side
of the mouth of the Columbia River and in the presence of Chinook
Indians he raised the U.S. flag, turned the soil with a shovel,
and nailed up a lead plate that read: "Taken possession of, in
the name and on the behalf of the United States by Captain James
Biddle." He repeated this Discovery ritual on the south shore of
the Columbia and hung up a wooden sign declaring American
ownership of the region.

John Prevost arrived at Fort Astoria in September 1818 and with
the cooperation of the English he proceeded to use Discovery
rituals to reclaim the fort for the United States. First, the
English flag was lowered and the U.S. flag was hoisted in its
place. Then the English troops filed a salute, the American flag
was taken down and the Union Jack was returned to its place, and
the American diplomat sailed away with his Discovery mission
accomplished.

In 1823, the United States Supreme Court in Johnson v. M'Intosh
declared that the Doctrine of Discovery had been the law on the
North American continent since the beginning of European
exploration and controlled how Europeans and Americans could
claim and acquire land from the Indian nations.

Discovery is still the law in the United States today and in the
international arena as is well demonstrated by the actions of
modern day countries attempting to claim new lands and assets in
the Arctic. We appear to be at the start of a new race to
establish claims to this "New World" of the Arctic as the icecaps
retreat, and it is evident that the rituals and principles of the
Doctrine of Discovery provide the legal framework for claims to
newly discovered lands and assets.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD from Noelani: Doe vs. Kamehameha Schools Lawsuit Settled

2007-05-14T19:59:20Z

Sharing a FWD from Noelani Jai, who has been an inspirational and tireless activist on this issue.
----------

Doe v. Kamehameha Lawsuit Settled

Aloha kakou,

Kamehameha Schools and John Doe's attorneys have reached an agreement whereby John Doe has withdrawn his petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court. This means:

(1) First and foremost, Princess Pauahi's intended beneficiaries will continue to be blessed by her visionary gift of education.

(2) The majority opinion of the Ninth Circuit Court ruling of December 5, 2006 will be the last legal word on the Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy. That is, it can be cited as strong precedent for support of Kamehameha Schools' unique mission to serve the indigenous people of Hawai'i, with the blessing of Congress and the ongoing support of the U.S. courts.

[To clarify, John Doe will not be admitted to the Kamehameha Schools, because he already graduated from high school in 2006].

The Kamehameha Schools admissions preference has unfortunately been caught up in a larger political movement seeking to strip aboriginal peoples of the few resources remaining after colonization. The current political climate is not favorable to Native American Indians, Native Alaskans or Native Hawaiians. Therefore, I support the Kamehameha Schools' decision to avoid any further risk associated with fighting this particular lawsuit.

It has been my highest pleasure to serve our community by keeping us united in prayer during these 21 months since the original Ninth Circuit Court ruling. From marching alongside thousands in the heart of San Francisco, to our many prayer vigils (from the islands to different locations on the continent to Iraq), I have been blessed beyond measure to see our people unite at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ.

As I shared at the San Francisco march and rally, we were at a crossroads as a people. I believe we chose wisely. We put aside our own differences, worked hard to forgive as we've been forgiven, and turned to Ke Akua alone in our distress. I believe He has heard the prayers of His peple, and answered by giving us this opportunity to put this matter behind us....starting today.

I pray His blessings on each one of you I've met (in person, or via the web), until we meet again.

Imua Kamehameha! Imua Hawai'i!

Me ke aloha pumehana o 'Iesu Kristo,
Noelani (Loo) Jai, KS '83
Noelani@HawaiiansUnite.com
www.HawaiiansUnite.com

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD Radio Shows from notable Hawaiian scholar and activist

2007-05-12T17:11:26Z

FROM J. KEHAULANI KAUANUI - " I will be a guest on the radio
show, Native America Calling, next Wednesday May 16th from 1-2pm
EST. The show can be heard online live stream:
http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/
<http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/>
I will be addressing the problems with the Akaka bill and
speaking out in support of full self-determination under
international law.
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414877
<http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414877>

In addition, I will use the slot for my own radio program
"Indigenous Politics: From Native New England and Beyond" next
week (Friday from 4-5pm EST) to focus on the Akaka bill as well.
Folks can also listen live online:
www.wesufm.org <http://www.wesufm.org/> "

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Waianae, O'ahu, demands cleanup of munitions

2007-04-23T16:32:56Z

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin | www.starbulletin.com

Vol. 12, Issue 104 - Saturday, April 14, 2007

Waianae demands cleanup of munitions

The neighborhood board tells the Army to present a plan and hold a town meeting

By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com
The Waianae Neighborhood Board has told the Army that it wants an "immediate cleanup of all munitions," including chemical weapons, that are in the waters off the Leeward Coast.

The board, in a two-page letter signed Thursday by chairwoman Patty Teruya, demanded that Lt. Gen. John Brown, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, present by June 1 "a coherent strategy and plan for cleaning up the munitions and tangible responses to the legitimate concerns this community has voiced on an array of venues over the past 18 months."

The Waianae board also told Brown that it wants the Army to conduct a town hall meeting within the next 30 days.

Sara Fishburne, Army spokeswoman, said that Ted Davis, Army deputy assistant secretary for environment, safety and occupational health, intends to convene a forum within the next month with all relevant parties, including representatives of the Waianae community, to review a recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report. Last month the Army released the results of a two-week study done in June by NOAA, the University of Hawaii, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Army that said there was no immediate danger to the public.

More than a dozen previously undetected munition clusters were found during a sonar survey and sea-floor mapping. Nine were found near the shoreline in shallow waters ranging from 24 to 60 feet in depth. Five other clusters were found in deeper waters near the area where the Army Corps of Engineers discovered most of the munitions five years ago.

During that survey, conducted in 2000 by the Army Corps of Engineers, more than 2,000 conventional or nonchemical munitions were identified.

But Leeward residents were not impressed by the latest survey, and say the fish caught there shouldn't be eaten.

The board's letter says that at its proposed town hall meeting it wants the Army to provide the experts who:

» conducted analysis and testing of marine life and ocean waters, since the board does not believe the test results;

» can brief the community on the Army's plan to remove munitions from the ocean, including a specific timetable and where and how the munitions will be destroyed;

» can talk about the Army's plan to produce and distribute educational materials for schoolchildren to warn them of dangers posed by munitions and what to do if they find them.

Article URL: http://starbulletin.com/2007/04/14/news/story06.html
© 1996-2007 The Honolulu Star-Bulletin | www.starbulletin.com

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

FWD: Native Hawaiians Maintain Their Inherent Sovereignty

2007-04-23T16:29:09Z

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414877&print=yes

Indian Country Today
April 20, 2007

Native Hawaiians maintain their inherent sovereignty

by: Gale Courey Toensing / Indian Country Today

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Why should Native Hawaiians who have never
relinquished their inherent sovereignty settle for the lesser status
of federal recognition that is being put forward in the ''Akaka
Bill''?

They shouldn't, says J. Kehaulani Kauanui.

Kauanui, a Native Hawaiian and an assistant professor of anthropology
and American studies at Wesleyan University in Middletown, presented
a short history of Hawaii/U.S. relations and her views of the Akaka
Bill in a talk called ''The Politics of Native Hawaiian
Self-Determination: U.S. Federal Policy v. International law'' at
Yale University on April 4.

She began with thanks to the event sponsors - the Yale Group for the
Study of Native America and the Program in Ethnicity, Race and
Migration - and acknowledged the land now known as New Haven as the
original homeland of the Quinnipiac people.

A heated debate about Hawaiian sovereignty now centers on the
proposed Hawaiian federal recognition bill reintroduced into Congress
by Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, in January after six years of defeat
in the Senate, Kauanui said.

The Hawaiian sovereignty movement is split between those who support
federal recognition and those who want full independence from the
United States based on decolonization and de-occupation under
international law, Kauanui said.

''At the heart of this division between federal recognition and
independence is the debate as to whether or not, and if so, how
Native Hawaiians fit into U.S. policy on Native American governing
entities,'' Kauanui said.

A compelling argument against federal recognition is how federally
recognized tribes are treated now, Kauanui said.

''You have a backlash against tribal nations in this area who are
absolutely entitled to federal recognition and you have the state
bearing down on them, and the courts continue to erode tribal
sovereignty. So the challenge for me, intellectually, legally and
politically, has been how to formulate my critique of federal
recognition for Hawaiians without it ever being misinterpreted as
something that can be used against tribes here, because I support the
federal recognition of tribes here,'' Kauanui said.

But the central argument against federal recognition rests on ''the
particularity of the Hawaiian claims given the legal history of the
Hawaiian kingdom,'' Kauanui said.

Those particularities are embedded as facts in Public Law 103-150 -
an apology to the Hawaiian people that was signed in 1993 by
President Bill Clinton.

The apology acknowledges the illegality of the U.S. government's
military-backed regime change of ''the sovereign Hawaii nation'' in
1893 and its support for the illegally created ''provisional
government'' in violation of treaties and international law. The
insurgents were wealthy American and European financiers and
colonists who owned sugar plantations.

The key statement in the apology reiterates Hawaii's continuing
independence: ''The indigenous Hawaiian people never directly
relinquished their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people
or over their national lands to the United States, either through
their monarchy or through a plebiscite or referendum.

''This legal genealogy makes the current push for federal recognition
as reflected in the Akaka Bill extremely problematic,'' Kauanui said.

The word ''people'' itself puts Hawaiians in line with international
law that says all

peoples have the right to determine their political structures.

''When you say 'people,' you're saying a nation. A people is not an
ethnic group,'' Kauanui said, quoting Lumbee legal scholar David
Wilkins, who outlined four elements that set American Indians apart
from racial minorities.

''Indians are nations, not minorities,'' Wilkins said, because they
were the original inhabitants of the land; their pre-existence
necessitated the negotiation of political compacts, treaties and
alliances with European nations and the United States. As
treaty-recognized sovereigns, Indian peoples are subject to U.S.
trust doctrine, which is supposed to be a unique legal relationship
with the federal government that entails protection; and, stemming
from the trust relationship, the United States asserts plenary power
of tribal nations, which it deems exclusive and pre-emptive.

Native Hawaiians who want to pursue self-determination through
international law contest this U.S. use of the ''doctrine of
discovery'' to indigenous peoples' lands and U.S. assertion to legal
title to those lands while only recognizing tribal nations' use of
the land, Kauanui said.

The ''provisional government'' ceded 1.8 million acres of Hawaiian
lands to the United States in 1898, but those lands have never fallen
into private hands.

''These are lands the U.S. government accepted from the people that
stole them from the Hawaiian monarchy. Never has a penny exchanged
hands and never has a case about the legal title of these lands ever
been adjudicated so this is a major outstanding land claim - 1.8
million acres of some of the most expensive real estate in the world
and one of the most militarized place in the world,'' Kauanui said,
referring to the massive U.S. nuclear base in Honolulu, which is the
central command for U.S. military interests in the Pacific Ocean.

Supporters of federal recognition say there is nothing in the Akaka
Bill that would compromise or foreclose Hawaiian national claims
under international law, but U.S. actions in asserting its plenary
power to keep tribal nations both domestic and dependent belie that
claim, Kauanui said.

Hawaiians may not be able to realize their independence right now,
''but just because you can't see it come to fruition right now
doesn't mean you throw it down the toilet. You protect the claims.
I'd rather stick with the status quo for the moment and work on
cultural sovereignty, get the people stronger and work on educating
people about their political rights,'' Kauanui said.

Under the Akaka Bill, Hawaii could never have casinos, never have
criminal and civil jurisdiction, never petition the secretary of the
Interior Department to take land into trust and never be able to make
land claims under the 1790 Non-Intercourse Act, which would mean
''there goes those 1.8 million acres,'' Kauanui said.

No competing Hawaiian sovereignty group would have legal standing in
any domestic court or at the United Nations. The Native Hawaiian
government would be formed by a commission appointed by and
answerable to the Interior secretary, unlike federally recognized
Indian tribes who determine their own leadership and membership. And
Hawaiians could not have their own civil or criminal jurisdiction.

''Why should we do that? It seems a more critical time than ever for
Hawaiians and all U.S. citizens to critically question why there
should not be a Hawaiian embassy in Washington, D.C. Instead of
negotiating with the Department of the Interior, Hawaiians have the
un-extinguished right to negotiate instead with the U.S. Department
of State,'' Kauanui said.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Jan. 2008 -- Solidarity Fast to Support a Free Hawai'i

2007-04-10T22:20:35Z

Aloha kakou,
A few days ago I posted the notice below in the events section. Since then, I've been checking in with a few elders and feel confident about this as a thing that can help, spiritually and politically. I will begin to organize information on safe fasting for those who are thinking about participating. You can be anywhere to do this. But I'm hoping small groups of people will gather together and sit during the fast, here or over there, in Hawai'i.

Please contact me if you want to participate, either as a faster, a "kokua" to help watch over the fasters, or if you have a place where people can gather peacefully and quietly for Jan. 16-18 next year. I am interested in knowing who wants to do this so that I can offer support and information to you.

Of key importance is this: search for your stone, the one that will be with you when you fast. Ask permission to move it, if you are going to move it. And ask permission to have it with you during the fast. You will be feeling the stone's energy during your fast. The stones will ground us and teach us.

If this sounds odd to you, please feel free to contact me and ask questions. And spread the word about the fast!

I am dedicating my fast to the memory and guidance of Gwen Leialoha Burrows, as well as to the restoration of the kingdom.
Mahalo!
Waihili
---------

Aloha kakou,

On Jan. 17, 18, 19 in 2008 -- the anniversary of the forcible seizure of the Kingdom of Hawai'i -- people who wish to protest the illegal takeover, annexation, statehood and current condition of the colonized Kingdom of Hawai'i may wish to conduct a one to three day fast in solidarity with "na kanaka maoli" -- the native people -- as well as with the other multi-cultural descendents of Hawaiian nationals (citizens of the Kingdom). These people and their ancestors have lived through generations of brutal repression and exploitation at the hands of American business and military interests. Our fast will ask that this stop, and for the Kingdom to be restored.

Hawai'i's famous protest song, "Kaulana Na Pua," talks about "eating the stones of the land" instead of signing the enemy's paper. There is "mana" (energy) in stones and we will be asking permission to use the energy of chosen rocks to help us in our effort. Of course, water, and liquids which provide electrolytes, will also be important in our fast!

Please contact me for details on training and safe fasting, and the spiritual underpinings of this effort, as well as future logistical details. Anyone who has a place on any of the islands where fasters may sit in peace for three days during this time, please also contact me.

As well as dedicating my fast to the restoration of the Kingdom, I will also be dedicating my efforts to the memory of a friend, an independence activist who passed away on Feb. 5 on Kaua'i. I believe she may have sent me the inspiration for this fast, and the message about the energy of the stones to sustain us in this effort. May Na Akua bless us in this effort and may it be pleasing to Na Aumakua and Na Kupuna, our ancestors and elders, whom we hold in aloha and respect.

With great humility and gratitude,
Waihili

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

The passing of a real fighter, Gwen Leialoha Burrows

2007-04-01T15:53:33Z

Aloha kakou,
The woman below passed away in February, but I didn't know it until just today. Aunty Gwen Leialoha Burrows was my friend, even though we had never met. We knew each other through a Hawai'i Independence list and over the years I've been stunned with admiration at her crusty, feisty spirit and "take no prisoners" modes of communication. She was a passionate advocate for Hawaiian independence and did not mince words. And yet she had another side, warm hearted and deeply spiritual. She had access to other realms, and over the last year and a half shared a lot with us, and gave some particular attention to me, as I struggled to make sense of certain inexplicable occurances in my own life. I began to rely on her guidance and insight, and her hope that Light would triumph.

I will miss her so much.
-------------

GWEN LEIALOHA BURROWS, 66, of Kaua'i, died Feb. 5, 2007. Born in Ho'olehua, Moloka'i. A cafeteria worker with the state Department of Education. Survived by son, Ashley Place; daughters, Tenley Amaki, Shelley Thomas, Chris and Robyn Nihi; brothers, William Jr. and Thomas Ahyee, James, Frank and Jesse; sisters, Ruth Soares, Willimina English, Billy-Jo and Susan Ahyee; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson. Visitation 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary, Koloa; service 3 p.m. Service 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 26 at Kamalo Wharf, Moloka'i; scattering of ashes to follow. Lei welcome. Casual attire. Arrangements by Ultimate Cremation Services of Hawai'i.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

Jan. 14 -- A Commemoration of Sovereign Sunday

2007-02-27T17:39:18Z

January 10, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lynette Cruz
Phone 284-3460

A Commemoration of Sovereign Sunday

114 Years After the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom

On January 16, 1893, United States diplomatic and military personnel
conspired with a small group of individuals to overthrow the
constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Under the
direction of the American Minister, John L. Stevens, U.S. Marines
were directed to land at Honolulu Harbor, ostensibly to protect
American lives and property. This action led to the subversion of
the constitutional Government of Hawaii in the interests of
annexation to the United States.

The following is an excerpt from a paper written by Poka Laenui in
1984 that is timely today:

"The movement began with the awakening of my spirit when I read Queen
Liliuokalani's Hawaii's Story. I read first with curiosity, followed
by confusion, then much anger, and finally resolve of what needed to
be done. Here is what I discovered of Hawaii's history.

On January 16, 1893, over 160 American marines landed in peaceful
Honolulu armed with Gatling gun, Howitzer cannons, double cartridge
belts filled with ammunition, carbines and other instruments of war.
The protest by Hawaii's Queen that such landing was a breach of
treaty and international law was simply ignored. The troops marched
along the streets of Honolulu, rifles facing the Queen's palace.

The following day, the resident conspirators numbering 18, mostly
Americans, sneaked to a government building a few yards from where
the American troops lodged the night before. There, an American
lawyer, who had been a resident of Hawaii less than a year previous,
proclaimed they were now the government of Hawaii. Calling
themselves the
"provisional government" and selecting Sanford Dole president, they
were to exist for the explicit purpose and until terms could be
arranged with the U.S. for annexation.

Before the full declaration had been read, the U.S. marines marched
into the building to protect and support them. American Minister
Plenipotentiary and commander of all U.S. forces in Hawaii, John L.
Stevens, gave them immediate recognition as the government of Hawaii
as had been planned. He than joined in their demand that the Queen
surrender under threat of war with the U.S."

This year, the commemoration of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom
will take place on Sunday, Jan. 14, beginning at `Iolani Palace and
continuing to Queen Lili`uokalani's statue at the State Capitol. All
are invited to offer ho`okupu at the Palace near the Queen's bedroom
at 3:30 pm. A short walk will follow to the Queen's statue for the
rest of the program at 4 pm. It is the intention of the Living
Nation to forever tell this story.

The event will feature music by Pekelo, from Maui, who has written a
song about the Queen, speakers, a reading of Grover Cleveland's
speech before Congress following the overthrow in 1893, and a
re-enactment of the drama "Ka Lei Maile Alii-The Queen's Women",
depicting a meeting of the women of Hui Aloha Aina who were
responsible for gathering many of the signatures on the Great
Petitions (Ku`e Petitions) protesting annexation of Hawaii to the
United States.

Participants are asked to bring folding chairs or mats to sit on and
refreshments to share. For more information, call 284-3460 or
284-8722.

For more information about this important event, visit
<http://www.hawaiiankingdom.org/>www.HawaiianKingdom.org. Citation
from Poka Laenui can be found at
<http://www.opihi.com/sovereignty/sovereig.txt>www.opihi.com/sovereignty/sovereig.txt.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 3 replies

FWD: Online website for Free Hawai'i Bumperstickers and buttons

2007-02-27T17:32:04Z

NOW! AN EVEN EASIER WAY TO ORDER FREE HAWAI`I STICKERS & PINS!

The Koani Foundation Presents -

www.FreeHawaiiStickers.com

The New & Easy Way To Order Your Free Hawai`i Stickers & Pins Online!

Check Out Our Gallery Of Free Hawai`i Photos

Stickers & Pins Are Still Absolutely FREE At

www.FreeHawaiiStickers.com

Order Yours Today!

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD from Noelani. Favorable Ruling for Kamehameha Schools

2006-12-06T03:04:12Z

A forward from Noelani Jai, who has taken a leading role in advocating for Kamehameha Schools. Good news indeed!
----------
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Ninth Circuit Rules In Favor of Kamehameha Schools!

All praise and glory to Ke Akua, for He has done marvelous things!

I write this morning with wonderful news. The Ninth Circuit released its ruling just a few hours ago in the Doe vs. Kamehameha lawsuit. Justice Graber (who wrote the dissent in the original 8/2/05 ruling for the Ninth Circuit) wrote a wonderful majority opinion, in which she was joined by 7 other justices of the en banc panel. Four dissenting opinions were authored by Justices Bybee, Rymer, Kleinfeld and Kozinski, and they were joined by Justices O'Scannlain, Tallman and Callahan.

In other words, the ruling was 8 to 7 in favor of upholding Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy.

The majority opinion found that because the Schools' are a "wholly private K-12 educational establishment, whose preferential admissions policy is designed to counteract the significant, current educational deficits of Native Hawaiian children in Hawai'i," and because of overwhelming evidence that Congress itself has enacted laws recognizing its unique trust relationship with Native Hawawaiians, THE ADMISSIONS POLICY IS JUSTIFIED AND VALID.

Is the battle pau? Well....John Doe's attorneys have previously vowed to "take this all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary," so please continue to pule and stay informed on this important lawsuit.

But for today (at least).....let's kanikapila!!!! Mahalo Ke Akua ! Mahalo everyone for your support, pule and kokua!!!

Many blessings of Ke Akua (truly),
Noelani

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

11/26 La Ku'oko'a - Hawaiian Independence Day Celebration at 'Iolani Palace

2006-11-29T17:33:28Z

From: "Lcruz" <palolo@hawaii.rr.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 22:57:59 -1000
Subject: La Ku`oko`a - Hawaiian Independence Day Celebration

Press release...

November 21, 2006 Contact: Lynette Cruz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone (808)284-3460

The Living Nation Celebrates

La Ku`oko`a: Hawaiian Independence Day

The Living Nation will celebrate La Ku`oko`a, Hawaiian Independence
Day, on Sunday, November 26, 3 - 7 pm on the grounds of `Iolani
Palace. Melvin Kalahiki, chair of the Living Nation, notes that "we
are privileged to remember and commemorate the life and work of
Timoteo Ha`alilio, a national hero, and to highlight the relationship
of this Hawaiian Ali`i and Ambassador to His Majesty, King Kamehameha
III."

The original celebration of Hawaii's independence took place during
the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1843, after England and France recognized
Hawaii as a member of the European family of nations, and as an
independent country equal to England, France, and the United States.
The day continued to be an annual celebration from about 1844 to
1895, and for some years afterward, unofficially.

La Ku`oko`a marks the day, November 28, 1843, that the Ali`i Timoteo
Ha`alilio, sent as part of an envoy by King Kamehameha III, succeeded
in obtaining the signatures of the authorities of Great Britain and
France on a treaty recognizing Hawai`i as a sovereign nation.
Ha`alilio, with the missionary William Richards along as his
secretary, traveled through Mexico on foot and donkey to Washington
D.C., where they met President John Tyler. Ha`alilio and Richards,
armed with his agreement, then went on to Europe, to Belgium, Paris,
and London, where the treaty was finally signed. They returned to the
United States to cement U.S. agreement. On the journey home Ke Ali`i
Timoteo Ha`alilio died, on December 3, 1844.

The Treaty of Independence was a substantial achievement under
international law, recognized by the government of the Kingdom
through the official celebration of La Ku`oko`a. After the overthrow
in 1893, the so-called Republic of Hawai`i government announced that
November 28, 1895-a Thursday-would no longer be celebrated as La
Ku`oko`a. Instead, Thanksgiving would become the official national
holiday. The po`e aloha `aina-the thousands of Kanaka Maoli opposed
to the illegal haole government-were incensed. They ignored the
government's orders, and continued to hold celebrations of La
Ku`oko`a. At those gatherings, they told the story of Ha`alilio's
journey and significant achievement. James Kaulia of the Hui Aloha
`Aina said that "the Kanaka Maoli recalled with gladness the
restoration and perpetuation of the independence of Hawai`i, but
their happiness was mixed with feelings of distress because the right
to independence had been snatched from their shoulders." He said,
further, "Ke ku nei ke kanaka Hawaii me he kuewa la, aohe ona aina:
The Hawaiian person stands as a homeless vagabond, one who has no
land." The thieves of 1895-1896 not only deprived the Kanaka Maoli
of a national holiday, they enacted laws that caused the loss of our
language and the related loss of our own history. That process caused
us to be deprived of even the memory of this national holiday.

In our current process of de-occupying, we reject the occupier's
holiday, and resurrect La Ku'oko'a instead.

As a result of the recognition of Hawaiian independence the Hawaiian
Kingdom entered into treaties with the major nations of the world and
established over ninety legations and consulates in multiple seaports
and cities. Celebrating our own holidays is one way to raise
consciousness of a history that has been erased from the standard
American textbooks and from the local Hawaii school system.

For more information about this important Holiday, visit
HawaiianKingdom.org. Funding for this project has been provided by
the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 3 replies

Leading Democrats say "No to Impeachment of Bush.. it is off the table"

2006-11-15T17:44:54Z

Leading Democrats say "No to Impeachment of Bush.. it is off the table"

Conyers Toes Party Line: No Impeachment
Something Is Extremely 'Rotten In The State Of Denmark'

Steve Watson
Infowars.net
Friday, November 10, 2006

The latest Democrat "saviour" to flip flop 180 degrees in light of
their victory is Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. Presumed to become
chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in January, Conyers today
said that impeachment of President Bush "is off the table."

"In this campaign, there was an orchestrated right-wing effort to
distort my position on impeachment, " Conyers said in a statement
released by his Judiciary Committee spokesman. "The incoming speaker
(Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.) has said that impeachment is off the
table. I am in total agreement with her on this issue: Impeachment
is off the table."

Conyers seems to have forgotten that last December he laid out the
grounds for impeachment in a 350 page long report called "The
Constitution in Crisis: The Downing Street Minutes and Deception,
Manipulation, Torture, Retribution and Cover-ups in the Iraq War"
and later updated to add "illegal domestic surveillance. "

For a while Conyers was the darling of left leaning bloggers and
readers everywhere:

At this site, we are especially proud of the new Conyers
Report, "The Constitution in Crisis." By purchasing this book, you
have the opportunity to own a part of history and help the
Congressman hold the Bush Administration accountable. Your
assistance in helping Congressman Conyers become the next Chairman
of the House Judiciary Committee will bring us one step closer to
getting the American people the answers from this Administration
that they deserve.
- www.afterdowningstr eet.org

Conyers is so admirable. One of the very few in Congress who still
has integrity and principles. It is too bad that he does not get
more MSM coverage but why would they do that? He might upset the
Republican and Corporate plans for total control and could expose
their nefarious doings.
He is risking much by not following the official DNC program too, in
addition to challenging the Bushies.
- Huffington Post

In december 2005, upon release of the report, Conyers stated:

The Report concludes that a number of these actions amount to prima
facie evidence (evidence sufficiently strong to presume the
allegations are true) that federal criminal laws have been violated.
Legal violations span from false statements to Congress to
whistleblower laws... The Report also concludes that these charges
clearly rise to the level of impeachable conduct... In response to
the Report, I have already taken a number of actions. First, I have
introduced a resolution (H. Res. 635) creating a Select Committee
with subpoena authority to investigate the misconduct of the Bush
Administration with regard to the Iraq war and report on possible
impeachable offenses.

So Conyers was already underway with setting up investigations into
impeachable offences, but now he says that impeachment is off the
table? Clearly he has been given orders to toe the party line or
face the consequences.

Despite the fact that 86% want to see the President impeached,
leading Democrats have already ruled this out. The same leading
Democrats that voted for the war in Afghanistan, for the Patriot
Act, for Homeland Security and against a bill that simply condemned
torture of prisoners in Iraq.

After Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean, Conyers is the latest Democrat
to show us their true colours once in power.

Conyers and the other Democrats highlight precisely why we need to
regroup, consolidate and redouble our efforts in light of the
theatrical shift of power in Washington to the left. Because as soon
as this happened, overnight, the truth movement lost a great deal of
support from those that believe the job is now done.

Taking note of many reader comments over the past few days I have
noticed a startling uprise in the amount of negative and dismissive
feedback from some readers. Evidently those who expected us to be
out dancing in the streets at the news of a Democrat landslide in
Washington have been bitterly disappointed.

We have never once suggested that the solution to a corrupt and
fascist Neocon leadership is a passive and capitulating Democrat
sideshow leadership, so why is it any surprise that we are
continuing on the same course as before?

Comments such as the following emphasize my point:

"You can only have it one way. What the hell is up with you people.
The whole time the Bush regime was in power you begged for change.
Now you have it, but your still complaining. "

Yes we are seeking change, but not a simple change of personnel as
we have witnessed this week. As we reported yesterday "There's no
doubt about it, to see frothing Neo-Cons who have been strutting
around like John Wayne for the past five years finally eat humble
pie is a breath of fresh air, but let's not be so deluded as to
think that the Neo-Con agenda, which took decades to craft, was
simply brushed aside by the victory of a party that has supported
Bush every step of the way on major issues."

Seeing Bush on TV admitting he'd took a hell of a beating was great,
for about five minutes, then he started laughing and joking about it
and talking about pushing forward to work closely with a new crowd.

Is rolling over and going back to sleep going to get Bush impeached?
Should we shut down the websites now and go save the whales or
something else we'd all love to be doing if we didn't have to
relentlessly keep fighting to stop our leaders killing our freedoms?

Within hours the Democratic elite have shown us that they don't give
a damn about holding the Bush administration up to scrutiny. With no
effective opposition in the form of a political party it is up to
the people to continue to demand justice and to continue to attempt
to reign in those who have heinously abused their power.

Thomas Jefferson described Congress as "a body to which the people
send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question
everything and yield nothing."

In light of this how can any representative say something like
impeachment is 'off the table?'

found at
http://www.infowars.net/articles/november2006/101106Rotten.htm

Nancy Pelosi on YouTube and Howard Dean

Nancy Pelosi on the YouTube saying "NO TO IMPEACHMENT... ITS OFF THE TABLE"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R-4vw2qw3Wc
or
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mAGCgY4PDNA

Howard Dean Says No Impeachment Of Bush
Lapdog Democrats to waste two years on minimum wage and mass illegal amnesty, no to Iraq inquiry, no to police state rollback, no to bringing troops home

Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet
Thursday, November 9, 2006

Howard Dean last night said there would be no impeachment proceedings against President Bush under a Democrat controlled Congress, echoing the pledge of Nancy Pelosi to protect the administration that lied a nation into a war and dismantled the very fabric of America.

Here's the exchange from Dean's appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart last night.

STEWART: "How long in your mind do you feel it's gonna be before power corrupts you absolutely?"

DEAN: "Well, you know...."

STEWART: "The last guys did it in three and a half days, what are you guys aiming for?"

DEAN: "Longer than that."

DEAN: "I know half the audience wants us to impeach the President and all that kind of stuff but we're not gonna do that - we're not gonna do that."

Dean is toeing the party line first crystallized by Nancy Pelosi when she told the 60 Minutes program, "Impeachment is off the table....it's a pledge....it is a waste of time."

When will jubilant mindless liberals realize that their darling Democrats have been installed as ringers to halt the momentum of the anti-war and 9/11 truth movements while committing to shielding the Bush administration for the very crimes and misdemeanors that supposedly cost them the House and Senate in the first place?

Democrats have already clearly stated how they intend to "get to work" over the next two years - by helping Bush push through a mass amnesty for illegal aliens - something his own republican House even prevented him doing - and also wasting time on the non-issue of the minimum wage.

Will raising the minimum wage and legalizing all illegal aliens help rollback the devastation the Bush administration has wrought on the U.S. Constitution?

Will raising the minimum wage and legalizing all illegal aliens bring the troops home?

Will raising the minimum wage and legalizing all illegal aliens re-instate the nine amendments to the Constitution that were abolished under the Military Commissions Act?

Will raising the minimum wage and legalizing all illegal aliens do anything to can the unconstitutional domestic eavesdropping program?

Will raising the minimum wage and legalizing all illegal aliens do anything to claw back the out of control deficit?

We were told the Republicans were abandoned because of corruption and Iraq and yet the Democrat shills have completely avoided specifics about how they intend to address these issues and on the question of impeachment have vowed to protect Bush. Empty rhetoric about a "policy change" in Iraq is nothing more than hot air betrayed by a legacy of Democrat support for keeping the troops in the quagmire - exemplified no better than Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, who both support imperial jaunts in the name of the "war on terror."

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has already stated that Blair's government will not co-operate with any move to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and she needn't worry because the Democrats are not going to even try it.

The Associated Press reports that Pelosi and Bush have already proclaimed reconciliation and are now "making nice" and devising how they can work in tandem. Tuesday's vote and its superficial euphoric aftermath was not about a populist reaction to six years of abuse and deceit - it was a sad indictment of the fact that a majority of Americans, particularly the establishment left, still buy the hoax that the Republicrats and the Democons are anything more than two different CEO's bidding for control of Slavery Incorporated.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/november2006/091106deansaysno.htm

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

Just back from Moku o Keawe (Big Island)

2006-10-06T19:56:00Z

Aloha kakou,
I just got back Tuesday night, late, from a trip to Hawai'i island. There are so many things that happened, so many rich impressions, that I am still staggered by what I experienced. I am going to put my thoughts in order and share them here in a day or two.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Bumpy Kanahele, Candidate for OHA board of trustees thread

2006-10-06T19:53:12Z

BUMPY KANAHELE is a candidate for an at-large seat on the board of
trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

http://bumpykanahele.com/bumpy_oha_campaign.php

WAIMANALO

Come Talk the Walk with

Pu`uhonua Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele
Candidate, OHA At-Large

Saturday, October 14, 2006
12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Pu`uhonua O Waimanalo
41-1300 Waikupanaha Street
Waimanalo

Refreshments: Beef Stew & Rice

For more info call 259-9018 or 259-6309

"A Change You Can Bank On!"

LAHAINA

Friends for Bumpy Kanahele
OHA At-Large Candidate

Fundraiser

Monday, October 9, 2006
Lahaina Civic Center
5:30 p.m. to pau

Chili & Rice Dinner

Donation: $5

For more information, contact Patty Nishiyama at 281-1567.

Bumpy has received the endorsement of the Iron Workers Stabilization
Fund and the Ironworkers Union Local 625.

Request an absentee ballot here:

http://www.hawaii.gov/elections/voters/voteabsentee.htm

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

Ka'u In Danger: Jean Michel Cousteau Supports Development that Would Destroy Natural and Sacred Areas, Endanger Protected Species

2006-10-05T01:12:26Z

FWD from Green Flash News:

Sept. 15, 2006, Punaluu Beach, Kau, Hawai`I
For Immediate Release:
For More Information :
go to: <http://www.kaupreservation.org>
or call 808-928-1018.

THE TRUTH
ABOUT:
DEVELOPER’S PLANS FOR MASSIVE LUXURY “ECO” RESORT
AT PUNALU`U

Jean Michel Cousteau Supports Development that Would Destroy Natural and Sacred Areas, and Endanger Protected Species

Why would a leading “environmentalist and ocean explorer” support a massive development that will, according to most experts, have a negative impact on fragile coastal habitat of some of the most endangered species in the world, in one of last great open spaces of Hawai`i? This is the question that has many scratching their heads in disbelief when they learn that the son of the late legendary Jacques Cousteau, is a partner in the construction of a mega “eco” resort that would be built on sacred Hawaiian lands protected for generations.

Riding positive publicity from his recent film production about the northwest Hawaiian islands, Jean-Michel Cousteau, has decided to support a project that will harm critical habitat at Punalu`u Black Sand Beach in Hawai`i’s southernmost undeveloped region.

According to West Hawaii Today (9/15/06), JM Cousteau is a paid consultant to Sea Mountain Five, the Beverly Hills investment group planning a massive luxury resort at Punalu`u with over 1,800 homes, a hotel and shopping center.

According to the Hawai`i Tribune Herald (9/15/06), this is not the first time that JM Cousteau has worked with developers. “His organization, Ocean Futures also is active at 10 other ocean environmentally conscious developments. One, Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort, tore a rift in the Cousteau family. Cousteau initially did not have "Jean-Michel" in the hotel's title, which prompted his father, Jacques, to file a lawsuit demanding that the first name be added.”

To date, Ka`u Preservation’s many attempts to reach JM Cousteau by phone have failed.

Both the developer and JM Cousteau claim they are working closely with the community, but in fact, they have given no notice of any meetings to the public since they presented their project in January. They have also excluded anyone from the monthly “private” meetings by lack of notification that have questioned the development, including members of Ka`u Preservation. According to Joanne Fierstein, a member of Ka`u Preservation, who attended all of the meetings since the group’s formation, “I was not notified of the last two meetings after I questioned statements by Pat Blew, who represents the development.”

George Atta, Group 70 International planning consultant, representing the developer, claims “they will provide 500 permanent jobs,” without definition. In fact, based on the model of other eco-resorts, most of the permanent jobs will be low paying, unskilled labor positions. The developer admits that “construction workers will have to be brought in from the outside” thus reducing opportunities for local employment.

Atta also envisions a temporary housing project to be built on “adjacent Hawaiian Homelands” that is currently zoned “Conservation” to provide the “out-of-town” construction workers a place to live. This would mean taking more lands out of conservation for affordable housing, rather than putting affordable housing where the development is proposed.

The developer promises to keep all development “on average” four hundred feet from the coast. Does this mean that the hotel complex and shopping center will be built closer than 400 feet in some areas?

The developer also claims to be “working with people in Ka`u to shape the Cultural Center” they are promising. However, according to the Sept. issue of the Ka`u Calendar the developer is in negotiations with a “community group” named `O Ka`u Kakou (“We are Ka`u”) which represents a small group of people who have been supporting the development since its inception and some of who have agreed to serve as consultants for Group 70. In fact, some of the members of this group are in a position to benefit financially by the development if approved. The developer has never attempted to contact Ka`u Preservation, Ka`u’s largest community group with several hundred supporters who have been actively protecting Ka’u’s resources for over twenty years.

West Hawai`i Today (9/15/06) states that in 1989... “despite objections by the community and Hawaiian groups, Punalu`u Development received a special management area (SMA) permit from the Planning Commission.” In fact the paper failed to mention that the SMA permit was stopped in a court action in a contested case hearing, brought on by Punalu`u Preservation which is now Ka`u Preservation.

For more information on Ka`u Preservation’s effort to preserve the sacred lands of Ka`u,

go to: www.kaupreservation.org <http://www.kaupreservation.org> or call 808-928-1018.

* * *

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

Modern-Day Secessionists Will Hold a Conference on Leaving the Union

2006-10-05T01:08:00Z

Modern-Day Secessionists Will Hold a Conference on Leaving the Union

By GARY SHAPIRO - Staff Reporter of the Sun
September 27, 2006

Here come the new Green Mountain Boys. The Middlebury Institute, a think tank devoted to the study of separatism, secession, and self-determination, is planning the First North American Secessionist Convention in Burlington, Vt.

More than a dozen secessionist organizations are likely to send representatives to the gathering on November 3 and 4, the director of the institute, Kirkpatrick Sale, said. The room at the Wyndham Burlington hotel can hold about 50 people, he said. The organizers have picked the right state for this radical gathering: Vermont was an independent republic between 1777 and 1791.

"Vermont has a very strong self-identity," Mr. Sale said, and added that New England states were talking about secession around the time of the War of 1812.

Why secession? "It's the only principled, moral way to go," Mr. Sale said. The goal is not to take over any national government but to "simply absent ourselves from it," he added.

Mr. Sale is working with an emeritus professor of economics at Duke University, Thomas Naylor, who is a founder of the Second Vermont Republic, an association that seeks to return Vermont to an independent republic.

Representatives from both red and blue states appear to be joining in — although "joining" is probably not the right word. According to the Web site MiddleburyInstitute.net, responses as of June had come from "Hawaii Nation, Alaska Independence Party, League of the South and several of its chapters, Southern National Congress Committee, Southern Caucus, Christian Exodus, New State Movement, Puerto Rico Independence Party, Parti Quebecois, the State of Jefferson, and the Second Vermont Republic."

A strong response has also come from secession supporters in "Cascadia" (Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia) and "Delmarva" (Delaware, Maryland, and the Virginia Peninsula), among other areas, according to the site. Scholars, researchers and journalists professionally interested in secession may be in attendance, as well.

Convention attendees will first "assess what stages these various organizations are at, how far along they are, and how many members they have," Mr. Sale said. They will then discuss what they are planning to do and go over various successful secessionist strategies.

"It's an expression of frustration," a history professor at the CUNY Graduate Center, John Patrick Diggins, said.

"I don't think secession is a viable plan," a Columbia University professor of history, Eric Foner, told The New York Sun. "But ‘getting out from under America' is an old tradition. There have been such currents throughout American history, but in the half-century after the Civil War, they were very much reduced, for obvious reasons."

At the beginning of the Civil War, New York's mayor thought the city should secede from the Union and trade with both the North and South, Mr. Foner said.

"It would be a great loss to the U.S. if Vermont absconded," a Columbia University sociologist and School of Journalism professor, Todd Gitlin, told the Sun.

If Vermont seceded, it would be more difficult to reach an Electoral College majority, Mr. Gitlin added. "He wants to elect a president in a corrupt" system, Mr. Sale said, when told of Mr. Gitlin's comments.

In an article in Adbusters magazine in January, Mr. Sale wrote, "For one thing, as hurricane Katrina has glaringly shown, the Federal government is a clumsy, bureaucratic, politicized, and insensitive instrument (and as the rebuilding will show, corrupt as well), and states and localities that give themselves over to depending on it are in real trouble."

Noting the tradition of secession in American history, Mr. Sale told the Sun that he doesn't know why it should be impractical for Vermont to secede. "The first group of secessionists was the Founding Fathers," he said. "The American Revolution was in fact a secession from the United Kingdom."

But a professor of history at Harvard University and author of the forthcoming book "The Declaration of Independence: A Global History," David Armitage, said, "It seems to be one of the few observable laws of world history since 1776 that any state that has declared its own independence will thereafter prevent any part of that state from declaring its independence."

Mr. Sale in the past has pointed out that the Constitution is silent on the matter of secession and that the Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated by America to the states or the people. But the Supreme Court decision Texas v. White et al. in 1868 declared that the Constitution does not allow states to secede. Sometimes, towns have revolted.

The founder of National Review, William F. Buckley, said secession is not the easiest thing to do because one has to decide "where to secede to." Many who in effect seceded to Canada in protest eventually "inched their way back" to America, he added.

found at http://www.nysun.com/article/40456

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

Green Flash: Save La'au, Moloka'i

2006-10-05T01:06:30Z

A press release courtesy of Jack Kelly's Green Flash News:

October 4, 2006

Save La’au
Join the March - Saturday October 7

Where: Begins at Dixie Maru Beach on the west side of Molokai. Ends at the occupation site at La’au.

When: Starts at 7 a.m., approximately 2 hours each way.

Other info:
Bring your own food and water. There are portable restrooms at Dixie Maru but no other facilities available. Boats will be available for kupuna, but will not come to shore at La’au. Please be respectful of this pristine and sacred area.

The members of Hui Ho‘opakele ‘Aina (“Rescue the Land”), along with other members of the Moloka’i community, have staged a peaceful occupation of La’au on the southwestern end of Moloka’i in opposition to the proposed “La’au Point” development. Molokai Properties Ltd, the owner of 65,000-acre Molokai Ranch, plans to build a 200-home luxury development that would encompass more than 600 acres and almost 6 miles of virgin, untouched coastline.

The occupiers have built a traditional hale on the site and invite all to join the march in support of their cause, this Saturday, from Dixie Maru beach to the hale at La’au.

The community resistance to this project encompasses a number of concerns, including:

Natural Environment
It is important for everyone to realize the magnitude and scope of this development and come to understand the environmental value of the lands surrounding La’au. If you have not visited this area it is easy to dismiss. This area represents the healthiest and most abundant coastline of Molokai.

Culture
On Molokai there were two sacred areas marking the wehe and the pani of Makahiki (the opening and closing). On the eastern side of Molokai the wehi was located at Kapu’upo’i in the proximity of Halawa. The pani of the Makahiki was that of La’au. Both of these areas were revered as sacred places and treated with the reverence of such. Cultural sites ranging from keiau to ko’a can be found throughout this area.

Water
Water is a primary issue regarding this development. Recent reports show chloride levels to be rising in water taken from Molokai’s wells. This means that we are already on the verge of taking more water than is being replenished. It is hard for most Molokai residents to understand why, when water is already in short supply, that 1 million gallons would be made available for the purpose of million-dollar vacation homes.

Social Impact
Molokai remains the last Hawaiian Island of its kind. The real wealth of Molokai is found in the mana of the land, the aloha of the people, and the mo’olelo of the kupuna. A fragile society exists on Molokai and at the center of this is Hawaiian culture. It is not difficult to understand that the nature of the society created though high-end housing is contrary to the values of those that live on the island. It is also not hard to imagine the demands and expectations that would be placed on the people of Molokai by such a community.

Sustenance and Gathering Rights
The area of La'au is regularly referred to as the ice box because of its abundance of fish and game. This area is a primary source of sustenance dating back to ancient days. Gathering rights guaranteed by the State of Hawaii have traditionally been ignored by Molokai Ranch and they have intentionally ignored providing access to this area. Simultaneously they have run operations for profit in using West End Ranch areas for commercial hunting.

The “generous” offer of 26,000 acres
The Molokai Ranch’s Master Land Use Plan includes an offer to give a significant amount of their land “back to Molokai” in return for being allowed to proceed with the La’au Point development. It calls for 26,000 acres to be donated to the Molokai Land Trust, 24,950 acres to be places into agricultural protective easements and open space to be managed by the trust, and 10,000 acres to be owned and managed by Molokai Properties.

If the donation of 26,000 acres seems like a generous offer, we need to realize that most of these lands that would be donated to the Trust are not of great value to the Ranch and that in turn the Ranch could make anywhere from [US] $200 to 400 million on La‘au. These proposed lands to be donated have no water resource and minimal sustainable coastal areas. The cultural sites that would supposedly be protected are already protected from development under state law.

For more information on these and other concerns about the proposed La’au Point development, visit the Save La’au website:
http://www.savelaau.com/

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Green Flash News Political Endorsements Sept. 23, 2006

2006-09-19T13:40:21Z

FWD from Jack Kelly's Green Flash News. This one gives good insight into some aspects of Hawai'i politics.
-------
September 18, 2006

The Green Flash News 2006 Political Endorsements

The 2006 Hawaii primary is Saturday, September 23, and there are some red-hot races going down. Due to public demand, The Green Flash News has agreed to jump into the fray by publishing Editor Jack Kelly’s choices. Admittedly, we’ll be pretty Hawaii Island centric but that’s the way it goes. We will try and make it interesting.

Let’s start with the biggest contests and work our way down.

U.S. Senate: Daniel Akaka vs. Ed Case

Lets put it this way. Senator Akaka is steadfastly holding on to an Arctic Refuge policy he developed in 1995, while totally ignoring reams of current documentation about how the native people (not the native corporations, Senator), oppose drilling in the Refuge. That type of behavior tends to support Case’s contention that it is time for Akaka to retire. At this 11th hour Senator Akaka has finally sent out a letter saying that he would be willing to meet with the Alaskan natives and talk story after the election - if he gets elected! Too little, too late.

Akaka especially avoided the Alaskan/Hawaiian grass roots contingent both in Honolulu and Washington D.C, on four different occasions in 2005 and 2006 while Ed Case opened his doors four times to the same people and went out of his way to treat them with the honor and respect they deserved. At least Akaka’s staff met with the Alaskan Hawaiian contingent and were pleasant, Senator Inouye’s office was downright rude. And this, the Aloha State.

Ed Case is a hard pill to swallow for many Democrats who cringe at his stance on the Iraq War and his vote for the Patriot Act. Our answer to that is that Akaka has continually supported the militarization of Hawaii throughout his tenure in the Senate and just because he takes a more liberal stance on the war in Iraq doesn’t cancel out that fact.

We don’t understand how you can be pro military expansion and anti war but that’s why we had a short political career.
Of course we could argue the merits pro and con between these two all day.

We think the key here is, and really in all the races is, does the candidate, on the whole, represent the people or his or her own ideologies?

Here is the message we want to send to all the candidates but especially these two.

The people elect you to represent them. So when over 60% of the population in Hawaii opposed drilling for oil in the Arctic Refuge you back them up and by the same token if 60% of the population in Hawaii opposes the war in Iraq you back us up, you speak out against the war and you do everything in your power to bring it to an end. That is REPRESENTATION.
Anything less is not what we sent you to Washington D.C. to do.

In spite of his “centrist” leanings The Green Flash gives the nod to Case.

In his short tenure Case has done a lot for coastal issues in Hawaii and has provided support and funding for coastal acquisition. He also supported the creation of a National Seashore on Maui and helped finalize the preservation of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

He is on board with our local environmental goals and he responds to his neighbor island constituency.

2nd District Congressional Seat

In our mind this will always be Patsy Mink’s seat. Patsy was what being a REPRESENTATIVE is all about. Anyone who attempts to fill this seat has their job cut out for them.

They had to hold a lottery to get a shot at post positions in this one. What a horse race!

We like Gary Hooser and Brian Shatz, heads and shoulders above the rest.

These two guys, Brian in the State House, and Gary in the State Senate, are both smart, committed, and embody the meaning of, you know, REPRESENTATIVE. You can see that this is a theme piece. Too bad they are both running.

Gary Hooser stood up this past year when the Legislature was ready to gut the state land use law. He defended his agricultural constituency when they needed it most.

Brian Shatz has been a great supporter of the environmental community and is for sure a rising star in politics in our State.

We hope they both continue in public service for years to come.

We’re going to go with Gary because you can only vote once.

Gary’s older; Brian’s going to have many more chances.

Really, that’s my reason.

Governor

Is this one up for grabs? What goes on in the Democratic Party?

I mean we like Aila and Henkin but I just read where Lingle has raised 6 million dollars to defend her seat against whom? I guess all the Democratic talent figured they would be better off beating each other over the head trying to get the Congressional set than to try and take on Lingle.

Hawaii Island Legislature

I would like you guys to note that the Hawaii State Chapter of the Sierra Club failed to endorse any Hawaii Island members of the State Legislature in its 2006 endorsements.

You can find a list of the Sierra Club Endorsements at: http://www.hi.sierraclub.org/endorsements

You can call it Land Use War Fallout.

Mom always told me, “if you can’t find anything nice to say don’t say anything”, so I’ll just repeat what I said before; Good for you Gary!

Hawaii Island County Council

Why would anyone actively pursue such a thankless job? Jesus, what a pit of pain and suffering. For that reason, Bob Jacobson gets our vote for outright Olympic level persistence in fighting the good fight. Personally I would have jumped off a cliff by now if I had to sit though as many of those meetings as Bob has. Runner up in the persistence category would have to go to Tiffany Edwards of West Hawaii Today.

Dreams of a West Side coalition that we had in 2004 were quickly dashed, as Ms. Isbell didn’t seem to want to play along. Now Virginia has given us many years of good service and community involvement but like in the Akaka race, maybe its time for some new blood.

Brenda Ford has been a tireless community advocate in her work with Plan to Protect, Keep Kealakekua Wild and other advocacy groups. She took on the plaintiff’s role in the 2000 redistricting lawsuit like a bulldog and that’s the kind of energy we need on the Council.

Pete Hoffman in District 9 has been a breath of fresh air. It’s been so nice not having Elarionoff on the Council. The Council doesn’t need any more grandstanders. Please re-elect Pete.

Angel Pilago is the man in North Kona and maintains a Hawaiian presence on the Council that is sorely needed.

Dominic Yagong gets the nod in Hamakua. Maybe Fred Holschuh could stand by in case there is an emergency but otherwise let Dominic run the show.

Really, I don’t know what to say about the Hilo side guys. I’ve tried to ignore the County Council for a couple of years now. We used to go and testify on this and that and drive to Hilo and sit there all day to get the job done and then drive back but I purposely gave that up.

The inability of the County Administration and the County Council to stay in step with the needs of the people has, in our opinion, rendered County government impotent and irrelevant. The promise of 2004 has not been realized. It is time for the people to speak. Let’s hope for a better energy mix in the coming two years.

Maui County Council

For our Maui readers we really think that West Maui Councilwoman JoAnne Johnson is the greatest and are hoping that political newcomer Lucienne De Naie grabs the East Maui seat.

We plead ignorance as to the Oahu and Kauai Council races so we will let sleeping dogs lie. Thank you for your rapt attention.

Please get out and vote!

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

NEW! Free Hawai'i Broadcasting Network

2006-09-19T12:25:44Z

Fwd from 'Ehu Cardwell. What an exciting development this is!!!
-------------

Aloha `aina

So many of you, the world over, have contacted us and asked how you can get the latest information regarding a Free Hawai`i.

Brought to you by the Koani Foundation, the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network is your answer.

It's our goal to keep you up to date on the latest issues and views about a Free Hawai`i no matter where you live.

Over a year in the making, the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network will be your key to instantly having at your fingertips all the resources you'll need to know the truth about Hawai`i.

The Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network will include -

www.Free Hawaii.Info - published daily, 365 days a year

Starting today, new regular video commentaries on the hottest topics by the hosts of Hawai`i's popular television series, Voices Of Truth - One-On-One With Hawai`i's Future.

Coming soon, Free Hawai`i TV, where you'll be able to watch Voices Of Truth - One-On-One With Hawai`i's Future no matter where on earth you live.

And finally a groundbreaking, exciting worldwide podcasting audio program showcasing some of Hawai`i's best performers along with interviews about the issues (debuting in early 2007.)

So Here We Go With Our First Video Commentary -

"What Is The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs Trying To Hide Through Its Character Assassinations?"

To view, visit www.FreeHawaii.Info

Stay tuned for more exciting announcements coming soon from the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network.

Ho`oku`oko`a,

The Koani Foundation
Visit www.FreeHawaii.Info
"Hawai`i Was A Free Nation - But Never Free For The Taking."

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

FWD Open Letter to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs--important!

2006-09-06T14:19:56Z

Aloha kakou,
The following is an open letter from the Koani Foundation to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), sent to their publication, Ka Wai Ola. This is an important letter regarding the recent defeat of the Akaka bill's latest version.
Mahalo!
------------------
FWD:
Ka Wai Ola O OHA

Editor,

The Akaka bill sits on the ash heap of history.

Hawaiians and their supporters were responsible for it’s righteous defeat, more so than Republicans.

In his July Ka Wai Ola column, Mr. Mossman named the Koani Foundation as one of the organizations largely responsible for the bill’s demise.

We at Koani accept, with humility, that acknowledgement of our kuleana, our responsibility to the Hawaiian Nation.

In her August column, Trustee Akana attacked Clarence Ku Ching, Hawaiian patriot and former OHA Trustee, wrongfully aligning him with the radical right that worked to defeat the bill for very different reasons.

Ku Ching’s successful efforts to defeat the bill, and efforts by others in Washington, DC, were honorable and a true reflection of the will of the people back home.

OHA’s conspiracy to legitimize the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom - spending millions of beneficiary dollars to illegally lobby for passage of the Akaka bill - confirms, again, that the trustees are out of touch and out of control.

Worse, OHA Trustees’ recent attempts to smear and demonize those who disagree with them reveal a leadership filled with contempt, desperation and moral bankruptcy.

Had the Trustees genuinely intended to serve their constituents’ best interests, they would have gathered community input through public hearings, in Hawai`i, on the several versions of the bill – without fearing overwhelming public opposition.

We at Koani, along with countless other Hawaiian Nationals and supporters who remain loyal to our Queen and country, will continue the quest to end US occupation and restore our Independent Hawai`i.

Trustees Mossman and Akana have come out on the wrong side of history again by siding with the oppressor in the first place - and now, by waging desperate character assassination campaigns.

`Ehu Kekahu Cardwell
Kai`opua Fyfe
David Ingham
The Koani Foundation
PO Box 1868
Lihu`e, Kaua`i 96766

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD An Appeal from Peace and Sustainability Activists on Hawai'i Island

2006-09-02T15:58:24Z

Aloha kakou,
One of the reasons I started this tribe was so that it could serve as a conduit of information to people in the Bay Area and beyond, regarding the good work that is being done by so many people in Hawai'i, on so many issues.

If you go to the Malu 'Aina website, www.malu-aina.org, you may find yourself very excited by what they're doing. And if you chose to send money to support this work, all the better!

Malama pono!
---------------

An Appeal (from Jim Albertini, of Malu 'Aina and the Center for Non-Violent Education and Action)

Dear Peace Ohana, August 31, 2006

As we come to you once again to ask for your help in our work for peace and
justice, let us share a heartwarming story with you. It is about Marty, who
with a single gesture offered both a generous gift and a remarkable lesson. To
keep this appeal brief, we will let the enclosed leaflet tell the rest of the
story. Please take a moment to read it and you will be moved as we were.

This leaflet is one example of the kind of educational material we offer
each week to our peace vigil passersby at no cost. In fact, most of the goods and
services which Malu `Aina provides come with no price tag attached. Through
our emergency food pantry, we feed an increasing number of hungry people in our
rural neighborhood. For people who need temporary shelter, we are able at
times to extend hospitality. None of this, of course, is done without cost to
Malu `Aina. Raising crops and transporting them to market and neighbors in need
require hard work, tools, organic fertilizer and gasoline. Paper, fuel,
household and farm supplies, packaged foods from the local food bank... all of these we
must buy out of our limited resources.

Along with our routine expenses, this year has brought additional strain to
our modest budget. Prolonged heavy rains resulted in three ruined crops;
response to the escalating military presence in our islands has increased our
printing budget; and inflated gasoline prices have made it more expenses to run our
56 year old tractor, farm truck and all purpose vehicle.

For these and other needs, we turn to you -- our friends and loyal
supporters, without whom none of this would have been possible over the past
quarter-century. We are grateful for your generosity and never cease to be inspired by
your willingness, year after year, to join us as partners in the struggle for
peace and justice. You -- and people like Marty -- provide the material and
spiritual power that enables us to keep on going.

Mahalo and aloha,

Jim Albertini

Donations are tax deductible if checks are made to: Center For Non-violent
Education &Action

P.O. Box AB `Ola`a (Kurtistown) Hawaii 96760.

Phone (808) 966-7622. Email ja@interpac.ja@ http://www.malu-http://w

Bring the Troops Home Now!

"Beat swords into ploughshares...

Train for war no more."

Marty: A Story of the Widow´s Mite

Today marks the 249th consecutive weekly Peace Vigil in Hilo on Friday
afternoon´s from 3:30 - 5PM. Over the course of nearly 5 years the tide has turned
from a majority support for the war to the vast majority now opposing the
war. Such a change is encouraging. We continue on occasion to get cursed, but far
more often people thank us for being here, a few even offering a small
donation to help with the new leaflet written, printed, and distributed in Hilo and
via the internet each week. We are very grateful for donations that help make
the weekly leaflet possible.

Last week I received a donation from a man named Marty that moved me deeply
and I want to share that story. About 4 PM I noticed a short man in his mid
forties walking mauka with a significant limp on the opposite sidewalk of
Waianuenue Ave. from where our Peace Vigil was taking place. As I looked closer I
noticed the man´s one leg was about six inches shorter than the other and he had
no arms. He crossed the street to our vigil line and stopped to talk with one
of our vigilers to ask who was in charge. A friend, one of 12 to 15 on the
vigil line pointed him toward me. As he approached me he asked, "May I speak
with you?" I replied: "Certainly." He said, "I support what you are doing." He
then used his mouth to open a zipper of a small purse around his neck and
pulled out a $20 bill with his mouth and extended it to me. I was stunned. I said "
Thank you," and then Marty (whose name I later learned) continued walking up
Waianuenue Ave.

There is a story in the Gospel of Mark (12:41-44) about a poor widow who
gave from her want -- all that she had to live on while others gave from their
surplus wealth. To me, the donation from Marty is a blessing beyond measure. He
was walking with a handicapped leg while so many others with good legs ride.
Without any arms or hands, he reached into his small purse with his mouth and
gave the largest bill I saw in that purse to support our work for justice and
peace. He could have just as easily passed us by and used that money for his
own needs.

Marty, we thank you for showing us what true giving is all about. We are
honored to print and hand out this leaflet with your donation and to stand in
witness for the commitment we share in solidarity with you for justice and peace.
(We have learned that Marty was born with birth defects caused by Thalidimide
-- a pharmaceutical drug prescribed to his mother.)

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Fwd: 3rd Annual Bay Area Hawaiian Film Festival

2006-08-28T01:11:09Z

PRESENTED BY
APOP HAWAIIAN CULTURAL CENTER

CO-SPONSORED BY WORLD ARTS WEST

THE ALOHA PUMEHANA 'O POLYNESIA (APOP)
HAWAIIAN CULTURAL CENTER PRESENTS
THE 3RD ANNUAL BAY AREA HAWAIIAN FILM FESTIVAL

CONTACT INFO
Kawika Alfiche
info@apop.net / (650)588-1091

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO - The Aloha Pumehana 'O Polynesia
(APOP) Hawaiian Cultural Center is pleased to present
its 3rd Annual Bay Area Hawaiian Film Festival on
Saturday, September 23 at 423 Baden Avenue in South
San Francisco. This year's festival will feature an
array of films, dramas, and documentaries produced by
and about Hawaiians. Each year the festival provides a
cinematic voice for the Hawaiian community on the
mainland and presents a unique opportunity for
Hawaiians to tell their stories, share their language,
culture, and history with the general public in the
Bay Area. "This is important because Hawaiians rarely
see themselves on-screen and to see that is very
empowering," says Kumu Hula Kau'i Peralto of Halau 'o
Kawainuhi.

The festival offers a rare glimpse of Hawaiian
perspectives through cinema and will feature films
about Hawaiian myths and legends told for the first
time in the Hawaiian language; documentaries that
explore the Hawaiian monarchies, sovereignty, land
rights, and environmental issues; highlights on
cultural traditions of Hula; as well as vintage films
featuring the world-renowned surfer Duke Kahanamoku
and Waikiki in the days of old.

Since 1994, APOP continues to educate the general
public about Hawai'i, its people, traditional customs,
values, and protocols. APOP does this through
workshops, cultural events, and their hula halau
(dance group), Halau 'o Keikiali'i. "We are proud to
feature these films and know that it will build an
awareness and deeper appreciation of our culture,"
says Kawika Alfiche, Director of the APOP Hawaiian
Cultural Center.

The 3rd Annual Bay Area Hawaiian Film Festival takes
place at the APOP Hawaiian Cultural Center, 423 Baden
Avenue, South San Francisco on Saturday, September 23,
2006 from 1pm to 9pm. For ticket information call
650.588.1091or info@apop.net . Also be sure to visit
www.apop.net.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Hawaiian Independence group in Berkeley Parade, Sept. 17th

2006-08-22T16:51:51Z

Aloha kakou,
I'd like to invite all independence minded Bay Area residents to join our ad hoc contingent for Hawaiian Independence in the How Berkeley Can You Be Parade on Sept. 17th.

Please email me through Tribe if you want details on the when, where and how of marching in this parade. Let's show Berkeley residents that there's another vital issue that they should know about!

Hope to see you there! A hui hou,
Waihili

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

FWD: Great ruling on illegal GMO crops in Hawai'i!

2006-08-19T05:37:17Z

Center for Food Safety and Earth Justice Victory!

Court Rules Federal Government Acted Illegally In Permitting Field Trials Of Genetically Engineered (GE) Crops In Hawaii

Ruling First Ever on Controversial Drug-Producing GE Crops

Citing possible harm to Hawaii's 329 endangered and threatened species, a federal district judge has ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in permitting the cultivation of drug-producing, genetically engineered crops throughout Hawaii. The court found that USDA acted in "utter disregard" of the ESA, and also violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), by failing to conduct even preliminary investigations prior to its approval of the plantings.

The August 10th decision represents the first federal court ruling ever on "biopharming," the controversial practice of genetically altering food crops to produce experimental drugs and industrial compounds. Biopharming has provoked the ire of the food industry, public interest groups, and farmers concerned about contamination of foods and the environment with potent drugs, and potential economic losses from adulterated food. The four USDA-issued permits primarily at issue in the case authorized Monsanto, ProdiGene, Garst Seed Company, and the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center to plant over 800 acres (1.25 square miles) of drug-producing corn and sugarcane at various sites in Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui from 2001 to 2003.

The plaintiffs in the case - Center for Food Safety, Friends of the Earth, Pesticide Action Network North America, and KAHEA (the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance) - sued the USDA in November 2003. Plaintiffs were represented by Earthjustice and Center for Food Safety.

"This decision shows that regulatory oversight of this out-of-control industry has been woefully inadequate. The agency entrusted with protecting human health and the environment from the impacts of genetic engineering experiments has been asleep at the wheel," said Paul Achitoff, attorney with Earthjustice.

"The ruling is a clear victory for Hawaii's environment," said Joseph Mendelson, Legal Director of the Center for Food Safety. "It will help protect the islands from the illegal field-testing of genetically engineered, drug-producing crops."

Plaintiffs point to a scathing critique of USDA's regulation of biopharm and other genetically altered crops issued by the agency's Inspector General in December 2005 as evidence that USDA continues to neglect its regulatory duties. That report documented numerous violations, including USDA's failure to record locations of field trial sites and conduct required inspections. In two instances, USDA regulators were unaware that a total of more than two tons of harvested biopharm crop material was stored at uninspected facilities for over a year.

Hawaii is the nation's leading state for plantings of experimental, genetically engineered crops, having hosted more than 5,000 such tests from 1987 through 2004, including several dozen biopharm crop trials. Biopharm crops produce substances such as experimental vaccines, growth hormones, blood-clotting and thinning agents, antibodies, and industrial enzymes. Two high-profile contamination incidents in 2002, in which biopharm corn produced by ProdiGene contaminated soybeans and corn in Nebraska and Iowa, provoked widespread criticism of the practice, which nevertheless continues.

Plaintiffs have also challenged USDA's practice of concealing the locations of trials from the public, and in most cases not disclosing the substances being grown in the plants.

Judge J. Michael Seabright ordered the parties to appear in court on August 22, 2006, to discuss remedies for the government's violations.

"We will not rest until the federal government prohibits the irresponsible and hazardous field-testing of drug-producing, genetically engineered crops," said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of Center for Food Safety.

For more information and to read the ruling, visit the Center for Food safety at http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press_room.cfm

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD: Exciting New Voices of Truth season

2006-08-15T15:29:28Z

FWD from 'Ehu Cardwell, for Voices of Truth:

Aloha `aina,

Starting this week, Voices Of Truth enters its third season.

As promised, we have brand new segments starting with both Leon Siu and
Clarence Ku Ching giving a complete behind the scenes report on how the
Akaka bill was defeated.

If you¹ve wondered how this grass roots effort was able to prevail against a
multi-million dollar attempt by OHA and the rest to steal a nation, don¹t
miss this one as both Leon and Ku give us a day by day and even hour by hour
recap of how they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Want to know the fundamental differences between why Hawai`i Nationals and
the far right in the US wanted the Akaka bill dead?

Well, we were able to visit one-on-one with Ku, a former OHA trustee
himself, and get his in depth analysis on this as well as what the future
could look like for a Free Hawai`i.

Yes, we¹ve got a third season packed with fascinating people and
inspirational messages and the debut of the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting
Network - where no matter where on earth you live, you¹ll soon be able to
watch Voices Of Truth One-On-One with Hawai`i¹s Future.

Stay tuned. We¹ve got a lot more exciting things to come soon.

MONDAY, August 14th At 7:00 PM & FRIDAY, August 18th At 5:30 PM Hawai`i
Island Na Leo, Channel 54
WEDNESDAY, August 16th At 6:30 PM & THURSDAY, August 17th At 6:45 AM Maui
Akaku, Channel 53
THURSDAY, August 17th At 8:30 PM & FRIDAY, August 18th At 8:30 AM Kaua`i
Ho`ike, Channel 52
³Hawaiian Patriots In Action A Visit With Clarence Ku Ching²

As one of the people who went to Capitol Hill to help defeat the Akaka bill,
Ku Ching gives us his first hand experience of what it¹s like to be in the
power center of the US.

As a former OHA trustee himself, Ku had plenty of credibility when meeting
with senate power brokers to share his views on why the Akaka bill should be
defeated and they listened.

Ku also gives us his in depth analysis of OHA¹s ³Plan B² and we¹ll tell you
right now it isn¹t pretty.

Don¹t miss this one as Ku tells us what the future holds for Hawai`i after
the Akaka bill as well as why OHA is so busy publicly attempting to smear
his name.

SATURDAY, August 19th At 8:00 PM O`ahu - `Olelo, Channel 53
³Saving The Nation A Visit With Leon Siu & Clarence Ku Ching²

Many of you have asked what went on behind the scenes in Washington, DC that
led to the defeat of the Akaka bill.

Leon Siu and Clarence Ku Ching were part of a team that went to Capitol Hill
to deliver the message that Hawai`i¹s people were against the bill.

During three critical days in our history, tirelessly going from office to
office in the US Senate, they spoke to any who would listen.

As we now know, plenty did.

Better than any thriller, don¹t miss this behind the scenes blow by blow
account as Leon and Ku reveal for the first time exactly what they did and
said in those three days that saved the Hawaiian nation.

Voices Of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to
discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants in
the hopes of inspiring viewers to do the same.

Those not in Hawai`i wishing to view the series may do so by visiting
www.olelo.org <http://www.olelo.org> and then clicking ³NAT- Channel 53.² A
screen should then display allowing you to see the show via live streaming.
Please refer to the `Olelo television programming notes above for segment
times and titles.

All show times listed above are Hawai`i Standard Time (HST.)

Ho`oku`oko`a,
`Ehu Kekahu Cardwell
The Koani Foundation
Visit www.FreeHawaii.Info <http://www.FreeHawaii.Info>
³Hawai`I Was A Free Nation But Never Free For The Taking.²

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD: Fantastic Good News for Mauna Kea Case

2006-08-09T13:35:18Z

Huge congratulations to the appelants, including Clarence Kukauakahi Ching, who is also a member of this tribe. This court case protects Mauna Kea in important ways! This is fantastic news! Yipeeeeeee!
--------------------
Media Release: The Mauna Kea Outrigger Case Reversed; David wins
Posted by: "kahiwal@cs.com" kahiwal@cs.com clarencec_hi
Mon Aug 7, 2006 7:23 pm (PST)
Mauna Kea Anaina Hou
Royal Order of Kamehameha I
Clarence Ching
Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release on Contact: Kealoha Pisciotta (MKAH)
808-934-7668
August 5, 2006 Deborah J. Ward (Sierra Club) 808-966-7361
(706-206-1469 c)
Paul Neves (Royal Order) 808-935-9656
Clarence Ching 808-776-1198
Lea Hong (Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing) 441-6178 (w)/783-3653
(cell)

HILO COURT RULES COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN
REQUIRED FOR SUMMIT OF MAUNA KEA

Hilo, Hawai‘i. – In a Memorandum of Decision dated August 3, 2006 and
received by the parties on August 4, 2006, Third Circuit Judge Glenn S. Hara
reversed the conservation district use permit (CDUP) granted by the Board of Land and
Natural Resources (BLNR) to the University of Hawaii Institute of Astronomy (“
UHIFA”) for the construction of up to six 1.8 meter Outrigger Telescopes
around the existing Keck telescopes on the summit of Mauna Kea.. Judge Hara
further held that administrative rules governing astronomy facilities required a
comprehensive management plan for the summit of Mauna Kea.

Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, the Sierra Club,
Hawaii Chapter (Moku Loa Group), and Clarence Ching (“the Appellants”) appealed
the BLNR’s CDUP for the Outrigger Project in November 2004 after lengthy
contested case hearings through 2003-2004 in which Native Hawaiian lineal and
cultural descendants, religious practitioners, and cultural experts such as Pua
Kanaka`ole Kanahele, Kepa Maly, and Mililani B.Trask testified in the Appellants'
favor. The Appellants other supporting witnesses included state and national
environmental and resource management experts such as Fred D. Stone, PhD of
Hilo, Brad Finney PhD of California, and Thomas King PhD of Washington D.C.

On appeal, the Appellants argued that the UHIFA’s CDUP and plan to build four
(4) to six (6) more telescopes was inconsistent with the BLNR rules governing
“astronomy facilities” in a conservation district like Mauna Kea.
Appellants pointed out the “management plan” offered by the UHIFA covered only the
Outrigger project. The “management plan” was not comprehensive, and did not
cover the entire summit of Mauna Kea. The Appellants further claimed without a
comprehensive management plan, the rights and resources of the people of Hawai`i
remained at risk, citing the need for protection against hazardous and sewage
waste contamination, candidate endangered species protection, public access
and use, and the protection of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights
and resources. Both BLNR and UHIFA argued that a single project “management
plan” was sufficient to meet the requirements of the BLNR rules.

Judge Hara held that: “The resource that needs to be conserved, protected
and preserved is the summit area of Mauna Kea, not just the area of the Project.
Allowing management plans on a project by project basis would result in
foreseeable contradictory management conditions for each project or the imposition
of special conditions on some projects and not others. The result would be
projects within a management area that did not conform to a comprehensive
management plan, and would not be consistent with the purposes of appropriate
management and promoting long term sustainability of the protected resource
espoused by HRS Section 183C-2 [statute governing conservation districts].” The
court further held that “BLNR failed to adhere to the provisions of HAR Chapter
13-5-24 [rules governing astronomy facilities] and appellants substantial rights
have been prejudiced by the Board’s approval of UHIFA’s application for the
Conservation district use permit and for approval of a management plan.

The Outrigger project has faced several setbacks. In 2003, a federal
district court judge held that NASA’s environmental assessment for the project was
inadequate. Thereafter, NASA completed a more detailed environmental impact
statement. In the EIS, NASA concluded that the cumulative impact of thirty years
of astronomy development has had a significant, adverse, and substantial
impact on the natural and cultural resources of Mauna Kea. In 2004, the
Appellants appealed the CDUP granted to UHIFA. In early 2006, NASA announced plans to
withdraw funding for the Outrigger project.

Kealoha Pisciotta, President of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, commented: “I am
thankful, I can only say Mahalo Ke Akua....this decision is a win for the people,
the land and those things that are sacred..., I would like to thank Judge Hara
for his thorough review of this complex case; I'm sure his job was not easy. I
am thankful for all the hundreds of people who, for all these years, attended
meeting after meeting for Mauna Kea. I am thankful for the film team Na Maka o
Ka `Aina--for their PBS film, Mauna Kea:. I am thankful for our brave lawyers
who took our case when no one else would. I am thankful to the many Kupuna
that have passed, such as Uncle Genesis Lee Loy, Aunty Kamakahukilani Von
Oelhoffen and Aunty Leina`ala Apiki McCord, and others, too many to name, for they
give us strength to carry on, and they are here with us always.

Deborah J. Ward, a representative for the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, Moku
Loa Group, said:
“The Hawaii court of law has finally reinforced what the people of Hawaii
have been saying about their love for Mauna Kea. Sierra Club is very gratified
that the judge affirms the need for comprehensive planning for its protection.
The club supports the development of a comprehensive management plan that is
community based, incorporating multiple uses. It is time for the Department of
Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to join community
members in a cooperative spirit to build a plan that reflects the needs and uses of
a broad spectrum of Hawaii’s people.

It is clear that Mauna Kea is treasured by the people of Hawaii as a sacred
place, as a wild landscape and as a natural habitat for unique organisms. Mauna
Kea is beloved by people of the world as a special place to renew the mind
and spirit, gain inspiration, and occasionally to recreate. The mountain, from
sea to summit, must be managed to protect and restore the natural and cultural
resources for generations to come. It is time the people of Hawaii and
agencies with responsibilities for land management begin to develop a common vision
for protection of the ‘ahupua’a of Mauna Kea. “

Clarence Ching: “I'm ecstatic, Mahalo Ke Akua...This is a precedent setting
case; it will help not only Mauna Kea but Haleakala as well, since Haleakala is
also slated for more astronomy development.”

Ali`i `Aimoku, Paul K. Neves of the The Royal Order of Kamehameha I: "We
are grateful for the opportunity to serve the Poe Hawai`i (the people of
Hawai'i). From the beginning we affirmed that the jurisdiction in Hawai`i rests with
the right-holders not stakeholders, meaning Hawaiian Kingdom and its peoples,
not the University of Hawai`i. We will continue to be involved in working with
the people of Hawai`i towards lasting protection and oversight of Mauna Kea
that the people can be proud of. We thank the people from all islands and the
world for their prayers and support. We say deeply, Mahaho Ke Akua, Na Akua, Na
Aumakua."

Lea Hong, one of the pro bono lawyers for the Appellants (along with William
Tam and Dexter Kaiama), stated: “The plain language of the BLNR rules is
clear. Comprehensive means comprehensive. It does not mean piecemeal. It does
not mean project-by -project. I hope that BLNR will take Judge Hara’s decision
to heart and work with the community to protect the precious resource that is
Mauna Kea and develop a long term comprehensive management plan for the
summit of Mauna Kea that can be a model for other special places in Hawai`i and the
nation.”

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD article: Sovereignty Group Attempts to Claim Kaho'olawe

2006-08-06T04:48:51Z

Honolulu Advertiser
Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Sovereignty group attempts to claim Kaho'olawe

By Mark Niesse
Associated Press

A Native Hawaiian sovereignty group took two boats from Maui to
Kaho'olawe yesterday, landed on shore, set up a rock altar and
planted a flag laying claim to the island.

The 18 members of the group calling itself the Reinstated Hawaiian
Kingdom is challenging U.S. sovereignty over land taken during the
1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, said Henry Noa, who
identified himself as the group's "prime minister" by cell phone from
the undeveloped island.

A few hours later, state officers arrested two of the members and
issued citations to the rest for entering a restricted area, said
Randy Awo, branch chief of the Department of Land and Natural
Resources enforcement division. Their names and the exact charges
against them were not immediately released.

"Our purpose is to reclaim our national land," Noa said. "We're
staking our claim here. We're not terrorists. We're far from being
terrorists. We're reasonable people."

Kaho'olawe is the smallest of the eight main Hawaiian Islands, and
was established as a state reserve in 1993. It is seven miles
southwest of Maui and covers about 44 square miles.

Access to Kaho'olawe is restricted because it is hazardous after
decades of military training, said Sol Kaho'ohalahala, executive
director of the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission.

About 65 percent of the surface has been cleared of weapons and
ordinance, and less than 10 percent of the surrounding waters are
considered safe.

Ranchers once tended sheep and goats on the mostly lava-rock island,
but it now has no permanent residents.

Members of the Reinstated Hawaiian Kingdom, which was formed in 1999
and claims 3,000 citizens, say their action on Kaho'olawe is
justified by the 1993 Apology Resolution, in which Congress voted to
apologize for the role the United States played in the overthrow of
the Hawaiian Kingdom.

"They did not have the right to take it. That's what they admitted,"
said Dale Albertson, a Big Island district representative for the
Reinstated Hawaiian Kingdom. "We're trying to remove it from future
contamination and attempt to push forward the cleanup of the 'aina."

The Reinstated Hawaiian Kingdom is one of several Native Hawaiian
groups seeking various ways to restore Native Hawaiian rights and
rule in the Islands.

The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs is moving ahead with its vision
for a Hawaiian government within the framework of the United States,
according to OHA Administrator Clyde Namu'o.

"It's too bad that people are trespassing," Namu'o said. "The United
States was apologetic, but I'm not sure you can say that's the basis
for reclaiming land."

The Navy concluded its 10-year cleanup operations on Kaho'olawe in
2003, although officials say much ordnance remains buried, rests on
the land surface or lies beneath waters offshore.

The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission prohibits access except for
Native Hawaiian cultural purposes, environmental restoration,
education and rehabilitation of the habitat.

Commission officials say they prepare for such access ahead of time,
informing groups about the risks involved.

Noa said his group maintains that the Hawai'i government is the one
trespassing on Kaho'olawe, and it plans to continue efforts to
reclaim its land and national identity.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Important FWD: Geneva committee looking at Hawaiian situation

2006-07-30T13:51:42Z

Aloha kakou,
This is a forward from Kaiopua Fyfe, of the Koani Foundation, regarding work he and others are doing to bring the attention of the Human Rights Committee to the situation in Hawai'i. Important process!
------------------

Hot off the internet From Geneva (07-28-06):

Excerpt from the Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee

Item 37. . . . Finally, the Committee regrets that it has not received sufficient information on the consequences on the situation of Indigenous Native Hawaiians of Public Law 103-150 apologizing to the Native Hawaiian Peoples for the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, which resulted in the suppression of the inherent sovereignty of the Hawaiian people. (articles 1, 26 and 27 in conjunction with Article 2, paragraph 3 of the Covenant).

Background:
On July 17 & 18, a delegation from the United States of America (approximately 30 people from Justice, State, Homeland Security, Interior and Defense) appeared before the Human Rights Committee in Geneva to answer questions related to the second and third periodic reports which the U.S.A. filed in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

As a result of effective influence exerted during the previous week of the Committees 87th Session, based on the submission of The Special Situation of Hawaii A Shadow Report to the Human Rights Committee on the Violation of Human Rights of Native Hawaiians in the Hawaiian Archipelago last March, and thanks to the genuine interest of particular Committee Members, two questions relating to Hawai`i were posed to the U.S.A. delegation on the first day.

Mr. Walter Kalin, Committee Member from Switzerland, asked (paraphrased) . . . in the context of these two articles (1 & 27), I would like to ask a question on Hawaii. I would like to know whether and how the passing of Public Law 103-150 apologizing to the Native Hawaiian peoples for the illegal and violent overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii had any impact or practical consequences on the situation of the indigenous Native Hawaiians, many of whom remain marginalized?

Mr. Michael O’Flaherty, Committee Member from Ireland, asked (paraphrased) . . . regarding the indigenous people of Hawaii mentioned by Mr. Kalin, what steps does the State party (the U.S.A.) intend to take given the failure of the restitution bill, the Akaka bill?

On the second day, Mr. Wan Kim, U.S. Justice, replied (paraphrased) . . . Mr. O’Flaherty’s asked about Hawaii. The US administration opposed the Akaka bill, because it would have divided American people by race. Discrete subgroups with race-based qualifications are impermissible. Finally, the bill would have granted federal tribal recognition to Hawaiians when the US Supreme Court has said they are not a recognized aboriginal group.

In order to be recognized, they must maintain continuous identities as distinct indigenous groups to institutionalize government to government relationships. While native Hawaiians are indigenous to Hawaii, there are many differences from other indigenous groups, most Hawaiians have not retained a continuous identity as a group permitting an assumption that a tribal leadership speaks for the group.

Mr. Kalin’s question regarding the Public Law 103-150 was not addressed.

To view the full report go to http://www.ohchr.org/english/

At the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Home Page, right side under Meetings & Events, click on 10-28 July Human Rights Committee;

Read across the United States of America row to Concluding Observations and click the blue E to open the Advanced Unedited Version of the Human Rights Committee Concluding observations of the second and third periodic reports of the United States of America per the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Anyone interested in community briefings on this and other UN topics, reply to

Kai`opua Fyfe, Director
The Koani Foundation
PO Box 1878
Lihu`e, Kaua`i 96766
kaiokauai@aol.com

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

July 30 is "Restoration Day" in Hawai'i!

2006-07-30T13:46:16Z

Hawaii independence movement gathers for
national holiday at Thomas Square
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 11:38:25 -1000

Please post and distribute.
Hawaiian independence movement gathers for national holiday at
Thomas Square

Celebrate the 163rd anniversary of Ka La Ho‘iho‘i Ea with
live music, keiki activities, cultural workshops

Kanaka Maoli and their supporters will gather at Thomas Square on
July 30, 2006 from 10 am to 5 pm to celebrate the 163rd
anniversary and 22nd annual revial of Ka La Ho‘iho‘I Ea,
Kanaka Maoli Sovereignty Restoration Day.

The celebration recalls July 31, 1843, when British Admiral
Richard Thomas ordered the Union Jack lowered and the Hawaiian
Kingdom flag hoisted above Honolulu. This action ended five
months of Britain’s military invasion and occupation under
Lord George Paulet. Thomas then saluted King Kamehameha III as
“Independent Sovereign.” The King led a procession to
Kawaiaha‘o Church where he proclaimed “Ua mau ke ea o ka
aina i ka pono” – “the sovereignty of the land
continues through righteous action.” These words thereafter
were enshrined as the motto of the Hawaiian nation.

Four months later on November 28, 1843, as a result of
negotiations by Timoteo Ha‘alilio, the King’s cousin and
personal secretary, and US missionary William Richards, Britain
and France officially recognized the independence of the Hawaiian
Kingdom. Subsequently, US President John Tyler “agreed with
the spirit of that declaration.” Thereafter, July 31 has been
celebrated as Restoration Day and November 28 as Independence
Day.

In 1985, Kanaka Maoli nationals and supporters revived the annual
celebration at Thomas Square. This year’s celebration will
feature the new era of Maoli music and the resurgence of Hawaiian
culture and art, with performances from Paula Fuga, Liko Martin,
Jon Osorio, and Kupa‘aina. Activities will be provided for
the whole family, with informational tents to learn Hawaiian
traditional arts, and a “bouncing castle” for the keiki.

All are welcome to come and learn about the Hawaiian movement for
independence and self-determination, and celebrate this historic
day.

Ka La Ho‘iho‘i Ea 2006 is sponsored by the Pro-Kanaka
Maoli Independence Working Group, Kanaka Maoli Tribunal Komike,
Ohana Koa/Nuclear Free & Independent Pacific, Ka Pakaukau, Living
Nation, DMZ Hawaii/Aloha Aina, and various supporters and ohana.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Green Flash fwd: Army First Lt. Ehren Watada's pre-trial hearing for refusing deployment

2006-07-26T19:50:54Z

Fwd'd from Jack Kelly's Green Flash bulletin. Email him at ko_kelly@earthlink.net to subscribe!!!
----------

July 24, 2006

Join the Aug. 16 "National Day of Education" to question:

"Is the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq illegal?"

On August 17, U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada will face a pre-trial hearing for refusing to deploy to Iraq. “It is my conclusion as an officer of the armed forces that the war in Iraq is not only morally wrong but a horrible breach of American law. The war and what we’re doing over there is illegal,” explained the first military officer to publicly take such a stand.

On August 16, the day prior to the hearing, The Friends and Family of Lt. Ehren Watada are calling for a “National Day of Education” to pose the question, “Is the war illegal?” This day can also serve to anchor a “week of outreach” leading up to the pre-trial hearing.

Prior to the U.S. attack on Iraq, over a thousand U.S. law organizations and professors explained that an invasion, without a new U.N. Security Council Resolution, would constitute a crime against the peace and a war of aggression. Since then, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has unequivocally confirmed that the U.S. war “was illegal.” And documents such as the “Downing Street Memos” make clear that the war and occupation was planned and initiated as an illegal war of aggression in violation of the U.N. Charter. By treaty, these international laws become domestic law.

Yet, does it matter? Some would argue that President Bush’s power should be nearly limitless. Others simply believe the military victor decides right from wrong. Yet, Lt. Watada has found the courage to stand up for the obvious truth and in the process has issued a challenge to us all.

Five years in prison for speech?

The Army has formally charged Lt. Watada two counts of making “contemptuous words” towards President Bush. In short, Lt. Watada has expressed his opinion that “our government led us into war based on misrepresentations and lies.” This is the first known prosecution of this “criminal violation” (Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) since 1965. Could it be that because this opinion is so widely shared, that it is so threatening?

The Army charges that these same words also constitute “conduct unbecoming and officer and a gentleman.” As such, Lt. Watada now faces over five years in military prison for his opinions alone.

It is Lt. Watada’s outspoken stand for truth that has most angered Army brass. Even before he refused to board an Iraq-bound aircraft on June 22 with the 3rd Stryker Brigade, he was already under investigation for expressing his opinions about the war.

Teach-in's, house parties, and outreach

On Wednesday, August 16 – the day prior to Lt. Watada’s pretrial court hearing – we are asking friends to organize house parties or larger public gatherings to look at the facts. Students and teachers in summer session can hold campus and classroom teach-ins using Lt. Watada’s stand as a catalyst for discussion.

Topics to cover include:

* Is this a war of aggression as outlined by the UN Charter, the Geneva Convention and the Nuremberg principles?
* Has the U.S. military’s conduct in Iraq amounted to war crimes?
* Does the war violate the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Act?
* Do military personal have a right to refuse illegal orders?

Protest at Fort Lewis, Washington

In addition to education, people will also be taking action of August 16. At the Interstate 5, Exit 119 bridge at the entrance to Fort Lewis, Washington supporters will gather at 4:00pm with a 6:00pm rally.

Friends across the country are also encouraged to use this opportunity to stage a rally, vigil or freeway bannering as well. This is another step towards a mass mobilization at Fort Lewis during Lt. Watada’s court martial in the fall.

Help Lt. Ehren Watada put the war on trial!

Friends and Family of Lt. Watada
<http://www.ThankYouLt.org/>

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD from Ehu: Voices of Truth Television This Week

2006-07-25T17:07:09Z

Aloha `aina,

A lot of you have let us know of your deep concern regarding any so-called Native Hawaiian “governing entity” to be created in the future.

This concern runs deep amongst both native and non-native.

OHA’s “Plan B” to create just that kind of entity would surely divide rather than reconcile – it ends up defining people by race and perpetuating the very problems the rest of us seek to resolve once and for all.

Is there a better way?

Is it possible to once again embrace the values and ways that long existed under Kingdom rule throughout all Hawai`i so that Kanaka Maoli culture and values are the foundation from which all of us live?

Our shows this week feature three individuals who are living that answer every day of their lives.

They know the value of what they live and teach – for themselves and others.

Kupuna Kauila Poaha-Reyes on Moloka`i, Kumu John Keola Lake on O`ahu and Isaac Harp on Hawai`i island are all uniters, not dividers.

It is their message, shining examples and hope for the future we bring you this week on Voices Of Truth – One-On-One With Hawai`i’s Future.

MONDAY, July 24th At 7:00 PM & FRIDAY, July 28th At 5:30 PM - Hawai`i Island - Na Leo, Channel 54
“Living The Values - A Visit With Kupuna Kauila Poaha-Reyes”

A cultural practitioner in Kaunakakai, Moloka`i, Kauila is one of Hawai`i’s revered elders.

Kupuna Kauila has been associated with the Department of Education on Moloka`i for many years, working with our `opio throughout the schools.

As a living community resource, she proudly lives the values of her culture – so much so that it is she who residents seek out for advice in many different situations.

Be sure and catch our visit with this remarkable Molokai treasure. At a time when cultural values in Hawai`i are more important than ever, Kupuna Kauila’s message for us all is one we’ll long remember.

WEDNESDAY, July 26th At 6:30 PM & THURSDAY, July 27th At 6:45 AM - Maui - Akaku, Channel 53
THURSDAY, July 27th At 8:30 PM & FRIDAY, July 28th At 8:30 AM - Kaua`i - Ho`ike, Channel 52
“Keeping The Old Ways Alive – A Visit With Kumu John Keola Lake”

A true legend, Kumu John Lake lives his heritage.

For more than four decades he has shared his knowledge of Hawaiian language, hula and chant. And he’s done it with a geniality that draws people to him, that recalls the kupuna of old.

Because of his love for the culture, it comes out in his personality, the way he teaches and shares information. He makes you want to be informed and live it yourself.

Why then is it so important to bring the knowledge of the past to the present? What messages do our ancestors have waiting for us to learn today?

Join us as we visit with Kumu Lake, an incomparable wellspring of knowledge who has made a priceless impact on so many, as he shows us why the lessons of old are the keys of success for our Nation today.

SATURDAY, July 29th At 8:00 PM - O`ahu - 'Olelo, Channel 53
“Who Are The Real Hawaiians? - A Visit With Isaac Harp”

In the wake of the defeat of the Akaka bill, why OHA is now saying they’re going to spend ten million beneficiary dollars to proceed with nation building but only with aboriginal rights?

Confused? You're not alone. Well, get ready to separate fact from fiction.

Native Hawaiian rights, aboriginal rights and Kingdom rights. What's the difference between them, and why did federal recognition only offer aboriginal and not Kingdom rights?

Which is more significant, and why don't OHA and the backers of federal recognition want you to know the difference between the two?

Long time Hawaiian freedom fighter Isaac Harp explains the difference and what's at stake for us all, Kanaka or not.

Watch this segment and discover for yourself what they don't want you to know and more importantly don't want you to have.

Voices of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants in the hopes of inspiring viewers to do the same.

Those not in Hawai`i wishing to view the series may do so by visiting www.olelo.org and then clicking "NAT-Channel 53." A screen should then display allowing you to see the show via live streaming. Please refer to the `Olelo television programming notes above for segment times and titles.

All show times listed above are Hawai`i Standard Time (HST.)

Ho`oku`oko`a,
`Ehu Kekahu Cardwell
The Koani Foundation
Visit www.FreeHawaii.Info
"Hawai`i Was A Free Nation - But Never Free For The Taking."

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD: OHA Trustees are Delusional

2006-07-22T20:25:37Z

Note: Leon Siu, Ku Ching and others were in Washington DC some weeks ago to protest the Akaka bill. Congratulations to them on their activism!
-------

OHA TRUSTEES ARE DELUSIONAL

Hawai`i Reporter

By Leon Siu, 7/21/2006

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs' daring plan publicized in The Honolulu Advertiser's July 17th edition to move "full speed ahead" with forming a race-based, Native-Hawaiians-only nation, shows the depths of the delusion into which the trustees have descended.

With Rice vs.. Cayetano and the recent debacle of the Akaka bill, what part of "racial discrimination" do the OHA trustees not understand?

So they want to get the "nation" up and running by 2008? If a race-based governing entity isn't legal now, what makes them think that it will be legal two years from now? Apparently OHA expects us to believe that it will happen if they get 118,000 Hawaiians to sign up under Kau Inoa. Then the U.S. will miraculously say, "Congratulations! You hit the magic number! Now you qualify to have an unconstitutional race-based government!"

What part of "unconstitutional" do the OHA trustees not understand? And what happens if OHA's recruitment falls short of that number?

And why spend yet another "$7 to $10 million" to "build a nation" by following the exact format that was rejected by the U.S. Senate last month? This would be another $7 million to $10 million lost to silly political machinations instead of real services to the beneficiaries.

And, by the way, how much did OHA spend in the six years of lobbying, slick advertising, posturing rallies and T-shirts to push for the fatally flawed Akaka bill? Where did that money come from?

The OHA trustees need to get on with truly serving all the people of Hawai`i. If it is indeed OHA's purpose to redress the injustices stemming from the 1893 illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, then the OHA beneficiaries should be the Hawaiian Nationals (the remnants of a political entity), not Native Hawaiians (an ethnic sub-group of Hawaiian Nationals).

This shift in the beneficiaries from Natives to Nationals, would provide OHA and other Hawaiian entitlement programs with the bulletproof "political entity" they have been flailing around to find.

Leon Siu, a resident of Honolulu and a Hawaiian entertainer, can be reached via email at mailto:leon@hits.net

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?19bca7ac-2ef3-411d-9945-d3be8ed

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Free Hawai'i Campaign Bumperstickers/FWD from Koani Foundation

2006-07-19T13:21:15Z

Aloha kakou,
This is a forward from Ehu Cardwell, of the Koani Foundation.
--------------------

A NEW, EXCITING WAY TO FREE HAWAI`I - NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE!

The Koani Foundation is pleased to announce receipt of thousands of colorful new Free Hawai`i bumper stickers and lapel pins and . . . they're absolutely free.

Help us spread the Free Hawai`i message far and wide.

Wherever on Earth you live, contact us by email, snail mail or phone to request your stickers and pins. We'll ship them out immediately with no cost to you at all.

Our Request –
When you receive them, please display your Free Hawai`i bumper sticker and pin prominently and publicly. Email a photo of yourself with the sticker and pin.

Send Us Your FREE HAWAI`I Photos In Any Of Three Different Ways -

1 – Bumper sticker on vehicle adjacent to the license plate. License plates from throughout the 49 United States and foreign countries are a special plus.

2 – Bumper sticker displayed prominently in a public place; at a business you own or patronize; inside, outside; anywhere people can see it easily.

3 – Bumper stickers hand-held in front of famous sites or geographic features; the Statue of Liberty; the Boston Tea Party ship; the Liberty Bell; the Alamo; the Golden Gate Bridge; the Mormon Tabernacle; the Grand Canyon; Big Ben; the Eiffel Tower; the Great Wall of China. The possibilities are endless.

What We’ll Do –

When we receive your photos, we'll post them on www.FreeHawaii.Info for all the world to see; we'll also share a few select ones from time to time in this email group and possibly feature them on our internationally distributed "Voices of Truth" television series.

And to show our appreciation, all photos will be awarded an Aloha March 2000 Commemorative CD, while supplies last, as our way of saying mahalo.

Request Your Free Hawai`i Stickers and Pins – freehawaii@earthlink.net. Or PO Box 1878, Lihu`e, Kaua`i 96766, or call us at (808) 822-7643.

Email Your Photos To – freehawaii@earthlink.net

Show The World You Support A FREE HAWAI`I !

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Illegal Sonar in War Games off Hawai'i

2006-07-09T02:26:32Z

Note: the suit mentioned below did temporarily halt the sonar.
======
Navy Will Be Sued to Stop Illegal Sonar in Massive Hawaiian
War Games, High-Intensity Sonar Needlessly Threatens
Marine Mammals &Other Species Near President's New
Underwater National Monument

http://snipurl.com/sk05
originally:
http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/newsprint.cgi?file=/news2006/0628-17.htm

LOS ANGELES -- June 28, 2006 -- Conservation groups intend to file a federal
lawsuit today to stop the U.S. Navy from illegally using high-intensity sonar,
which is deadly to whales, during an eight-nation naval exercise that began
Monday in a 210,000 square-mile area around Hawaii. The exercise area comprises
some of the richest marine habitat in the United States, including waters
near the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, created just two
weeks ago by President Bush.

The lawsuit by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and other groups
will challenge a last-minute authorization granted yesterday by the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) allowing the Navy to "take" as many as 25,000
protected marine mammals by blasting high-intensity, mid-frequency sonar during
the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. "Take" is a legal term
meaning to harass, hunt, capture or kill.

"It is absurd to designate an area a Marine National Monument one week, and
then authorize the Navy to threaten endangered whales and other marine mammals
in the region with high-intensity sonar the next," said Joel Reynolds, a
senior attorney at NRDC and director of its Marine Mammal Protection Project. "It
is possible for the Navy to train effectively without needlessly inflicting
harm on marine life, and that is exactly what federal law requires."

The suit will seek a temporary order restraining use of high-intensity,
mid-frequency sonar during the exercise unless effective measures are taken to
prevent harm to marine life. Although the exercise has begun, sonar activity
during RIMPAC 2006 is not scheduled to begin until next week.

Whales exposed to high-intensity mid-frequency sonar have repeatedly stranded
and died on beaches around the world, some bleeding around the brain and in
the ears, with severe lesions in their organ tissue. At lower intensities,
sonar can interfere with the ability of marine mammals to navigate, avoid
predators, find food, care for their young, and, ultimately, to survive. There is no
scientific dispute that intense sonar blasts can disturb, injure, and even kill
marine mammals.

Whales, dolphins and other marine mammals have extraordinarily sensitive
hearing, and mid-frequency sonar can emit continuous sound well above 235
decibels, an intensity millions of times stronger than exposures that have killed some
species of whales. A recent report by NMFS said that sonar was a "plausible,
if not likely" cause of a mass stranding of 150 melon-headed whales during
RIMPAC 2004.

The Navy has resisted precautions for mid-frequency sonar use during RIMPAC
2006 despite repeated efforts by outside groups. Such measures include
exclusion zones in protected marine areas; reduced sonar intensity at night and in
channels where the risk to marine mammals is greatest; implementing the same
expanded 'safety zone' around ships that some allied navies use; and effectively
monitoring for marine mammals during sonar drills.

"The Navy has known for years about the risk to marine life, and they have
had ample time to plan for it without disrupting their training program,"
Reynolds said. "Instead, they waited until the last minute to request an
authorization, and the authorization they got is illegal."

For RIMPAC 2006, the U.S. Navy received an Incidental Harassment
Authorization (IHA) from NMFS, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic &
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is the first time the Navy has sought
prior permission to use sonar.

The IHA was "unlawfully issued," says the suit, because federal law prohibits
the use of IHAs to authorize activities, like these sonar exercises, that may
seriously injure or kill marine mammals. The lawsuit also asserts numerous
other claims under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the National
Environmental Policy Act.

The lawsuit will be brought by NRDC in conjunction with the International
Fund for Animal Welfare, the Cetacean Society International, the Ocean Futures
Society, and Jean-Michel Cousteau. It will be filed at the U.S. District Court
for the Central District of California.

Mass stranding and mortality events associated with mid-frequency sonar
exercises have occurred all over the world in the last 20 years. Among the most
well known strandings are those in North Carolina (2005), Haro Strait (off the
coast of Washington State, 2003), the Canary Islands (2004, 2002, 1989, 1986,
1985), Madeira (2000), the U.S. Virgin Islands (1999, 1998), and Greece (1996).

One of the best-documented incidents took place in the Bahamas, in 2000, when
16 whales of three species stranded along 150 miles of shoreline as ships
blasted the area with sonar. The U.S. Navy later acknowledged in an official
report that its use of sonar was the likely cause of the stranding.

"We can protect our national security without endangering whales, dolphins,
and other marine species," said Cara Horowitz, a project attorney at NRDC.
"When it chooses to train in uniquely rich waters like the areas off Hawaii, the
Navy must take significant steps to avoid harming whales during tests of
mid-frequency sonar

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 3 replies

when we ready

2006-07-05T12:51:00Z

The Akaka bill has failed and even though i was against the bill it still hurt to see it fail, because it just reminds me how much americans will have to change before they will be able to accept their wrong doing. Even more important it reveals how much us Hawaiians will have to change to get our freedom.

When we are ready to be independent from the U.S. there are a few things that I feel will be necessary. We must have our language. Most important, not only do we Hawaiians have to have full mastery of our native tongue, but all those wishing to be citizens of the nation of Hawaii must speak Hawaiian. We must bring back the Hawaiian language the same way that they made english the primary language of these islands. Hawaiian needs to be the primary language of these islands.

We must convince everyone that they are Hawaiian regardless of blood. This will take generations to acheive because there is still so much hurt. We need justice for the wrong doing that was done to our kupuna and put us in the plight that we find ourselves in. With the proliferation of our language and culture those who choose to live here will become Hawaiians.

we need to continue to build our language and our culture. By building our cultural identity we will begin to seperate ourselves culturally from the united states. A cultural seperation is stronger than a political seperation, with the cultural difference easing the political seperation that will lead to our sovereignty.

If we cannot reclaim our language, if we cannot reclaim our culture, what will set us apart from the united states? Our differences needs to be irrefutable, we are Hawaiian not american.

To get our freedom back we need to approach every problem, every obstacle, and challenge with Aloha. This is the only way to the long term solution. We must express kindness and love. We must be fearless, because this will be a challenge that few will want to choose, but one that we need to choose. We must never again be afraid or shame that we are Hawaiian, Hawaiian is the only way to be in these islands.

This is the challenge that I make to all Hawaiians, we are at the beginning of our path to sovereignty. We must be courageous and unflailing. India was under Brittish rule for 200 years before regaining there freedom, it is not too late for us.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 18 replies

New Here

2006-06-14T14:49:51Z

Am just learning about my Hawaiian Heritage on my fathers side. Don't know much. I hope you do not mind questions on occassion.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 6 replies

FWD Important Analysis of Akaka bills

2006-06-13T16:43:30Z

Aloha kakou,
I was just working on an edited version of this post, taking out the little arrows, and reformatting the spacing so that it was easier to read. However, I just lost it. Auwe!!! I am going to send this version now to the list, and work on an edited version to post later. This analysis is just too important to keep to myself.
Mahalo!

FORWARDED TEXT:

David Ingham wrote:
> >
> >
> > Below is a description of the technical stuff re:
> > S3064 and S147. In this
> > note the difference and confusion between the two
> > are explained including
> > why those news papers who stated that one bill
> > replaced the other are wrong.
> >
> > This principal difference in the language between
> > the two is in Section 8. I
> > will send you analysis and comment on the difference
> > in the language between
> > the two versions by Monday
> >
> > Mahalo for all you do
> >
> >
> > Aloha kakou,
> >
> > Here's the deal on S3064 as I know it:
> >
> > The S3064 was introduced by Akaka on May 25. However
> > this amendment was
> > written and publicly anounced back in September of
> > '05. A copy of it was
> > availble in PDF format on Akaka's web site from
> > september until a few few
> > weeks ago . It also was featured or mentioned in Ka
> > Wai Ola back around Sept
> > of '05.
> >
> > (I first heard of this version when Ku forwarded and
> > e-mail from Ikaika)
> >
> > S3064 is now available at HTTP://thomas.loc.gov type
> > in S3064,click the
> > "bill number" button and hit search. Click on
> > "printer freindly version" to
> > scroll thorugh the bill.
> >
> > You will recall that after the Indian affairs
> > committee reported S147
> > favorably back in July '05 as an amendment in the
> > form of a substitute (this
> > version that came out the IAC last July is S147RS)
> > that around the same
> > time, in July, the Justice Department came out with
> > a wish list criticizing
> > S147.
> >
> > S3064 was written between the July '05 Justice
> > department criticism of S147
> > and Sept when the "substitute amendment " that is
> > now S3064 was anounced
> > publicly.
> >
> > Below is the legislative history of S147 with
> > comments by me and links to
> > the congressional record it is important to take a
> > look a it so see the
> > sequence of events.
> >
> > The July justice department criticism included four
> > main points that were
> > addressed in what became and is now S3064. These DOJ
> > Concerns were:
> >
> > Potential impact on military operations in Hawaii
> > Gambling
> > Potential claims
> > and Criminal Jurisdiction
> >
> > the July 13, 2005 DOJ Letter to John McCain
> > expressing these concerns, as
> > it appeared in the Hawaii Reporter on July 20 is
> > reproduced in full below.
> >
> > You will note from the congressional record summary
> > below that July 13, when
> > the DOJ expressed these concerns, is three or four
> > months after S147 was
> > reported out of the Indian Affairs committee. S147
> > does not address the DOJ'
> > s concerns contrary to the impression Inouye's
> > statement in todays Star
> > Bulletin might have given. From the Star bulletin:
> > "Inouye said the White
> > House was ³grossly disingenuous² in its letter
> > opposing the original version
> > of the bill because everyone knew the bill had been
> > reworked to address all
> > concerns."
> >
> > The "reworked" version addressing the DOJ's July '05
> > concerns is S3064, not
> > S147" S147 was the subject of the cloture motion
> > and is not the version
> > addressing the DOJ's concerns as one might conclude
> > from Inouye's statement.
> >
> > Many newspapers reported that S3064 had replaced
> > S147 when S3064 was
> > introduced on May 25 2006. This was simply not true.
> > one bill did not
> > replace the other, rather, both bills existed and
> > both still exist both
> > before and after the cloture motion vote earlier
> > today.
> >
> > S3064 is alive and well and sitting in the wings,
> > however, neither S147 nor
> > S3064 addressed the DOJs concerns regarding
> > constitutional questions.
> >
> > But neither S3064 nor S147 addressed the
> > constitutional issues raised in
> > both the July 13, 2005 and the June 7, 2006 DOJ
> > letters.
> >
> > In reading this evening for this reply I came across
> > the following on
> > Akaka's web site which may shed some light on what
> > the game plan was if the
> > cloture motion was successful:
> >
> > "Senator Akaka is working with Majority Leader Bill
> > Frist and Democratic
> > Leader Harry Reid on the final details regarding the
> > bill¹s consideration by
> > the Senate. Senator Akaka will be offering a
> > substitute amendment when S.
> > 147 is brought to the floor. The substitute
> > amendment reflects agreements
> > reached between Hawaii¹s Congressional delegation
> > and Governor and officials
> > from the Office of Management and Budget, Department
> > of Justice, and White
> > House. The substitute amendment addresses the four
> > concerns outlined by the
> > United States regarding liability of the United
> > States, military readiness,
> > civil and criminal jurisdiction and gaming."
> >
> > It appears the game plan was to introduce S3064 as
> > an amendment replacing
> > S147 in debate if the cloture motion succeeded. Not
> > sure what the game plan
> > is now. Daniel Inouuye was quoted in one articel I
> > read today as stating he
> > was not prepared to reveal his stategy to get the
> > bill passed. Also Akaka
> > statred in another article today that he would
> > continue working to get the
> > bill passed.
> >
> > I don't think there is time for S3064 to pass both
> > the House and Senate
> > before the end of the term. And there is no chance
> > as I see it for S147 to
> > come up again in this congress.
> >
> > However, both of these bills could come up in the
> > next congress especially
> > if there is a Democratic majority in either the
> > House or Senate.
> >
> > You may recall that I said in lihue years ago that
> > they will keep trying....
> > I still believe that... I believe there will be
> > another attempt to get
> > Hawaiians to accept federal recognition and in so
> > doing forefit thier rights
> > as the subjects of an unlawfully dismantled
> > government.
> >
> > The key here is to get every Hawaiian to understand
> > that these bills are not
> > an acheivement, they are surrender on the enemy's
> > terms. At the same time it
> > is important to keep the republicans opposed to the
> > bill for the reasons
> > stated in Yesterday's Justice Department letter. At
> > the same time this
> > period between the next congress and now should be
> > used to consolidate
> > Hawaiians as I see it. Keep the doors open and have
> > the leis ready for those
> > who are willing to cross over.
> >
> > And In case I didn't mentionit before , S3064 is
> > devastating to hawaiians
> > claims. Unlike S147, it makes Hawaiians claims non
> > justicable in U.S. Courts
> > among other things. See Section 8 of S3064 for
> > more.
> >
> > I will forward the voting record on the cloture
> > motion tomorrow morning
> > after it is published in the on line congressional
> > record.
> >
> > elua keneta
> >
> > david
> >
> > let me know if you need more on this subject...there
> > is plenty more to tell.
> >
> >
> >
> > U.S. Department of Justice on the Akaka Bill
> > By William E. Moschella, 7/20/2005 12:30:59 PM
> >
> > Editor's Note: The following letter from the U.S.
> > Department of Justice,
> > Office of Legislative Affairs, Office of the
> > Assistant Attorney General, in
> > Washington, DC, was sent to Sen. John McCain,
> > chairman of the Committee on
> > Indian Affairs, United States Senate on July 13,
> > 2005, regarding the Akaka
> > Bill, published as sent.
> >
> > Dear Mr. Chairman:
> >
> > The Department of Justice is pleased to provide the
> > views of the
> > Administration on S. 147, the ³Native Hawaiian
> > Government Reorganization Act
> > of 2005.² The Department has identified four serious
> > policy concerns raised
> > by the proposed legislation that the Administration
> > believes can and should
> > be addressed and resolved by changes to the text of
> > the bill.
> >
> > First, the legislation should include explicit
> > language clearly precluding
> > potential claims for equitable, monetary or
> > Administrative Procedures
> > Act-based relief, whether asserting an alleged
> > breach of trust, calling for
> > an accounting, or seeking the recovery of or
> > compensation for lands once
> > held by native Hawaiians. The absence of such
> > language in the current
> > legislation, especially in combination with the
> > reference in section 2(21)
> > (B) of S. 147 to the ³the lands that comprise the
> > corpus of the trust² and
> > the unusually long statute-of-limitations period for
> > claims against the
> > United States provided for in section 8(c) (2),
> > could invite a flood of
> > litigation and could create the prospect of enormous
> > unanticipated liability
> > for the United States and the State of Hawaii. In
> > addition, because there
> > exist some legal theories that might be construed to
> > create potential claims
> > that could not be precluded under an amended S. 147,
> > the legislation should
> > include a limitations period that is significantly
> > shorter than the proposed
> > 20-year period now contained in section 8(c) (2),
> > and should bar courts from
> > using the continuing-wrong and equitable-tolling
> > doctrines, which are
> > sometimes employed to expand statutes of limitations
> > fixed by Congress.
> >
> > Second, S. 147 should be amended to make clear that
> > the consultation process
> > contemplated in sections 5(b) and 6(d) may not be
> > applied so as to interfere
> > in any way with the operation of U.S. military
> > facilities on Hawaii or
> > otherwise affect military readiness. The potential
> > for such interference is
> > well illustrated by litigation currently pending in
> > the U.S. Court of
> > Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Ilioulaokalani
> > Coalition v. Rumsfeld)
> > challenging a proposed base expansion.
> >
> > Third, the legislation should state clearly whether
> > the federal Government,
> > the State of Hawaii, or the native Hawaiian
> > governing entity will have
> > jurisdiction to enforce criminal laws on native
> > Hawaiian lands. It is the
> > Department¹s experience that a lack of clarity on
> > this question can generate
> > significant confusion and litigation. Similarly, the
> > legislation should make
> > clear that the proposed native Hawaiian governing
> > entity will not be
> > eligible to petition the Interior Department to take
> > land into trust under
> > the Indian Reorganization Act (which could have
> > uncertain jurisdictional
> > consequences, in addition to tax consequences for
> > Hawaii).
> >
> > Fourth, the legislation should clearly provide that
> > the Indian Gaming
> > Regulatory Act will not apply to the native Hawaiian
> > governing entity, and
> > that the governing entity will not have gaming
> > rights.
> >
> > As you know, there are also questions concerning the
> > constitutionality of
> > the legislation. There is a substantial, unresolved
> > constitutional question
> > ³whether Congress may treat the native Hawaiians as
> > it does the Indian
> > tribes,² Rice v. Cayetano, 528 U.S. 495, 518 (2000),
> > and hence whether
> > Congress may establish and recognize a native
> > Hawaiian governing entity, as
> > S. 147 would do. In Rice, the Supreme Court noted
> > that whether native
> > Hawaiians are eligible for tribal status is ³a
> > matter of some dispute² and
> > ³of considerable moment and difficulty.² Also note
> > that the proposed
> > legislation would require the Secretary of the
> > Interior to appoint only
> > native Hawaiians to the nine-member Commission that
> > would certify the roll
> > of members of the native Hawaiian community. This
> > appointment requirement
> > also raises a constitutional concern, which could be
> > remedied by instead
> > requiring only that appointees have knowledge and
> > expertise about Native
> > Hawaiian issues.
> >
> > The administration stands ready to work with
> > Congress on specific language
> > to address and resolve each policy issue discussed
> > above, as well as other
> > technical issues raised by S. 147.
> >
> > Thank you for your interest in our views on this
> > legislation. The office of
> > Management and Budget has advised that there is no
> > objection to the
> > submission of this report from the standpoint of the
> > President¹s program. If
> > we can be of further assistance in this matter,
> > please do not hesitate to
> > contact this office.
> >
> > William E. Moschella is an Assistant Attorney
> > General with the U.S.
> > Department of Justice.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Latest Voices of Truth Television programming

2006-06-13T09:02:31Z

Aloha `aina,
History was made last Thursday.
Federal Recognition and the Akaka bill now sit on the ash heap of history. Its defeat was brought about by all of us who let our voices be heard in Washington, DC.

And the message was clear – no one in OHA, nor Linda Lingle, Dan Inouye, Daniel Akaka, or the CNHA speak for the descendants of the Hawaiian Nation.

Only the people speak for themselves.

Only that which is pono will now guide us in our rendezvous with destiny.

It’s a time to take a moment out and say mahalo to each other, as well as pay our respects to our ancestors and our beloved Queen who surely stood with us this last week.

This week we debut part two of “Faces Of The Nation – Voices Of Truth Live At `Iolani Palace, our interviews we taped in January at the Living Nation event.

So if you want to see faces of the future, look no further – we have them right here - our modern day warriors, on Voices Of Truth – One-On-One With Hawai`i’s Future.

MONDAY, June 12th At 7:00 PM & FRIDAY, June 16th At 5:30 PM - Hawai`i Island - Na Leo, Channel 54
“PhD And Hawaiian – A Visit With Dr. Hanalei Vierra”
Hanalei Vierra, a marriage and family therapist, is a real inspiration and model for those who want a doctorate degree but have doubts if they can really achieve it.

Hanalei says if he can, so can you, and shares with us how he infuses elements of the Hawaiian culture into his highly successful practice.

Taped in San Diego, California, this outstanding achiever is a Hawaiian powerhouse to watch.

WEDNESDAY, June 14th At 6:30 PM & THURSDAY, June 15th At 6:45 AM - Maui - Akaku, Channel 53
THURSDAY, June 15th At 8:30 PM & FRIDAY, June 16th At 8:30 AM - Kaua`i - Ho`ike, Channel 52

“Ocean Resource – A Visit With Anakala Keli`i Mauwae”
Another Moloka`i treasure, Keli`i is someone who has taken the natural resources of our ocean seriously.

A champion slack key guitar player as well as diver and fisherman, Keli`i has lived his conviction that our resources are sustainable - but only if we malama them.

While he shared with us details of his trips to Samoa and Washington, DC, his conviction that Hawai`i no ka 'oi comes through loud and clear.

Taped on his Moloka`i ranch, don't miss this one as Keli'i serenades us with his music and speaks from the heart about issues important to us all that are indeed timeless.

SATURDAY, June 17th At 8:00 PM - O`ahu - 'Olelo, Channel 53
“Faces Of The Nation – Voices Of Truth Live At `Iolani Palace – Part Two”
We continue our fascinating interviews at `Iolani Palace grounds in January when Native Hawaiians and their supporters gathered to spend the weekend showing everyone the Hawaiian Nation is still alive.

As in part one, we discovered specialists in every field of endeavor - people who will ably fill the needs of the Nation, who know our history and understand a Free Hawai`i benefits everyone.

And every single one of them we interviewed is actively engaged in creating a better future for Hawai`i and its people.

With the Akaka bill now over, this is one to watch as you’ll see and hear future leaders of the Hawaiian Nation before your eyes. Filled with inspiration and possibility, they remind us of the leadership qualities in us all.

Voices of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants in the hopes of inspiring viewers to do the same.

Those not in Hawai`i wishing to view the series may do so by visiting www.olelo.org and then clicking "NAT-Channel 53." A screen should then display allowing you to see the show via live streaming. Please refer to the `Olelo television programming notes above for segment times and titles.

All show times listed above are Hawai`i Standard Time (HST.)
Ho`oku`oko`a,
`Ehu Kekahu Cardwell
The Koani Foundation
Visit www.FreeHawaii.Info
"Hawai`i Was A Free Nation - But Never Free For The Taking."

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Akaka bill updates

2006-06-10T19:33:41Z

Aloha kakou,
Clarence Kukauakahi Ching, a member of this tribe, was with Leon Siu and 'Ehu Cardwell, lobbying against the Akaka bill in Washington this last week. Mahalo nui loa for their efforts to prevent a really misguided attempt to bring justice to na kanaka maoli. The Akaka bill has serious flaws, both in premise and in how it proposes to redress the great wrongs done to Native Hawaiians and descendents of Hawaiian nationals (non-native citizens of the Hawaiian monarchy).
-----------

1.
Senate to consider letting Hawaiians pursue sovereignty
Posted by: "Hawaii Nation Info" info@hawaii-nation.org hawaiination
Wed Jun 7, 2006 12:06 am (PST)

http://www.washtimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20060607-122638-5703r

The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com
Published June 7, 2006

Senate to consider letting Hawaiians pursue sovereignty

By Brian DeBose

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Advertisement

Hawaii Sen. Daniel K. Akaka thinks Hawaiians
should be allowed to govern themselves as Native
Americans and Alaskans do, and after seven years
of pushing a bill to start the process, the
Senate is expected to take it up this week.

Mr. Akaka says the bill is a way to give
"indigenous" Hawaiians a sense of pride and a
chance for sovereignty for the first time since
1893, when Queen Liliuokalani was deposed and
lands were illegally seized by U.S. Marines and a
cadre of sugar-plantation businessmen.

"For the first time, if it passes, Hawaiians will
have parity and be able to form a government
entity to address their concerns, since the
overthrow," Mr. Akaka said.

Republican senators annually have blocked the
legislation, saying it would violate the
Constitution by establishing a sovereign
race-based government. It is only coming up now
through a deal worked out between Democratic and
Republican leaders to move other bills.

Opponents, including many native Hawaiians, say
the bill opens up a "Pandora's box" of new race
classifications and called the bill ambiguous as
to what benefits it will bring.

The bill calls for an Office of Native Hawaiian
Relations in the Department of the Interior, and
a Native Hawaiian Interagency Coordinating Group
to administer programs, a commission that would
certify who are indigenous Hawaiians, and
provides a process of reorganization of the
Native Hawaiian governing entity.

"The bill will not authorize gaming in Hawaii.
The bill will not allow private lands to be
taken. The bill will not create a reservation in
Hawaii," Mr. Akaka said.

The legislation is supported by both Republican
and Democratic senators, primarily those from
states with substantial Native American and
Eskimo populations, as well as the American Bar
Association and Alaska Federation of Natives.

Sen. Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican, who has kept
the bill from coming to the floor, said the
creation of a native Hawaiian government --
composed only of redefined natives and whose
members can only be voted in by native Hawaiians
-- could divide Hawaii's people.

"Unlike reservation Indians, Native Hawaiians do
not live in one area of the State that is set
aside for Indians; they live in the same cities
and neighborhoods and on the same streets, as
other Hawaiians do," Mr. Kyl said.

Reservation Indian tribes have the power to tax,
regulate and make laws for members. There are an
estimated 400,000 Native Hawaiians living
throughout the United States.

Native Hawaiians also say it "too narrowly" redefines who is indigenous.

"It is only for people of Native Hawaiian blood,"
said 'Ehu Kekahu Cardwell, director of the Koani
Foundation, a grass-roots group dedicated to
restoring the Hawaiian nation.

"We want it to be for any descendants of kingdom
nationals who were loyal to the queen during the
time she was deposed. We want everyone to be able
to have a say in how this turns out," Mr.
Cardwell said.

Leon Siu, a Chinese Hawaiian lobbying against the
bill on Capitol Hill, said it has already caused
division in Hawaii.

"We reject a race issue being brought into our
community; the bill will change the definition of
who we are," he said. "Native Hawaiian is not a
pure bloodline and ... this bill will introduce a
new concept of racial apartheid."

Mr. Siu's father fled China in search of a better
life and settled in Hawaii 70 years ago, as did
hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals from
America, Japan, China, Vietnam, and the
Philippines who became Hawaiian citizens.

The Hawaiian monarchy historically never kept
anyone from participating in its government
structure and did not have a race-specific
citizenship definition.

One of the most salient points in the debate will
be a history lesson on how Hawaii became a U.S.
territory and a state, which Native Hawaiians say
was an "illegal annexation."

Queen Liliuokalani, the last Hawaiian monarch,
was deposed in 1893 by a collection of sugar
exporters doing business on the island with the
complicity of the U.S. government.

Hawaii became a U.S. territory under a
congressional resolution passed in the late
1890s, but the Constitution states that the U.S.
can only acquire land held by sovereign foreign
nations through a formal treaty.

The treaty authorized by the Safety Commission --
an illegitimate government established by the
sugar plantation owners -- failed in Congress
after 38,000 of the 40,000 natives living on the
island in 1897 petitioned the Congress to reject
it.

Congress formally acknowledged that the coup was
unlawful in an apology resolution in 1993.

"This is just the next step in that process of
acknowledging the wrong committed against the
Native Hawaiian people and recognize them as a
sovereign entity," said Donalyn Dela Cruz,
spokeswoman for Mr. Akaka.

Copyright © 2006 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright The Washington Times

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

FWD from Noelani Jai: Pule for Kamehameha Schools June 17th

2006-06-10T15:00:55Z

Aloha kakou,

Join us on the shores of the Pacific Ocean to seek Ke Akua's blessing on our people and guidance for the Kamehameha Schools trustees, officials and attorneys who will be returning to California that week for the rehearing in Doe vs. Kamehameha Schools....

When: Saturday, June 17, 9:00 a.m. (sunrise...in Hawai'i!)

Where: Huntington Beach, just to the right of the pier (directions below)

We will have Princess Pauahi's portrait there, so feel free to bring lei ho'okupu. Also, if any of you have Baibala Hemolele, or Na Himeni o ka Ekalesia, please bring your copies. This will be an informal time, so as the Uhane Hemolele leads, we will have pule, mele, hula and oli in the Christian tradition of Princess Pauahi. We will probably be there until just 10:00 am, so please come on time.

Please kokua in spreading the word to kanaka maoli, Kamehameha Schools alumni and supporters in southern California. Mahalo, and see you at Huntington Beach on Saturday the 17th!

Many blessings of Ke Akua,

Noelani (Loo) Jai, KS '83

714.847.2977

alohajai@socal.rr.com

Directions: Huntington Beach pier is at the intersection of Main St. and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. (approximate address is 315 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach). From I-405 (north or south), take the Beach Blvd. Exit. Travel makai on Beach Blvd. (south) until you reach Pacific Coast Highway. Turn right onto PCH (you will see the Hyatt and Hilton hotels on your right). Find street parking along PCH (bring quarters) or public parking in the lot ($1.50/hour). Feel free to call my mobile phone that morning if you get lost -- ph. 714.613.2891. You will find us just to the right of the pier, at the shoreline. Bring a towel, mat or chair.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

OT sustainable action: Replace Your Lightbulbs

2006-06-10T14:28:35Z

Aloha kakou,
I'm probably dating myself if I ask if anyone here remembers the Tuxedo Moon song, Lightbulb Overkill, but that's the phrase that popped into my head when I read about this campaign from the Environmental Defense Fund. It's so simple in concept, so elegant in execution, so inexpensive, and so very doable...
I've also included their guide to compact fluorescent bulbs.
Let's get lots of our fellow Tribe members to make the switch!
Cheerleading wale no... (just cheerleading)
Waihili
------------

Pledge to Switch a Light Bulb!

It's not too late to add your light bulb pledge to the campaign.
Take a small step for big results.

Join the Effort:
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagid=483&campaign

Dear Friend,

Wow! The Environmental Defense community has really stepped up.
Already, 50,000 light bulb swaps have been pledged, preventing
more than 50 million of pounds of global warming pollution.

But it's just the beginning of our Make the Switch Campaign to
reduce global warming pollution through the use of energy-saving
compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

Join the effort and switch a light bulb in your home:
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagid=483&campaign

Our goal for the Environmental Defense community is to switch
ONE MILLION light bulbs over the next year. This will cut global
warming pollution by more than ONE BILLION pounds.

Swapping out just one standard 100w bulb for a just-as-bright
CFL reduces global warming pollution by more than 1,300 pounds!

Here's what you need to know:

* Changing a light bulb makes a difference. If every US
household replaced three 60-watt incandescent bulbs with CFLs,
it would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the roads!

* CFLs save you money. A 20-watt CFL, which screws into an
ordinary light socket, is just as bright as a 60-watt
incandescent.

* Today's CFLs are dramatically better than a few years ago. You
won't miss your incandescent bulbs.

We're asking every member of the Environmental Defense community
to pledge to switch at least one bulb in the coming year.

But don't just stop at one bulb! If you and two friends pledge
to change out all the bulbs in your homes, we'll easily beat our
million-bulb goal!

Please take the first step today. Pledge to switch at least one
bulb in the coming year:
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagid=483&campaign

Sincerely,

The Global Warming Team at Environmental Defense
------------------
How to Pick a Better Bulb

Though we call them light bulbs, traditional incandescent bulbs are actually small heaters that give off a little bit of light—something you know if you've ever touched a bulb that's been on for a while. These bulbs were technological wonders when they were patented in 1880, but today they are inefficient dinosaurs. They waste energy and money, and they are responsible for millions of tons of global warming pollution.
The next generation of light bulbs

Fortunately, the next generation of bulbs is here: Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) now give off high-quality light using a fraction of the electricity. Using CFLs puts less strain on the electric grid and saves you money. If every household replaced just three 60-watt incandescent light bulbs with CFLs, we would reduce as much pollution as if we took 3.5 million cars off the roads!

If you were disappointed by CFL bulbs in the last couple years, it's time to try again. The design of the bulbs and quality of light have improved dramatically. Also, though the price of a CFL is higher than traditional bulbs, CFLs save in the long run. They lower your electric bill and last up to 15 times as long as the old-fashioned bulbs. Here's how to make the switch:
1. Start with one bulb.

For your first compact fluorescent purchase, buy just one to make sure that it throws the kind of light you want. Light from yesterday's fluorescent lights, common in offices and schools, can seem "cold." Light from CFLs is different and better—CFLs can achieve the same kind of lighting you're used to from incandescent bulbs. Look for packages labeled "2700 degrees Kelvin" or "warm-white."
2. Know your watts and lumens.

We are used to choosing bulbs by how much electricity they use—a 40-watt incandescent bulb is on the dim side and uses less power, and a 100-watt bulb is bright and uses a lot of juice. CFL bulbs have much lower wattage numbers than their incandescent cousins, but don't let that fool you. CFLs provide much more light at a fraction of the wattage of traditional bulbs. Because of this, CFLs are often categorized by lumens. Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb gives off, and they are a more accurate way to tell how bright the new bulbs are.

Incandescent CFL Lumens Cost Savings CO2 Savings
40W 11-14W > 490 $39-$44 507-572 lbs.
60W 15-19W > 900 $62-$68 806-884 lbs.
75W 20-25W > 1,200 $76-$83 988-1,079 lbs.
100W 26-29W > 1,750 $107-$112 1,391-1,456 lbs.
150W 38-42W > 2,600 $163-$169 2,119-2,197 lbs.

Calculations for cost and CO2 savings assume 15,000-hour life for CFL.

If you don't want to print this page out, remember this rule of thumb: CFLs use about a quarter of the wattage to produce the same light. So to replace a traditional 60-watt bulb, buy a 15-watt CFL: 60-watt incandescent / 4 = 15 watts.
3. Get the right shape and size.

Many stores will let you return a bulb if you find it doesn't fit properly, but keep an eye on two factors to save yourself an extra trip.

First, some CFLs have a larger bulb, which can be too big for some lamps. Depending on where you're going to install your CFLs, be sure to know how big the shade is (to know how big a bulb it can accommodate) and whether or not the bulb will show.

Many CFLs have a coiled bulb, but there are now versions available that have the same shape and size as an old-fasioned bulb. These newer CFLs aren't available in many stores yet, but you can order them on a number of web sites. One vendor is offering a special discount on these bulbs in support of this campaign. (See the discounted bulb.)

Second, most CFLs screw into standard light sockets; however, on some bulbs, the plastic piece above the screw part is slightly wider and might not fit in every lamp. Avoid the modular bases that terminate with pins.
4. Buy Energy Star to save the most energy.

The most energy-efficient CFLs carry the Energy Star label, the imprimatur of the government-backed energy efficiency program.
5. Be careful choosing CFLs for a dimmer.

There are exceptions to this rule, but the majority of CFLs are not made for dimmers yet. There are a few that already do work, but scrutinize the package to make sure. Look for bulbs labeled "cold-cathode" and be sure the package says "for use in dimmers."

Even the bulbs made for dimmers should only be used with sliding dimmer switches, not the round, rotating dimmer switches.
6. Check for indoor or outdoor use.

CFLs are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Check the packaging to make sure you get the kind you need.
7. Dispose of your bulbs properly.

All compact fluorescents contain trace amounts of mercury. Recycling your burned out bulbs is the best option. Contact your local government (Household Hazardous Waste program) to see if recycling is an option in your area.

But don't worry -- changing to a compact fluorescent bulb will result in less mercury being released. Your reduced electricity use means far fewer mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Hawai'i Solidarity Event/Forgot to post it!

2006-06-03T22:02:15Z

E kala mai! I've been sick, so I was not online or able to post this great event on this list on time for anyone to get it. I post it now so that we can see things are happening. I notice David Ingham is now director of the Koani Foundation! Maika'i no! Congratulations David!
---------

JOIN Hawai'i Solidarity Committee, Indigenous Dialogue and the
International Action Center for a special speakers forum on the Hawaiian
struggle for sovereignty and justice. Refreshments provided and while
donation is requested. No One Turned Away.

TUESDAY May 23, 2006 6:30PM at IAC 39 West 14th Street #206 (between
5th & 6th Avenue) Manhattan in NYC (212) 633-6646
Near N/R/Q/W/4/5/6 to Union Square, 1/2/3 to 14th Street, A/C/E to 14th
Street, PATH to 14th Street, M15 bus

Mililani Trask -
Long time Hawaiian rights activist and first Kia`aina (governor) of Ka
Lahui Hawai`i. Currently Executive Director of the Gibson Foundation in
Hilo, Hawai`i and head of Na Koa Ikaika O Ka Lahui Hawai`i, Mililani is
a strong and influential advocate of Indigenous People's rights at the
United Nations as well as on the world stage.

David Ingham -
Director of the Koani Foundation, a Lihu`e, Kaua`i-based
Hawaiian
rights unity organization, David has been involved in the Hawaiian
self-determination movement for seven years. David is one of the world's
foremost authorities on the disastrous effects of federal recognition on
Native Peoples.

`Ehu Kekahu Cardwell
Director of the Koani Foundation, `Ehu was one of the principle
organizers and media liaison of both 1998 and 2000 Aloha Marches in
Washington, DC. He is also co-host of the Koani Foundation's weekly television
series, "Voices Of Truth - One-On-One With Hawai`i's Future." He has
been involved in the Hawaiian self-determination movement for over twelve
years

http://ksdl.ksbe.edu/kulaiwi/index.html

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

Hawaiians Challenge US Violations

2006-06-01T17:58:39Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:

May 4, 2006 ‘Ehu Cardwell
(619) 885-4848 Nationwide Cell
freehawaii@earthlink.net

HAWAIIANS CHALLENGE U.S. VIOLATIONS
Self-Governance and Control of Resources Denied

Honolulu - Three Native Hawaiian groups have filed a Shadow Report detailing on-going human rights violations against native Hawaiians since the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Na Koa Ikaika o Ka Lahui Hawaii, The Koani Foundation and Kanaka Maoli Tribunal Komike filed their report with the UN Human Rights Committee challenging Bush Administration claims that the United States has complied with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), an international Human Rights Treaty, to which the U.S. is signatory.

The three Hawaiian groups also endorsed and supported, with the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, a second report filed by the Indigenous Peoples and Nations Coalition which raises human rights violation by the U.S. as the administering agent of the Non-Self Governing Territories of Alaska and Hawaii.

“The reports demonstrate the historic and continuing violation of our people’s right to self-governance and self-determination that predates the overthrow and continues to the present,” said Mililani Trask, Convener of Na Koa Ikaika o Ka Lahui Hawaii.

“Self-determination is the right of the Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiians) to determine their political status and to freely pursue our economic, social and cultural development. It also means we have the right to control our natural wealth, land and resources which have been withheld from our peoples since statehood was imposed in 1959” Trask said.

The Shadow Reports may be viewed at http://wisperhawaii.com/~kaiopua/

The Human Rights Committee will meet in Geneva this summer to review the U.S. report and present questions to the United States.

The current U.S. report ignores Hawaii’s indigenous peoples; and only remotely addresses American Indians and U.S. Trust Territories.

For more information contact Mililani B. Trask, (808) 961-2888, Kaiopua Fyfe, Director, The Koani Foundation, (808) 822-7643 or Kekuni Blaisdell, Chair, Kanaka Maoli Tribunal, (808) 595-6691.

###

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

Taro news: UH told to give up Taro patents

2006-06-01T16:32:10Z

Press Releases

University of Hawaii Told to Give Up Taro Patents
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 12, 2006

CONTACT: Walter Ritte: 808-588-0111,
<mailto:rittew@hotmail.com>rittew@hotmail.com;
Chris Kobayashi: 808-826-7836, <mailto:waioli2@verizon.net>waioli2@verizon.net

Center for Food Safety Supports Native Hawaiian
Efforts to Reclaim Taro

WASHINGTON - Hawaiian activists and farmers today demanded that the
University of Hawaii (UH) give up its patents on three lines of taro
whose lineage extends back to Polynesian taro first brought to the
Islands centuries ago. The University was granted U.S. patents on the
varieties in 2002, and has also sought world-wide patent rights. (see
below for links to patents)

Farmers wishing to purchase huli, or breeding stock, must sign a
licensing agreement with UH. The
<http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/UH_Taro_License_Agmt.pdf>licensing
agreement states that "UH owns the taro cultivar..." It prohibits
farmers from selling or breeding the patented plants, and requires
payment of a royalty to the University. Taro is known as "kalo" to
native Hawaiians.

"Kalo was not invented by the University of Hawaii, and they have no
right to 'own' or 'license' it," said Walter Ritte. "If any one owns
the kalo, we do 'collectively' as Hawaiians, and as Hawaiians, we
demand that UH give up its taro patents and return these varieties to
the public domain."

Ritte was instrumental in obtaining a provisional agreement with UH
to halt genetic manipulation experiments on Hawaiian taro this past
May, although UH reserved the right to continue genetic
experimentation on non-Hawaiian taros.

"UH needs to show more respect for native Hawaiian culture," added
Ritte. "Hawaiians would never dream of patenting or genetically
manipulating kalo. Kalo is a gift handed down to us by our ancestors.
Hawaiians believe kalo is the first born (named Haloa), and is our
elder brother. We have a Kuleana or responsibility to honor, respect
and protect Haloa, so he in turn will sustain us."

Center for Food Safety consultant Bill Freese added, "We strongly
support the right of Hawaiians to reclaim control of their sacred
taro."

One parent of the three patented lines - named Pa'lehua, Pa'akala and
Pauakea - is the widely-grown Maui Lehua variety, which belongs to
the Group Lehua of Hawaiian-Polynesian taros. There were once over
300 kinds of Hawaiian taro, descended from a few types first brought
to the Islands from Polynesia in the 4th to 5th century AD. Hawaiians
bred these different varieties of taro to grow better in different
environments, for higher yield to feed a growing population, for
special qualities of color and taste, and for medicinal and
ceremonial uses.

"As a farmer, I strongly object to patents on taro or any other
crop," said Hanalei taro farmer Chris Kobayashi. "Why should farmers
have to pay for huli? Our taxes have helped to fund UH. Some of us
have been cooperators with UH on different taro research programs
including breeding, cultivation and diseases. More importantly, how
can anyone claim ownership of plants that have evolved and been
selected or bred by farmers for specific environmental conditions and
desirable properties over generations?"

In its patent applications, the University made several claims based
merely on "preliminary observations" that had not been confirmed by
controlled experiments. Some farmers were quite disappointed with the
performance of Pa'lehua, one of the patented varieties.

"Pa'lehua does not keep well as poi, and does not taste good to many
of us farmers and families," said Kobayashi. "I think that UH did not
do enough testing on Pa'lehua; it was and is a failure."

"We hope UH does the right thing and gives up these taro patents,"
said Ritte, "otherwise we'll have no recourse but to take legal
action at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to have them revoked."

Resources:

<http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/Letter_to_UH.pdf>View the
letter to University of Hawaii

<http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/UH_Taro_License_Agmt.pdf>View
the University of Hawaii licensing agreement

Links to U.S. Patents on Taro
<http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/US_Patent_Paakala.pdf>Pa'akala
Cultivar
<http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/US_Patent_Palehua.pdf>Pa'lehua
Cultivar
<http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/US_Patent_Pauakea.pdf>Pauakea
Cultivar

Links to WIPO Patents on Taro
<http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/WIPO_Paakala.pdf>Pa'akala Cultivar
<http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/WIPO_Palehua.pdf>Pa'lehua
Cultivar
<http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/WIPO_Pauakea.pdf>Pauakea
Cultivar

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

Akaka Bill News: From GREEN FLASH internet News Serivice

2006-05-18T16:05:02Z

The following is from Jack Kelly's excellent GREEN FLASH. Subscribe to this by emailing ko_kelly@earthlink.net. Kelly is an activist on Hawai'i island, and doesn't hesitate to take on the big issues. Maika'i no!!! (That means "very good!")

This is his writing on May 16th:

Akaka Bill Back in the News; Senator Makes Last Ditch Effort

The Akaka Bill is back in the news after some well deserved dormancy but Senator Akaka is not one to let sleeping dogs lie.

On May 4 the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights voted to recommend to Congress that it not pass the Bill.

On May 13 it was reported that Senate majority leader Bill Frist will entertain a motion for cloture on the Bill when the Senate convenes in early June. That will force a vote on whether the Akaka Bill will be debated, and if passed, thirty hours of debate will follow.

Senator Akaka has threatened to bring the issue up on the floor of the Senate everyday until it gets heard. That ís a threat with some clout to back it up because those speeches could probably cause some sleepy moments in that hallowed chamber.

Some interesting dialogue has developed around the bill that reflects underlying problems with it.

One of the things we have noticed about the ongoing debate over Senate Bill 147, The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, is how much coverage and credence the notion that the bill creates raced based entitlements happens to get, while the notion that grass roots Hawaiians are against it because it helps extinguish their rights as a colonized nation state gets little coverage.

We think the Republican resistance in Congress knows just what its doing by framing the issue as one of race based entitlements that would create a special class of citizen, when in fact their biggest fear is that this bill will open the door set ajar by the 1993 Apology Bill even more and might allow for a real challenge to the legitimacy of the U.S. government in Hawaii. We feel their fears are unfounded because the Akaka Bill would effectively close off future options of true sovereignty creating a basis for the assimilation of the Hawaiian people into mainstream western culture. Rather than using the Apology Bill as a springboard towards self-determination the Akaka Bill takes the wind out of the sails of the sovereignty movement.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights draft report echoes the objections of the bill’s critics that say the Bill is discriminatory and divisive.

The report says granting Hawaiians the right to form their own government would "discriminate on the basis of race or national origin, and further subdivide the American people into discrete subgroups accorded varying degrees of privilege."

That is the view of the conservative Republicans in Congress that held the bill up from consideration last year even though the Republican leadership had cut a deal with Senator Akaka to hear the bill in exchange for his vote on the Arctic Refuge. The bill never got heard but Akaka lived up to his end of the deal and cast vote to open up the Arctic Refuge to oil drilling several times. Ironically he defended his vote by claiming to support the self determination of the Alaska natives he met ten years ago.

That ís also the view of folks like William Burgess and Freddy Rice who feel they are being discriminated against by current policies that favor Hawaiians and that the Akaka Bill will just make things worse for them. We can understand how these folks; descendants of the interlopers who overthrew the Hawaiian government in 1892, would finally like to get that monkey off their back. Denying recognitions of Hawaiians as a distinct class of individuals due reparation for that theft would wash their hands forever from the sins of their fathers.

Burgess fronting for a group called Aloha for All was among those who testified before the Commission. He claims what's in the bill speaks for itself. "I don't see how anyone could genuinely or sincerely argue that it's not (advocating for) a race-based government," he said.

We feel the report makes a fatal error when it assumes Hawaiians to be part of the "American People”. Today’s Hawaiians are descendants of those people whose government was overthrown by American businessmen over a century ago. We must not fail to recognize that fact as the central issue of this debate. Not whether Hawaiians deserve or have the right to preferential treatment under the constitution of the United States.

The question is whether they deserve to be afforded their independence as a nation state; the Kingdom of Hawaii or in absence of that or until that independence is achieved, what reparation is due to the Hawaiian people for the theft of their land and culture.

The Akaka Bill, as written, will extinguish all Hawaiian land claims in twenty years! The Akaka Bill is modeled after the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act that effectively dealt a fatal blow to the traditional tribal governments of the native peoples of Alaska by creating a layer of corporations to control the former assets of the native peoples of Alaska. The result has been the despoliation of their subsistence cultures and these people now find themselves and their native lifestyles threatened with extinction due to massive industrialization of their cultural landscape. And the village elders are left with no power to do anything about it and they can thank Congress for that.

Our local leaders tout the Akaka Bill as giving Hawaiians the same kind of treatment that native Alaskans and Native Americans have been afforded. No thanks!

Mostly our local leaders are worried about losing long standing entitlements created under federal law like the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands two groups that already control, along with the State of Hawaii and the U.S, military most of the lands that are known as ìceded landsî.

But not everyone has been buffaloed by the Republican chatter about raced based legislation.

Commissioner Michael Yaki, a Democrat and part Hawaiian hit the nail right on the head when in response to the Commission’s findings he said, ìI object to the report because it was based on limited information and a "complete misreading" of the bill and the history of special treatment for indigenous people in the Constitution. To proceed from a limited information base to a recommendation on important legislation is, I believe, a procedural misstep," said Yaki, a San Francisco attorney. "I think what you find are critics going a long way to deny the indigenous government and sovereign Kingdom of Hawaii as if it never existed or never mattered. "
Yaki’s comments were reported in a article by Dennis Camire in the Honolulu Advertiser.

Even our Hawaii representatives are by reference giving some voice to the fact that Hawaii as we stand today is an occupied nation.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, told Camire, "It appears to me that the draft recommendation is based on a complete lack of understanding of federal policies that involve native peoples and the history of Hawaii."

Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, a sponsor of the Akaka Bill in the House, said the draft report's recommendation reflected the commission's commentary throughout the process.

"I wish they had taken a more objective approach based on history and the context of the cause that is involved with Native Hawaiians," he said. "It's very difficult sometimes for people who have a political agenda to be able to actually step back and give an objective evaluation."

Right on Neil! Given an objective evaluation we see that the only path that makes sense is true independence for the Nation of Hawaii. The Congressional debate sheds ample light on the subjugated role any “Hawaiian governmental entity” created and place under the control of the U.S. Department of Interior would have. Nation within a nation status? Give us a break. Any “Hawaiian nation” formed under the Akaka Bill would be a complete sham, nothing more than a glorified committee that would oversee what? The bill would effectively extinguish any resource entitlements such as lands and water rights forever and an envisioned trust relationship under the Department of Interior would actually control those resources.

Folks like to say, “Hawaiians are dreaming when they talk about restoring the Kingdom. That will never happen.”

But we say, what about Bosnia and Palestine, and Western Samoa and Iraq, Iran, Algeria and a mosaic of new states created in the wake of the Soviet Union? These are just some of the nation states that have regained their sovereignty since World War II. Many of the European country’s that practiced colonization in previous eras have, as conscious, forward thinking, democracies restored independence to these formerly conquered nation stares.

The United States, on the other hand, continues to occupy and colonize independent nations under false pretenses as has been evidenced in Afghanistan and Iraq more recently and of course Hawaii herself historically. Until the current U.S, policy of world domination is tempered it is unlikely Hawaiians will get any more than lip service from the United States.

Steve Sumida, a native rights attorney in Alaska and Executive Director of the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council noted in a speech to University of Hawaii Law students recently, “The Akaka Bill is a bill of assimilation. Throughout the history of the United States the federal government has vacillated between policies of assimilation and policies of self- determination in how they approach the problem of native peoples whose lands and resources have been abridged by the U.S. expansionist policies.

“The 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was a major signal to tribal peoples that their existence as self-determined entities was truly in danger. The Native Claims Settlement Act is an act of assimilation of native peoples. Coupled with the passage of the Akaka Bill these two major pieces of legislation will have the effect of asserting that assimilation of native peoples rather than allowing for cultural self determination of native peoples is the policy of the United States government.”

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD/Press Release/ Native Hawaiians Speak at United Nations

2006-05-18T16:00:33Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
May 15, 2006 ‘Ehu Cardwell

(619) 885-4848 Nationwide Cell

freehawaii@earthlink.net

NATIVE HAWAIIANS SPEAK AT UNITED NATIONS
Pacific Region Influence Grows In High-Level Session At Fifth Permanent Forum On Indigenous Issues

UN Headquarters, NY - Native Hawaiians and Pacific Region representatives join Indigenous leaders, senior United Nations officials, academics and over 1200 indigenous community members for the next two weeks to discuss challenges and strategies for improving conditions of the world’s indigenous peoples at the fifth session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The Koani Foundation, a Kaua`i based unity organization, is participating with other Native Hawaiian non-governmental organizations in articulating and addressing human rights, environmental, economic and social issues at the international forum.

“Hawaiians are treated like outcasts in their own homeland,” remarked Koani Foundation board member `Ehu Kekahu Cardwell. ”The Hawaiian Nation survives today despite more than a century of belligerent occupation, forced assimilation, and cultural oppression.”

The Permanent Forum has designated health, education and inclusion in decision making for Indigenous Peoples as the focus for this year’s gathering.

The Koani Foundation is presenting recommendations on human rights and universal education for Pacific Region Indigenous Peoples.

“Hawaiian Nationals are proclaiming their identities; reclaiming their heritage, their land, resources and rights,” Cardwell stated. “They will never accept second class citizenship in their Hawai`i homeland.”

In addition to Polynesian Triangle members Hawai’i, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Rapa Nui (Easter Island), other Pacific Region participants include representatives from Australia, Fiji, Papua, Melanesia and Micronesia

The forum, which starts today and runs for two weeks through May 26th, was established in 2000 at the recommendation of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

For more information, contact the Koani Foundation at (808) 822-7643 or freehawaii@earthlink.net.

###

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

Mana

2006-05-14T20:28:56Z

Aloha kakou,
I posted a six page paper on "mana" on my Tribe.blog this morning. Anyone interested, please read and comment.
Mahalo!

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD: The Hawaiian Kingdom in the World Court

2006-05-10T04:52:27Z

Mahalo nui loa to Ku for posting this article on the lists, so that the rest of us can read it and circulate.
---------------------

Bearing Witness to an Historical Event: The Hawaiian
Kingdom in the World Court

by Allen Kale'iolani Hoe, Esq.

The words, “In the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Case No. 99001,” spoken by the Clerk of the Court in the opening moments of the case, Lance Paul Larsen vs The Hawaiian Kingdom, literally took my breath away. It was a moment to be cherished and remembered by every Hawaiian, whether kanaka maoli or a descendant of Hawaiian subjects.

Personally, this moment had evolved quickly after receiving the joint invitation by the Parties to attend the proceedings as an Observer. Within a couple of weeks of receiving the invitation I found myself half way around the world entering what has been appropriately described as “the grand edifice of Civilization.”

In 20 plus years as a united states educated attorney, including service as a district court judge, I have participated in numerous legal proceedings. However, being at the Peace Palace that day reawakened my belief that there is a path which Hawaiians may follow. This path is not encumbered by a century of lies and apologetic rhetoric by united states politicians who have denied us our rights to sit as equals within the international community of Nation States.

Crossing 10 time zones on a 15 hour flight provided me with an opportunity to review the voluminous legal briefs which the parties had submitted to the Court. Like most observers I had taken an interest in the development of this case from the bits and pieces of information provided through my following of Lance Larsen’s case within the Hawaii courts as well as KCCN 1420 a.m.’s informative program "Perspective."

The depth of the historical and legal principles applicable in international law was never fully appreciated by me until I had this opportunity to carefully review and consider the issues framed by this case. I was awe struck by the manner in which the Parties had crafted this case for presentation to the Court.

The memorials filed by the Hawaiian Kingdom demonstrate clearly its entitlement to participate in this process under international law. Perhaps for too long now we have just accepted the propaganda that our american destiny is fait complie.

We have been smothered by the dreams and desires of non Hawaiians to become americans that we have allowed ourselves to accept the united states government's official policy to deny that the Hawaiian Kingdom government existed or continues to this date under the well established principles of International Law.

The fact that the Hawaiian Kingdom was transformed from an “autocracy” to a constitutional monarchical form of government by Kamehameha III, which was acknowledged by Britain and France in the Anglo-Franco Proclamation of 1843 is another of the binding historical and legal principles which has been pushed on the side in favor of the american
dream; to the great disadvantage of all Hawaiians.

This case represents the first clear opportunity to expose to the International Community this dirty little secret which the united states has tried to keep hidden within in its dark closet of “judge me by my words not my deeds.” For more than a century we have been forced to acknowledge the criminal acts of Dole, Thurston and Stevens along with the unlawful conduct of american presidents and politicians against Hawaiians as american heroics.

The enormity of this case really struck me towards the end of the first day of the proceedings. All those privileged to attend clearly recognized that fact. For me, this moment should not be allowed to pass without some recognition in honor of our kupuna who as members of the Men and Women’s Hawaiian Patriotic League began this struggle a century ago in
their written declarations objecting to the illegal acts of the united states of america.

Hae Hawai`i (the national flag) is for me, and perhaps for many others the most important symbol of who we are as a Nation. Although the united states and the state of hawaii has attempted to subvert its position, it is our flag that once proudly flew over Hawaiian Kingdom Consulates through out the world. We could not leave Den Haag ("The Hague" in Dutch) without sharing this moment with our kupuna through the raising of Hae Hawai`i over this city which represents
the hopes and dreams of all true Hawaiians.

What to do, perhaps the silver lining in the cloud of being a day away from Hawaii was that as the day was ending at the Peace Palace it was just beginning in Honolulu. Thus, I immediately placed a call to my secretary with the task of acquiring a large Hawaiian flag and finding the fastest and safest way to get it to Den Haag. The precious package left Honolulu via FedEx on the afternoon of December 7, and after stops in Oakland, California and clearing US Customs in Memphis, Tennessee it arrived in Paris, France at Midnight, December 10th and was delivered to me on the morning of the 11th, which ironically was to be the last day of the proceedings which had originally scheduled to conclude on December 12.

The role of the Hawaiian Patriotic League in pursuit of justice over all these years I felt needed to be recognized and honored. The Hui Kalai`äina (a Hawaiian Political Party) is another Hawaiian Organization which played an important role in the Hawaiian Kingdom Government. In 1996 numerous other Hawaiians along with myself revived and reconstituted the Hui Kalai`äina as a Hawaiian political party to promote greater awareness and education on historic and contemporary Hawaiian political issues.

As a Director of Hui Kalai`äina this ho`okupu of Hae Hawai`i to the Hawaiian Patriotic League in honor of the Hawaiian Kingdom was a small gesture of all our aloha for their dedication and sacrifice in our behalf for Justice for all Hawaiians.
With that purpose in mind I asked all those in attendance from Hawaii to please sign their names along the border of Hae Hawai`i.

With signatures secured I presented it to the Acting Council of Regency, His Excellency, Agent David Keanu Sai, Acting Minister of Interior along with the best wishes of all those privileged to attend and to sign. One request was made that the Council secure the appropriate place to raise it over the host city of Den Haag as a symbol of its right to reclaim its place within the international community of Nation States.

Thus, with great pride I was a witness to the lowering of the united states flag and the raising of Hae Hawai`i to its rightful place next to the flags of Britain, France and the Netherlands. This took place across from the Peace Palace along the Scheveningseweg in Den Haag. My dream now is to witness this again in my country in my lifetime.

––Allen's dream has been fulfilled. The Hae Hawai'i from The Hague was presented to Bill Maioho, curator of Mauna 'Ala (the Royal Mausoleum), and is presently flying over the resting ground of the Hawaiian Kingdom's Heads of State.

Allen Kale'iolani Hoe is a 1976 graduate of the first graduating class of University of Hawai'i William S. Richardson School of Law. He is an attorney in private practice and a member of the Hui Kalai'äina, and has devoted a major portion of his
time and energy to efforts to promote educational opportunities for Hawaiian youth and to right the wrongs committed against Hawaiians in 1893. Allen also served as a member of the Land Use Commission for eight years. Since September 8, 1994, he has served as its chairman. His second and last term on the Land Use Commission ended June 30.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Hawaiians Protest Solar Telescope on Haleakala!

2006-05-05T12:42:56Z

Mahalo to Scott Crawford for getting this article out and about.

Please visit Scott Crawford's weblog on Hawaiian Independence, updated regularly...
http://HawaiianKingdom.info
--------------
http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=19293

The Maui News
Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Hawaiians continue to protest solar telescope

By VALERIE MONSON, Staff Writer

PAUKUKALO - Hawaiian voices were unanimous Monday
night in opposing the National Science
Foundation's plan for an enormous telescope atop
Haleakala, but it turns out that even the most
united effort might not be able to stop the
project.

"Normally, I say 'aloha,' but tonight I think it
died," said Tim Bailey, whose job is caring for
the resources at Haleakala National Park.

Just minutes earlier, the audience at the
Paukukalo Community Center had learned that all
its testimony protesting the proposed
14-story-tall telescope at the summit of the
mountain might not make a difference in the end.
National Science Foundation attorney Charisse
Carney-Nunes acknowledged that while
"consultation" with Native Hawaiians was required
by federal law, "concurrence" - agreement - was
not.

That didn't sit well with the 75 or so residents,
most of them Hawaiians, who were hoping that a
mountain of objections could send the telescope
proponents packing.

"I've been consulting, I know the game," said a
disgusted Kalei Kaeo, a Maui Community College
instructor in Hawaiian studies. "We come, we
show, we say a few words and they do what they
want to do anyway. That's consulting."

Waiehu resident Carl Eldridge didn't know why he was wasting his time.

"If it's not going to mean anything, I'm going to leave already," he said.

As frustrated residents began walking out,
Carney-Nunes encouraged them all to stay.

"I can't say it means nothing," she said. "I'm
saying honestly that concurrence is not required.
But just because it's not required does not make
this process insignificant, it does not make this
process meaningless."

The controversy over locating what would be the
world's largest solar telescope on the summit of
Haleakala - a sacred place to many Hawaiians -
continued with no middle ground in sight. Because
Haleakala has been recognized as a "traditional
cultural property" under federal law, National
Science Foundation officials have been asking
Hawaiians to help make one of three choices
regarding the $175 million project: avoid (not
build at all), minimize or mitigate.

It was the third hearing in little more than a
month on Maui where those speaking have
essentially said the same thing.

"Please don't build that up there," urged Maile
Kekahuna, a student at Maui Community College.

Rising 143 feet above ground, the Advanced
Technology Solar Telescope would become the
tallest building on the island. It is proposed
for one of two sites in the complex of
observatories, towers and other buildings on the
18-acre site managed by the University of
Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy.

National Science Foundation officials continue to
say that the project, proposed by the National
Solar Observatory, is in its "early stages" and
that the funding has not even been approved, but
members of the audience were starting to wonder
if it already wasn't a done deal or if it needed
only the support of a single person of importance.

"If (U.S. Sen.) Dan Inouye wants this, it will
happen," said Charles Kauluwehi Maxwell Sr.,
noting that Congress has the final say in
approving the money.

Maxwell prepared a cultural study for the
developers and has taken some heat over his
involvement, including a suggestion that the
community be given compensation should the
telescope get built.

Maxwell said he remains opposed to the telescope,
but he's unsuccessfully tried to halt the
construction of two earlier telescopes.

"If they're going to build it, give us something
in return," said Maxwell, who suggested that
developers build a traditional Hawaiian
navigation and astronomy center for the community
should the telescope be funded.

"I'm not in favor of this, but it might be the
third time I said this and it will happen anyway."

A draft environmental impact statement is being
prepared - and a hearing aimed at the general
public will be held this summer.

Haleakala was chosen above 72 other sites - and
six finalists - as the ideal location for what
would become the world's flagship telescope for
studying the sun. Bailey, though, disputed the
claims of perfect conditions of little dust, low
humidity and other criteria that lifted it to the
top spot.

"What about the other sites?" asked Bailey.

Kiope Raymond, a Hawaiian language instructor at
MCC, said that as early as 2003, officials were
aware that Haleakala was a sacred site to many
Hawaiians but failed to include that when making
their decision.

"It's the only one of the six other sites that
was ascertained to have a (cultural) significance
like Haleakala," said Raymond.

Kaeo wondered if officials would even think of
putting the giant telescope at such revered or
sacred sites as Machu Picchu, Mt. Everest,
Stonehenge or Mt. Zion.

Oliver Dukelow raised the question of land title.
The 18-acre observatory site was established on
ceded lands by an executive order from Gov.
William Quinn in 1961. The very issue of ceded
lands (former government lands taken over by the
United States upon annexation and turned over to
the state upon statehood) has been disputed by
those who say the illegal overthrow of the
Hawaiian kingdom means the lands were never
ceded, or surrendered.

The first Hawaiian organization also officially
took a stand against the project. Lui Hokoana
read a letter that said the Association of
Hawaiian Civic Clubs - the oldest community-based
grassroots Hawaiian organization in the state,
representing 51 clubs throughout the islands and
the Mainland - voted last weekend to support the
Maui District Council and its member clubs'
position to oppose construction.

Toni Dizon, an MCC agriculture student, got the
first ovation. Dizon said if the government had
$175 million to spare, then use the cash for a
better purpose, such as the college's ag
department, to clean up polluted waters on Maui,
restore taro farming and help students obtain
their degrees.

"You guys don't belong up there," she said. "You
should purify things down here instead of futtin'
around up there. You damn well don't belong on
Haleakala."

Valerie Monson can be reached at vmonson@mauinews.com.

Copyright © 2005 The Maui News.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

A List of Endangered Hawaiian Plants

2006-04-27T19:19:31Z

Mahalo nui to Puanani Rogers for forwarding this list to the Hawaii-Independence list, where I could find it and copy to here. It's quite shocking...
---------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Reviews of 70 Species in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii,
and Guam

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of review.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the
initiation of a 5-year review of 70 species under section 4(c)(2)(B) of
the Endangered Species Act (Act). The purpose of a 5-year review is to
ensure that the classification of a species as threatened or endangered
on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants is accurate and
consistent with the best scientific and commercial data currently
available. We are requesting submission of any such information that
has become available since the original listing of each of the 70
species identified in Table 1 below. Based on the results of these 5-
year reviews, we will determine whether any species should be proposed
for removal from the list or its listing status should be changed
pursuant to section 4(c)(2)(B) of the Act.

DATES: We must receive your information no later than June 12, 2006.
However, we will continue to accept new information about any listed
species at any time.

ADDRESSES: See ``Public Solicitation of New Information'' section for
instructions on how to submit information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For species-specific information,
contact the appropriate individual named in ``Public Solicitation of
New Information.''

Table 1.--Summary of the Listing Information for the Following 70 Species in
Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Guam.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
Common name Scientific name Status
Where listed Final listing rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plants:

MAR-96)
Liliwai.................... Acaena exigua..... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 57 FR 20772 (05-

MAY-92)
Olulu...................... Brighamia insignis Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 59 FR 9304 (02-FEB-

94)
Pua 'ala................... Brighamia rockii.. Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 57 FR 46325 (08-

OCT-92)
'Oha wai................... Clermontia peleana Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 59 FR 10305 (04-

MAR-94)
Haha....................... Cyanea dunbariae.. Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53130 (10-

OCT-96
Haha....................... Cyanea macrostegia Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 47686 (20-
ssp. gibsonii
SEP-91)
[Cyanea gibsonii].
Haha....................... Cyanea mceldowneyi Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 57 FR 20772 (05-

MAY-92)
Haha....................... Cyanea procera.... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 57 FR 46325 (08-

OCT-92)
Haha....................... Cyanea undulata... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 47695 (20-

SEP-91)
Ha'iwale................... Cyrtandra Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53089 (10-
subumbellata.
OCT-96)
No common name............. Delissea Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 59 FR 9304 (25-FEB-
rhytidosperma.
94)
Oha........................ Delissea Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53089 (10-
subcordata.
OCT-96)
No common name............. Diellia pallida... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 59 FR 9304 (25-FEB-

94)
Na'ena'e................... Dubautia Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 55770 (29-
herbstobatae.
OCT-9)
Nioi....................... Eugenia Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 59 FR 14482 (28-
koolauensis.
MAR-9)
Hawaiian gardenia (=Na'u).. Gardenia brighamii Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 50 FR 33 (21-AUG-

85)
Nanu....................... Gardenia mannii... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53089 (10-

OCT-96)
Kio'ele.................... Hedyotis coriacea. Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 57 FR 20772 (15-

MAY-92)
No common name............. Hedyotis parvula.. Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 55770 (29-

OCT-91)

Kopa....................... Hedyotis Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 64 FR 48307 (03-
schlechtendahlian
SEP-9)
a var. remyi.
Clay's hibiscus............ Hibiscus clayi.... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 59 FR 9304 (25-FEB-

94)
Hau kuahiwi................ Hibiscadelphus Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53137 (10-
giffardianus.
OCT-96)
Hau kuahiwi................ Hibiscadelphus Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53137 (10-
hualalaiensis.
OCT-96)
Kula wahine noho........... Isodendrion Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 59 FR 10305 (04-
pyrifolium.
MAR-94)
Kohe malama malama o Kanaloa Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 64 FR 48307 (03-
kanaloa. kahoolawensis.
SEP-99)
Cooke's koki'o............. Kokia cookei...... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 44 FR 62470 (30-

OCT-79)
Kamakahala................. Labordia Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53089 (10-
cyrtandrae.
OCT-96)
Kamakahala................. Labordia triflora. Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 64 FR 48307 (03-

SEP-99)
No common name............. Lobelia Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53089 (10-
monostachya.
OCT-96)
No common name............. Lysimachia maxima. Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53130 (10-

OCT-96)
Alani...................... Melicope Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 59 FR 62346 (05-
adscendens.
DEC-94)
Alani...................... Melicope Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 57 FR 20772 (15-
mucronulata.
MAY-92)
Alani...................... Melicope Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53137 (10-
zahlbruckneri.
OCT-96)
Kolea...................... Myrsine juddii.... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53089 (10-

OCT-96)
No common name............. Neraudia angulata. Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 55770 (29-

OCT-91)
No common name............. Neraudia ovata.... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53137 (10-

OCT-9)
Kulu'i..................... Nototrichium Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 55770 (29-
humile.
OCT-91)
Lau 'ehu................... Panicum niihauense Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53108 (10-

OCT-96)
No common name............. Phyllostegia Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53089 (10-
hirsuta.
OCT-96)
No common name............. Phyllostegia Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53089 (10-
kaalaensis.
OCT-96)
No common name............. Phyllostegia Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53108 (10-
parviflora.
OCT-96)
No common name............. Phyllostegia Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 59 FR 9304 (25-FEB-
waimeae.
94)
Lo'ulu..................... Pritchardia kaalae Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53089 (10-

OCT-96)
Lo'ulu..................... Pritchardia Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53070 (10-
viscosa.
OCT-96)
No common name............. Sanicula mariversa Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 55770 (29-

OCT-91)
Diamond Head Schiedea...... Schiedea adamantis Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 49 FR 6099 (17-FEB-

84)
No common name............. Schiedea kaalae... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 55770 (29-

OCT-91)
No common name............. Schiedea Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 61 FR 53108 (10-
kauaiensis.
OCT-96)
No common name............. Silene alexandri.. Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 57 FR 46325 (08-

OCT-92)
No common name............. Silene perlmanii.. Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 55770 (29-

OCT-91)
Popolo ku mai.............. Solanum Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 59 FR 56333 (10-
incompletum.
NOV-94)
No common name............. Stenogyne Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 57 FR 20592 (13-
kanehoana.
MAY-92)
No common name............. Tetramolopium Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 55770 (29-
filiforme.
OCT-91)
Pamakani................... Viola Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 55770 (29-
chamissoniana
OCT-91)
ssp.
chamissoniana.
No common name............. Viola helenae..... Endangered.........
U.S.A. (HI)....... 56 FR 47695 (20-

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Newest Voices of Truth

2006-04-27T16:32:14Z

A Voices of Truth forward from 'Ehu Cardwell, of the Koani Foundation
---------

Aloha `aina,
How many of us have ever had the thought, “time has passed me by?”
If “I’m too old for that,” or “let someone younger do it” has ever been your excuse, then think again.
This week our shows all feature people with missions who come from various walks of life, but none more inspiring to us than Uncle Jimmy Kimokea.

A respected Kaua’i kupuna, we don’t think Uncle Jimmy has actually ever stopped to think he might be too old for anything. Wherever we go, we almost always see him showing up with a smile on his face and an attitude for action, willing to help lead the way.

Just another “doer” who the years have only made better to inspire you into action on Voices Of Truth – One-On-One With Hawai`i’s Future.

MONDAY, April 17th At 7:00 PM & FRIDAY, April 21st At 5:30 PM - Hawai`i Island - Na Leo, Channel 54
"No Slowing Him Down - A Visit With Uncle Jimmy Kimokea."
One of our most colorful and interesting guests, Uncle Jimmy never fails to surprise and delight us as he relates his never ending travels and activities. Jimmy, who is one of Hawai`i's treasured elders, and an inspiration to people half his age, is filled with energy as well as a strong sense of mission.
Join Jimmy as he shares details and photos of his trip to New Zealand, and even a cruise where he found a new wife!
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to sit down and visit with a revered kupuna who teaches us all that age is simply a state of mind.

WEDNESDAY, April 19th At 6:30 PM - Maui - Akaku, Channel 53
"Hawaiian Independence At The United Nations - Part One"
In this first part of a two-part series, Koani Foundation Director Kai`opua Fyfe, during a break in proceedings at the UN, relates his experiences of what happened when he went to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC this last spring and attempted to testify against the Akaka bill.

With Senator John McCain chairing the Senate Hearings, what Kai`opua found was that only those supporting the bill were scheduled to speak despite his numerous attempts to be included. But, while no negative testimony was allowed, Kai`opua did see and hear some very eye opening things that will definitely surprise you.

Be sure and sit down with your entire `ohana and catch this unique first person account of what it's like to be a part of a US Senate hearing, along with some of the most powerful people in the US in the same room attempting to stack the deck their way once more.

THURSDAY, April 20th At 8:30 PM & FRIDAY, April 21st At 8:30 AM - Kaua`i - Ho`ike, Channel 52
"Unsettled Spirit - A Visit With Bumpy Kanahele."

We feature one of Hawai`i's long time sovereignty fighters, and founder of both Pu`uhonua O Waimanalo and Nation of Hawai`i. Bumpy shares with us an aspect of himself that not everyone knows; what got him involved in creating a better future for the people of Hawai`i. We promise you'll want more as Bumpy tells how his years growing up actually helped to mold him as a leader today who is both strong and wise.
Filmed on location at Pu`uhonua O Waimanalo, Bumpy is 100% inspiration in a setting of stunning beauty and also an example of what all of Hawai`i could be.

SATURDAY, April 22nd At 8:00 PM - O`ahu - 'Olelo, Channel 53
"Ancient Mana`o For A Pono Future - A Visit With Alex Pua`a - Revisited."

One of our most popular shows ever, "Ancient Mana`o For A Pono Future - A Visit With Alex Pua`a," has received more feedback from our viewers than practically any other segment. When we taped Alex, we ended up with far more footage than we could use. So we have re-edited a new version to include never before seen footage.

Both a spiritual and cultural practitioner, Alex shares unique and moving spiritual and cultural values that underpin the Hawaiian culture.

Like the original, this new segment has a timeless feel to it as knowledge that is beyond time is revealed.

Voices of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants in the hopes of inspiring viewers to do the same.

Those not in Hawai`i wishing to view the series may do so by visiting www.olelo.org and then clicking "NAT-Channel 53." A screen should then display allowing you to see the show via live streaming. Please refer to the `Olelo television programming notes above for segment times and titles.

All show times listed above are Hawai`i Standard Time (HST.)

Ho`oku`oko`a,
`Ehu Kekahu Cardwell
The Koani Foundation
Visit www.FreeHawaii.Info
"Just Say No! To Federal Recognition"

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

FWD article: Group Seeks Sovereignty for Alaska and Hawai'i

2006-04-25T20:06:39Z

http://starbulletin.com/print/2005.php?fr=/2006/04/22/news/story13.html

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Saturday, April 22, 2006

Group seeks sovereignty for Alaska and Hawaii

Associated Press

GENEVA » A group claiming to represent native
Hawaiians and Alaskans says it is appealing for
U.N. support to pressure the United States into
granting indigenous peoples in Alaska and Hawaii
full rights as independent states because the
occupation of their lands is against
international law.

Indigenous World Association, which represents
groups from both Alaska and Hawaii, has submitted
reports to the U.N. Human Rights Committee, the
first step in a process that could end in the
General Assembly or even with the appointment of
special investigators to examine the situation.

"We are independent and occupied peoples,"
Indigenous World Association spokesman Ronald
Barnes said Thursday. "Neither Alaska nor Hawaii
has ever ceded these powers."

Indigenous World Association, an umbrella group
which has for the first time brought together
tribes from Alaska and Hawaii, claims that
indigenous lands in both states were illegally
occupied. They say they are being taxed but get
no representation in return and point out that it
is against one of the founding principles of the
United States.

The Human Rights Committee has sent a list of
questions to Washington and will examine U.S.
officials at its next session, in Geneva in July.

These include a request to detail which U.S. law
allows authorities to contravene established
tribal property rights, and also to explain how
federal laws apply to indigenous tribes.

"Anybody who has property that belongs to them,
in their right mind, is going to say, 'Please
don't take my property,'" Barnes said. "Domestic
federal Indian law is repugnant to international
law."

U.S. officials were not immediately able to comment.

© 1996-2006 The Honolulu Star-Bulletin | www.starbulletin.com

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

FWD: Historical Repression of Hula article

2006-04-25T12:39:09Z

Aloha kakou,
Mahalo nui to Kumu Mahea for sharing this article with her hula students. I am re-posting it here.
This is the weekend of the festival. Wish I were in Hilo!!!

----------
Hawaii's pre-eminent celebration of hula takes place this week: the
Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo. Amid all the color and pageantry of
this event, it is easy to forget the period in Hawaiian history when
attempts were made to outlaw this art form. Writer Nanette Napoleon
explores this issue through a review of historic records.
----------
THE MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL
By Nanette Naioma Napoleon
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Most people interested in hula know that missionaries in the islands in
the 1800s considered hula an "abomination" and preached vehemently
against it. But few people know that their influence in government
actually resulted in the enactment of laws that restricted the practice
of hula for nearly a half-century.

What were these laws? Were they ever repealed? Before addressing those
questions, a little background is necessary.

Prior to the Protestant missionary's arrival in 1820, hula was an
integral part of everyday life. Some dances were sacred and could be
performed only by selected individuals, while others were enjoyed by
the population at large. Hula was one of the primary forms of Hawaiian
artistic and religious expression.

Its status was radically altered with the arrival of New England
missionaries, whose ultraconservative religious sensibilities were
severely shaken by the sight of "half-naked heathens" engaging in "lewd
and lascivious" dances.

Hiram Bingham, leader of the first group of missionaries, wrote that
practically the entire Hawaiian population was "wasting their time in
learning, practicing or witnessing the hula, or heathen song and
dance," instead of tending to fields and families or attending church
services.

The preaching did not fall entirely on deaf ears. Kuhina Nui (regent)
Ka'ahumanu, co-ruler with King Kamehameha II, was an early convert to
Christianity and in 1830 issued an oral edict making hula forbidden,
along with chants (olioli), songs of pleasure (mele), "foul speech and
bathing by women in public places."

Since written laws had not yet been instituted, the edict carried the
full measure of traditional Hawaiian law (kapu), possibly to the extent
of banishment or death for noncompliance, although Ka'ahumanu never
issued such consequences. But after she died in 1832, her edict was
largely ignored, and the people once again indulged in hula openly,
although cautiously.

According to noted Hawaiian historians Dorothy B. Barrere, Mary Kawena
Pukui and Marion Kelly in their book "Hula Historical Perspectives,"
"Missionary influence, while strong, never wiped out the hula as a
functional part of the Hawaiian society. Faced with this undeniable
fact, the authorities sought to curb performances by regulation."

The first written laws were enacted in 1840, but it was not until 1851
that the first law pertaining to hula was instituted. In that year the
legislature adopted "An Act to Provide for the License of Public
Shows," which required a license for any "public show, theatrical,
equestrian, or other exhibitions of any description" for which
admission was charged. The law did not specify a fee for the license,
but did say that anyone found without one could be arrested and fined
up to $500.

It is interesting to note that the public display of hula was seen in
the same light as certain questionable "theatricals" and "public shows"
being promoted throughout the United States and Europe by master
showman P.T. Barnum, with his traveling show of "human curiosities and
circus wonders."

Barrere and the others state that the hula performed for money was
designed for an audience more "uncouth" than was traditional. "Many, if
not most, of these dances were far from being stately, or dignified, or
graceful hula performed for visiting dignitaries, and some were part of
the repertoire of those dancers who performed for transient sailors,
especially during the visits of the whaling fleets."

The 1851 law did not regulate hula in private, so the dance continued
to be practiced and enjoyed throughout the islands.

In June 1858, in an attempt to extend the reach of the law, the
Hawaiian Evangelical Society -- composed entirely of missionaries --
submitted a letter to Prince Lot Kamehameha, then minister of the
interior, to plead for change. The letter described hula as "a very
great public evil, tending ... to demoralize the people ... to divert
them from all industrial and intellectual pursuits ... to lay waste
their fields and gardens by neglect ... to interfere materially with
the prosperity of the schools; to foster poverty and distress among the
people."

The missionaries' belief that Hawaiians should be participating less in
hula and more in cultivating the land was shared by most of the sugar
barons, who were struggling to obtain Hawaiian laborers. It was not
that the Hawaiians refused to work, but that foreign diseases had
decimated the work force.

Opponents of hula did not quite achieve the impact desired -- an
outright ban -- but their efforts did result in further legal
restrictions. In 1859 the 1851 law was amended to include a $10 charge
for a license -- a very large sum at the time. The penalty for
violations was a fine of up to $500 and imprisonment of up to six
months at hard labor. In a further attempt to restrict access, public
hula was allowed only in Honolulu.

In an article published in the Hawaiian Journal of History, "The
Political Economy of Banning the Hula," Noenoe Silva, an assistant
professor in political science at the University of Hawaii, sites six
court cases that tested what constituted "public" hula. All the cases
involved dancing at private residences where money was given to the
host family or dancers. The first case was in 1863 on Kauai, when eight
men and four women were convicted and fined $3 each. The case was
appealed and the convictions overturned.

Presumably, dissent from the Hawaiian community over the next five
years put pressure on the Legislature to change or abolish these laws.
In 1864 the penalty for performing hula commercially was reduced from a
maximum $500 to a maximum $100, and possible imprisonment was reduced
from six to three months.

In that same year, on Kauai a man was convicted of dancing hula and
fined $5. In 1866, four men and one woman were convicted on Kauai --
one man was fined $10; the rest, $5. In 1867 one man went to court but
was acquitted, and in 1868 one man on the Big Island was convicted.

In 1870 the fee for a license was reduced from $10 to $5, and the
requirement that all commercial hula be restricted to Honolulu was
repealed.

In 1872 yet another case came before the court. As reported in the
newspaper, eight people were arrested and arraigned in the Police Court
on a charge of "promoting ... and abiding and assisting ... at a
Hawaiian hula." A plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of the
defendants, on the grounds that it took place in a private home.

The article indicated that the case had "aroused much public interest"
on both sides of the hula debate and that people were anxious to hear
the ruling of the police magistrate so they could "understand what is
actually the law of the land."

A little more than one month after the incident, the newspaper
published Police Magistrate Montgomery's ruling in Rex v. Kaluaioahu.
He found all nine people innocent.

His ruling was based largely on a witness's testimony that the dancing
occurred at a child's first-birthday party in a private home. The
child's grandmother "sat on a mat ... and gathered sums of money thrown
to her ... that the sums contributed were free gifts and not a tax or
charge, and that ... $80 may have been collected; that all the nine
respondents took part in it, sitting on the floor and monitoring with
their hands, and never performed standing."

This case seems to have put the issue of what constituted public and
private hula to rest, but the law of 1870 stayed in effect until 1896,
three years after the overthrow of the monarchy, when it was finally
repealed.

According to Silva, this was largely due to the fact that "lawmakers of
the new republic wanted to open Hawaii to more tourism, and they saw
commercial hula as one means to do that."

Today, hula is practiced freely and openly throughout the world. What a
different Hawaii it would be if hula had been legally extinguished.

Nanette Napoleon is a freelance researcher and writer in Kailua. She
currently dances with Ka'anohiwaianuenue Hula Studio in Kailua. E-mail
her at nanetten@www.hawaii.com

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 3 replies

Press Release: Justice for Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands

2006-04-24T16:56:18Z

PRESS RELEASE:

March 1, 2006,
Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands

"We Want Justice Now!"

Although there were less international guests than at the two previous March 1st events,
ERUB (Enewetak, Rongelap, Utrik, Bikini) again held their own survivor's rally in front of the Rongelap Atoll Local Government office. The RMI (Republic of the Marshall Islands) committee again refused to allow a survivor to speak on the morning agenda. At ERUB's rally there were sixteen international guests: twelve from Japan, one from Puerto Rico, and three from Hawaii. Ten from Japan represented Gensuikyo, the Japan Council against A & H Bombs, led by the Assistant General Secretary Ms. Yayoi Tsuchida, who read a letter from a fisherman from the Lucky Dragon V who was contaminated by the Bravo test in 1954. Ms. Brunilda Zayas Rodriguez represented Mayaguezanos con Vieques in Puerto Rico. Among those from Hawaii was Ms. Chiyoko Tamayose representing ERUB II, the survivors based in Hawaii.
The participants at the rally signed a petition to U.S. Ambassador Greta Morris that read,"We want justice now!" The three demands listed were: 1) Continue funding 177 HCP at the level of the need!, 2) Extend DOE Medical monitoring and treatment for children and grandchildren of survivors!, and 3) Pass the Changed Circumstances Petition!. This petition will be taken to the U.S. Embassy either tomorrow or on Friday.
A motorcade began the day from the Amata Kabua International Airport to the Rongelap Atoll office.
All four atolls from which the survivors hail were represented and shared their stories with the audience in the afternoon.
For more information, contact Ms. Elma Coleman, at lmacoleman@hotmail.com or telephone the Rongelap Atoll Local Government office at 011-692-625-7271.
Available is the letter from the Lucky Dragon V fisherman read at the event. Also available is a copy of Mayor James Matayoshi's speech at the RMI government event.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

Makua Military Training FWD: Commentary by Poka Laenui in Honolulu Adverstiser

2006-04-21T16:43:13Z

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Apr/11/op/FP604110314.html/?print=on

The Honolulu Advertiser
Tuesday, April 11, 2006

This is an excellent commentary, and was forwarded to those of us on the Hawaii-Nation yahoo list. I have copied it and posted it here. Mahalo to the Hawaii-Nation list for always getting the word out.
----------------------
COMMENTARY

U.S. has no legal basis for Makua training

By Poka Laenui

The U.S. military has no right to train for
combat on Hawaiian soil. Following U.S.
aggression against Hawai'i in 1893, any "right"
the U.S. holds in Hawai'i is nothing more than
rhetoric masking for reality. See General
Assembly resolution 3314 (XXIX) of Dec. 14, 1974:
Definition of aggression:

"Article 1 - Aggression is the use of armed force
by a state against the sovereignty, territorial
integrity or political independence of another
state. ...

"Article 5 - (1) No consideration of whatever
nature, whether political, economic, military or
otherwise, may serve as a justification for
aggression. (2) A war of aggression is a crime
against international peace. Aggression gives
rise to international responsibility. (3) No
territorial acquisition or special advantage
resulting from aggression is or shall be
recognized as lawful."

It follows, therefore, that Makua's "legal" lease
to the U.S. government is nothing more than
manipulation between the feds and the state.

I'm against U.S. military training, not only
because such activity despoils the cultural,
religious and environmental nature of the land.
I'm against it because of the grand lies now
being perpetrated in Hawai'i about the U.S.
commitment to peace and its war against
terrorism. Those are merely slogans tossed around
as if cheerleading for a football team.

The U.S. is not committed to peace. It is instead
committed to its own expansion in order to enjoy
its "thriving global economy." And it hopes to
accomplish this expansion through the suppression
of all peoples who possess the goods or services
for this economy but who oppose U.S. control.

Why should Hawai'i support a war in Iraq where it
is clear the U.S. had no business attacking that
nation in the first place?

War on terrorism? How was Iraq committing
terrorism against the U.S.? If anything, it has
been and continues to be the reverse. It is none
other than the U.S. that is committing terrorism
against the people of Iraq on a daily basis -
bombing homes and villages, killing hundreds of
innocents, then pasting a label of "suspected
insurgent strongholds."

The U.S. had no business going into Iraq in the
first place, and that being the case, it has no
business remaining there another day.

Live-fire training at Makua for duty in Iraq?
Give me a break. The Iraqis fighting back are
using home-made explosives and small arms. U.S.
armaments are a hundred times more powerful than
theirs.

What further "live-fire" training does the U.S. Army need?

Yes, the U.S. is indeed a nation at war. But it
is not "global terrorism" that is the enemy. The
enemies are the ghosts of U.S. past and of U.S.
present. The U.S. war is nothing more than young
and poor fools made into soldiers to hold onto
the ill-gotten gains of corporate America.

The U.S. is finally being called upon to answer
for its past and present deeds. It is being
called upon to come face to face with its greed.

To win this war, the U.S. must resort to the
ultimate weapon: truth. It must turn to the
ultimate force: love. It must take the long path
to peace: confession and beg for forgiveness.

The United States of America can no longer take
the path of exceptionalism, but must accept that
it, too, is bound by the rules of fair play,
justice and humanity.

Meantime, leave Hawaiian lands alone.

Poka Laenui, an attorney and radio talk show
host, is a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran. He
addressed the United Nations' General Assembly in
1992 where he was recognized as one of five
pioneers in the advancement of indigenous
peoples' rights in the world. He wrote this
commentary for The Advertiser.

© COPYRIGHT 2006 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD from Noelani Jai Re June 20 Day of Pule/ Kamehameha Schools case

2006-04-08T19:09:12Z

Aloha kakou,

En Banc Hearing Date Set
My apologies for the long silence - I've been waiting for more specific word from the Ninth Circuit regarding the rehearing. Yesterday the Court set the case for its calendar on Tuesday, June 20, presumably in San Francisco. I will let you know which judges will be on the en banc panel when that information is released by the Court.

Register Today!
In the meantime, don't forget to register at www.kokua.supportkamehameha.org for updates on the status of this lawsuit, and for helpful links and handouts. When the website goes live shortly, you'll see some very familiar faces "talking story" about the Doe lawsuit - I'm sworn to secrecy on their identity 'til then, but register now or one of them might get "Lost"! hehehehe....

Day of Pule - June 20
Finally, several of us are putting together a personal prayer guide for the day of the rehearing, with pule starting at sun-up, for every hour of June 20 - a way to keep us united in pule no matter where we live. Mahalo to those kahu and others who have been helping me fashion the pule guide. We'll be sure to get that to you with plenty time for you to print and circulate around to 'ohana and friends for their personal use, too.

In 'da meantime, mahalo for your ongoing pule and support. We're almost there! IMUA KAMEHAMEHA! IMUA HAWAI'I!

Many blessings of Ke Akua,
Noelani (Loo) Jai, KS '83
alohajai@socal.rr.com

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Tongan Decorative Lashing Workshop in Hilo

2006-04-08T19:04:05Z

Mahalo to Ku for posting this to the lists:

Tongan-born Filipe Tohi of Aotearoa (New Zealand), the world-renowed artist known for his mastery of the ancient Tongan art of lalava (decorative lashing) and his artistic and cultural interpretations of that art form, offers a presentation and hands-on workshop exploring the art of lalava. Tohi has dedicated the last fifteen years of his life to studying the intricate, complex design patterns of these lashings, which create a cultural language hidden within the layers upon layers of black and brown coconut sennit wrapped around the beams of fales and sailing canoes. Come and learn about Tohi’s artistic quest to understand the profound and expansive cultural knowledge that was recorded in the patterns of the lalava. “Lalava was our computer,” he says. “Knowledge about astronomy and navigation, mathematics and physics, the environment and history is all recorded here, within the patterns of the lalava.”

He will be at Art in the Ironworks, Kamehameha Ave (near intersection with Manono St.), Hilo, on April 22, between 2-4 p.m. See attachment flyer.

For more information call Pasifika Foundation Hawai‘i at 328-8721 or Art in The Ironworks at 935-2300. email: acurrie@hawaii.rr.com.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Take Action/April 15th-Get PBS to show Mauna Kea documentary

2006-04-03T23:28:10Z

FWD from Joan Lander of Na Maka o ka 'Aina. Please get your local PBS station to show this fine documentary: Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege!
Mahalo!
------------

aloha mai,

we are sending out the information below
to everyone we know on the continent
(not Hawai'i).

please feel free to do the same!

mahalo for your support.

~Joan & Puhipau

----------MAUNA KEA documentary on PBS: NEED YOUR HELP--------

aloha,

this is a request for help.

our documentary, MAUNA KEA - TEMPLE UNDER SIEGE,
is being offered to PBS stations throughout the United States.

the program tells the story of Hawai'i's sacred mountain,
Mauna Kea, and the conflict over the use of its summit:
whether it should be used for astronomical observatory development
or preserved as a cultural landscape.

PBS stations will have only one opportunity to download the
program from the satellite feed, which happens April 15.

if you want your local PBS station to show this video,
we ask that you email the attached flyer to the
program director and request that the program be
shown on your station.

or simply call the program director and give them
the info on the flyer
(Satellite feed: Saturday, April 15 at 2100 et / 513).

please distribute this email to all your contacts and lists.

mahalo (thanks) for helping us get the word out.

PBS Hawai'i has already agreed to air the documentary
so there is no need to contact them.

stay tuned for the date and time of the Hawai'i broadcast.

please contact us if you have trouble opening the attachment.

a hui hou,

Joan Lander
Puhipau

Na Maka o ka `Aina
PO Box 29
Na`alehu, Hawai`i 96772-0029
Ph. 808.929.9659
Fax 808.929.9679
namaka@interpac.net
www.namaka.com

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Auwe! The passing of Clarice Wahinealii Nuhi

2006-03-29T22:37:44Z

Kapilioha FWD'd a link to this notice below and says, "the hula world has lost a very special person." If you have connections to Clarice Wahineali'i Nuhi, please visit send your aloha to her 'ohana and/or sign the online guest book (below). If you have memories, we would be honored if you would share them here.
Malama pono.
-------------

Clarice Wahinealii Nuhi
Nuhi, Clarice Wahinealii
of Carson, passed away March 13, 2006 at the age of 62. She was born August 23, 1943 in Hawaii. Clarice was preceded in death by her brother, Vivas Nuhi. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Yolanda Nuhi; longtime friend, Cheryl Henderson; hanai sister, Kalei Sur; numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Friday, March 17, 2006 at 8am, with funeral services at 10am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2000 W. Artesia Blvd., Gardena. Interment will follow in Green Hills Memorial Park. Please sign the guest book at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.GREEN HILLS MORTUARY
310-831-0311

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 3 replies

FWD: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

2006-03-23T23:08:24Z

This is a great article, forwarded and posted by Ku on the Hawaii-Independence group. Mahalo nui!
---------------

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

By Megan Quinn

From Permaculture Activist

Havana, Cuba-- At the Organipónico de Alamar, a neighborhood agriculture
project, a workers' collective runs a large urban farm, a produce market and a
restaurant. Hand tools and human labor replace oil-driven machinery. Worm
cultivation and composting create productive soil. Drip irrigation conserves water,
and the diverse, multi-hued produce provides the community with a rainbow of
healthy foods.

In other Havananeighborhoods, lacking enough land for such large projects,
residents have installed raised garden beds on parking lots and planted
vegetable gardens on their patios and rooftops.

Since the early 1990s, an urban agriculture movement has swept through Cuba,
putting this capital city of 2.2 million on a path toward sustainability.

A small group of Australians assisted in this grass-roots effort, coming to
this Caribbeanisland nation in 1993 to teach permaculture, a system based on
sustainable agriculture which uses far less energy.

This need to bring agriculture into the city began with the fall of the
Soviet Union and the loss of more than 50 percent of Cuba's oil imports, much of
its food and 85 percent of its trade economy. Transportation halted, people went
hungry and the average Cuban lost 30 pounds.

"In reality, when this all began, it was a necessity. People had to start
cultivating vegetables wherever they could," a tour guide told a documentary crew
filming in Cubain 2004 to record how Cubasurvived on far less oil than usual.

The crew included the staff of The Community Solution, a non-profit
organization in Yellow Springs, Ohiowhich teaches about peak oil - the time when oil
production world-wide will reach an all-time high and head into an irreversible
decline. Some oil analysts believe this may happen within this decade, making
Cubaa role model to follow.

"We wanted to see if we could capture what it is in the Cuban people and the
Cuban culture that allowed them to go through this very difficult time," said
Pat Murphy, The Community Solution's executive director. "Cubahas a lot to
show the world in how to deal with energy adversity."

Scarce petroleum supplies have not only transformed Cuba's agriculture. The
nation has also moved toward small-scale renewable energy and developed an
energy-saving mass transit system, while maintaining its government-provided
health care system whose preventive, locally-based approach to medicine conserves
scarce resources.

The era in Cubafollowing the Soviet collapse is known to Cubans as the
Special Period. Cubalost 80 percent of its export market and its imports fell by 80
percent. The Gross Domestic Product dropped by more than one third.

"Try to image an airplane suddenly losing its engines. It was really a
crash," Jorge Mario, a Cuban economist, told the documentary crew. A crash that put
Cubainto a state of shock. There were frequent blackouts in its oil-fed
electric power grid, up to 16 hours per day. The average daily caloric intake in
Cubadropped by a third.

According to a report on Cubafrom Oxfam, an international development and
relief agency, "In the cities, buses stopped running, generators stopped
producing electricity, factories became silent as graveyards. Obtaining enough food
for the day became the primary activity for many, if not most, Cubans."

In part due to the continuing US embargo, but also because of the loss of a
foreign market, Cubacouldn't obtain enough imported food. Furthermore, without
a substitute for fossil-fuel based large-scale farming, agricultural
production dropped drastically.

So Cubans started to grow local organic produce out of necessity, developed
bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers as petrochemical substitutes, and
incorporated more fruits and vegetables into their diets. Since they couldn't fuel their
aging cars, they walked, biked, rode buses, and carpooled.

"There are infinite small solutions," said Roberto Sanchez from the
Cuban-based Foundation for Nature and Humanity. "Crises or changes or problems can
trigger many of these things which are basically adaptive. We are adapting."

A New Agricultural Revolution

Cubans are also replacing petroleum-fed machinery with oxen, and their urban
agriculture reduces food transportation distances. Today an estimated 50
percent of Havana's vegetables come from inside the city, while in other Cuban
towns and cities urban gardens produce from 80 percent to more than 100 percent of
what they need.

In turning to gardening, individuals and neighborhood organizations took the
initiative by identifying idle land in the city, cleaning it up, and planting.

When the Australian permaculturists came to Cubathey set up the first
permaculture demonstration project with a $26,000 grant from the Cuban government.

Out of this grew the Foundation for Nature and Humanity's urban permaculture
demonstration project and center in Havana. "With this demonstration,
neighbors began to see the possibilities of what they can do on their rooftops and
their patios," said Carmen López, director of the urban permaculture center, as
she stood on the center's rooftop amongst grape vines, potted plants, and
compost bins made from tires.

Since then the movement has been spreading rapidly across Havana's barrios.
So far López' urban permaculture center has trained more than 400 people in the
neighborhood in permaculture and distributes a monthly publication, "El
Permacultor." "Not only has the community learned about permaculture," according to
López, "we have also learned about the community, helping people wherever
there is need."

One permaculture student, Nelson Aguila, an engineer-turned-farmer, raises
food for the neighborhood on his integrated rooftop farm. On just a few hundred
square feet he has rabbits and hens and many large pots of plants. Running
free on the floor are gerbils, which eat the waste from the rabbits, and become
an important protein source themselves. "Things are changing," Sanchez said.
"It's a local economy. In other places people don't know their neighbors. They
don't know their names. People don't say 'hello' to each other. Not here."

Since going from petrochemical intensive agricultural production to organic
farming and gardening, Cubanow uses 21 times less pesticide than before the
Special Period. They have accomplished this with their large-scale production of
bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers, exporting some of it to other Latin
American countries.

Though the transition to organic production and animal traction was
necessary, the Cubans are now seeing the advantages. "One of the good parts of the
crisis was to go back to the oxen," said Miguel Coyula, a community development
specialist, "Not only do they save fuel, they do not compact the soil the way
the tractor does, and the legs of the oxen churn the earth."

"The Cuban agricultural, conventional, 'Green Revolution' system never was
able to feed the people," Sanchez said. "It had high yields, but was oriented to
plantation agriculture. We exported citrus, tobacco, sugar cane and we
imported the basic things. So the system, even in the good times, never fulfilled
people's basic needs."

Drawing on his permaculture knowledge, Sanchez said, "You have to follow the
natural cycles, so you hire nature to work for you, not work against nature.
To work against nature, you have to waste huge amounts of energy."

Energy Solutions

Because most of Cuba's electricity had been generated from imported oil, the
shortages affected nearly everyone on the island. Scheduled rolling blackouts
several days per week lasted for many years. Without refrigerators, food would
spoil. Without electric fans, the heat was almost unbearable in a country
that regularly has temperatures in the 80s and 90s.

The solutions to Cuba's energy problems were not easy. Without money, it
couldn't invest in nuclear power and new conventional fossil fuel plants or even
large-scale wind and solar energy systems. Instead, the country focused on
reducing energy consumption and implementing small-scale renewable energy
projects.

Ecosol Solar and Cuba Solar are two renewable energy organizations leading
the way. They help develop markets for renewable energy, sell and install
systems, perform research, publish newsletters, and do energy efficiency studies for
large users.

Ecosol Solar has installed 1.2 megawatts of solar photovoltaic in both small
household systems (200 watt capacity) and large systems (15-50 kilowatt
capacity). In the United States1.2 megawatts would provide electricity to about 1000
homes, but can supply power to significantly more houses in Cubawhere
appliances are few, conservation is the custom, and the homes are much smaller.

About 60 percent of Ecosol Solar's installations go to social programs to
power homes, schools, medicals facilities, and community centers in rural Cuba.
It recently installed solar photovoltaic panels to electrify 2,364 primary
schools throughout rural Cubawhere it was not cost effective to take the grid. In
addition, it is developing compact model solar water heaters that can be
assembled in the field, water pumps powered by PV panels, and solar dryers.

A visit to "Los Tumbos," a solar-powered community in the rural hills
southwest of Havanademonstrates the positive impact that these strategies can have.
Once without electricity, each household now has a small solar panel that
powers a radio and a lamp. Larger systems provide electricity to the school,
hospital, and community room, where residents gather to watch the evening news
program called the "Round Table." Besides keeping the residents informed, the
television room has the added benefit of bringing the community together.

"The sun was enough to maintain life on earth for millions of years," said
Bruno Beres, a director of Cuba Solar. "Only when we [humans] arrived and
changed the way we use energy was the sun not enough. So the problem is with our
society, not with the world of energy."

Transportation - A System of Ride Sharing

Cubans also faced the problem of providing transportation on a reduced energy
diet. Solutions came from ingenious Cubans, who often quote the phrase,
"Necessity is the mother of invention." With little money or fuel, Cubanow moves
masses of people during rush hour in Havana. In an inventive approach, virtually
every form of vehicle, large and small, was used to build this mass transit
system. Commuters ride in hand-made wheelbarrows, buses, other motorized
transport and animal-powered vehicles.

One special Havanatransit vehicle, nicknamed a "camel," is a very large metal
semi-trailer, pulled by a standard semi-truck tractor, which holds 300
passengers. Bicycles and motorized two-passenger rickshaws are also prevalent in
Havana, while horse drawn carts and large old panel trucks are used in the
smaller towns.

Government officials in yellow garb pull over nearly empty government
vehicles and trucks on Havana's streets and fill them with people needing a ride.
Chevys from the 1950s cruise along with four people in front and four more in
back.

A donkey cart with a taxi license nailed to the frame also travels Cuba's
streets. Many trucks were converted to passenger transport by welding steps to
the back so riders could get on and off with ease.

Health Care and Education - National Priorities

Even though Cuba is a poor country, with a per capita Gross Domestic Product
of only $3,000 per year (putting them in the bottom third of all nations),
life expectancy is the same as in the U.S., and infant mortality is below that in
the U.S. The literacy rate in Cubais 97 percent, the same as in the U.S.
Cuba's education system, as well as its medical system is free.

When Cubans suffered through their version of a peak oil crisis, they
maintained their free medical system, one of the major factors that helped them to
survive. Cubans repeatedly emphasize how proud they are of their system.

Before the Cuban Revolution in 1959, there was one doctor for every 2000
people. Now there is a doctor for every 167 people. Cubaalso has an international
medical school and trains doctors to work in other poor countries. Each year
there are 20,000 Cuban doctors abroad doing this kind of work.

With meat scarce and fresh local vegetables in abundance since 1995, Cubans
now eat a healthy, low-fat, nearly vegetarian, diet. They also have a healthier
outdoor lifestyle and walking and bicycling have become much more common.
"Before, Cubans didn't eat that many vegetables. Rice and beans and pork meat was
the basic diet," Sanchez from the Foundation for Nature and Humanity said.
"At some point necessity taught them, and now they demand [vegetables]."

Doctors and nurses live in the community where they work and usually above
the clinic itself. In remote rural areas, three-story buildings are constructed
with the doctor's office on the bottom floor and two apartments on the second
and third floors, one for the doctor and one for the nurse.

In the cities, the doctors and nurses always live in the neighborhoods they
serve. They know the families of their patients and try to treat people in
their homes. "Medicine is a vocation, not a job," exclaimed a Havanadoctor,
demonstrating the motivation for her work. In Cuba60 percent of the doctors are
women.

Education is considered the most important social activity in Cuba. Before
the revolution, there was one teacher for every 3,000 people. Today the ratio is
one for every 42 people, with a teacher-student ratio of 1 to 16. Cubahas a
higher percentage of professionals than most developing countries, and with 2
percent of the population of Latin America, Cubahas 11 percent of all the
scientists.

In an effort to halt migration from the countryside to the city during the
Special Period, higher education was spread out into the provinces, expanding
learning opportunities and strengthening rural communities. Before the Special
Period there were only three institutions of higher learning in Cuba. Now there
are 50 colleges and universities throughout the country, seven in Havana.

The Power of Community

Throughout its travels, the documentary crew saw and experienced the
resourcefulness, determination, and optimism of the Cuban people, often hearing the
phrase "Sí, se puede" or "Yes it can be done."

People spoke of the value of "resistir" or "resistance," showing their
determination to overcome obstacles. And they have lived under a U.S.economic
blockade since the early 1960s, viewed as the ultimate test of the Cuban ability to
resist.

There is much to learn from Cuba's response to the loss of cheap and abundant
oil. The staff of The Community Solution sees these lessons as especially
important for people in developing countries, who make up 82 percent of the
world's population and live more on life's edge. But developed countries are also
vulnerable to shortages in energy. And with the coming onset of peak oil, all
countries will have to adapt to the reality of a lower energy world.

With this new reality, the Cuban government changed its 30-year motto from
"Socialism or Death" to "A Better World is Possible." Government officials
allowed private entrepreneurial farmers and neighborhood organizations to use
public land to grow and sell their produce. They pushed decision-making down to the
grassroots level and encouraged initiatives in their neighborhoods. They
created more provinces. They encouraged migration back to the farms and rural
areas and reorganized their provinces to be in-line with agricultural needs.

From The Community Solution's viewpoint, Cubadid what it could to survive,
despite its ideology of a centralized economy. In the face of peak oil and
declining oil production, will Americado what it takes to survive, in spite of its
ideology of individualism and consumerism? Will Americans come together in
community, as Cubans did, in the spirit of sacrifice and mutual support?

"There is climate change, the price of oil, the crisis of energy ..." Beres
from Cuba Solar said, listing off the challenges humanity faces. "What we must
know is that the world is changing and we must change the way we see the world."

This article appeared in the special Peak Oil issue of Permaculture Activist,
Spring 2006, (www.permacultureactivist.net). The author, Megan Quinn, is the
outreach director for The Community Solution, (www.communitysolution.org), a
program of Community Service Inc., a nonprofit organization in Yellow Springs,
Ohio. For information about its soon-to-be-released documentary, "The Power of
Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil" visit its website, e-mail her at
megan@communitysolution.org, or call 937-767-2161.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Documentary Ku'u Aina Aloha: My Beloved Country

2006-03-21T18:26:17Z

http://starbulletin.com/print/2005.php?fr=/2006/03/17/features/story02.html

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Friday, March 17, 2006

DOCUMENTARY

'Emotional wallop' on film

A documentary aims to bring the Hawaiian cause to a far wider audience

By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

Documentary filmmaker Meleanna Aluli Meyer hopes
that her project "Ku'u Aina Aloha: My Beloved
Country" will be "thought-provoking -- my
offering to the sovereignty movement."

In this she has some high-powered help: Alice
Walker, author of "The Color Purple," will serve
as executive producer, along with Maori filmmaker
Merata Mita, a faculty member at the University
of Hawaii Academy for Creative Media.

Filming has been progressing, despite recent
inclement weather that "has been chasing us," New
Zealander and director of photography Alun
Bollinger said. He and Meyer were scampering all
over the islands with his 16-mm film camera.

"The landscape we wanted to capture has not
always been present," he said. But Meyer is
confident that "the elements gathered on film
will present the story."

Of all the Hawaiian documentaries she has worked
on -- including "Puamana," "Onipa'a" and
"Ho'oku'ikahi" -- this is the first with the
expressed aim of reaching out to an audience
outside of the islands.

It certainly has an impressive production team
behind it. Besides cinematographer Bollinger, it
includes local co-writer, co-producer and fellow
documentarian Stephanie Castillo.

"The film will give voice to Queen Liliuokalani
and the native Hawaiians who lived in the days of
the overthrow and annexation of the kingdom of
Hawaii," Meyer said. "I believe that the spirit
of Liliuokalani speaks to us today through the
vehicle of her mele (songs) and, as with other
ancestors, admonish us to listen well, to hear
what is deepest within us.

"It's about finding a voice for native Hawaiians
in a viable and constructive sense, honoring the
place they call home, their country, the oni
hana, the place they were born."

While the kupuna will be given on-camera time,
the strength of the documentary will also depend
on a blend of landscape cinematography, archival
photos, dramatic readings and the music created
by Aaron Mahi. "It should carry an emotional
wallop," Meyer said.

After some pickup shots and post-production work
with editor Vivien Hilgrove in Santa Rosa,
Calif., "Ku'u Aina Aloha" will be released next
year, Meyer hopes, on or around the queen's
birthday, Sept. 2, along with a scheduled
broadcast on PBS.

Walker joined the project after Meyer asked for
her help, although the filmmaker thought it would
be a long shot to expect a response. "On a wing
and a prayer, I sent her a copy of my last film.
And then I got that extraordinary phone call from
her saying, 'I love your work. What can I do?'"

Walker has made a financial contribution to the
film and has become a mentor to Meyer. "She's
helped me to use a poetic framework to present
things in the documentary. Alice's involvement
helps gives an incredible affirmation of the
work."

In a statement, Walker said the native Hawaiian
experience shares much with that of other native
people who have suffered. "What is our task, as
people of color, whose Way has been dishonored
and frequently destroyed? How are we to reconnect
to our ancestors, without shame or blame, so that
we may move forward? ...

"I believe this film has the power to center us
in a new direction. By demonstrating integrity in
the pursuit of our real ancestral selves, in the
past, and addressing and re-imaging those
behaviors that went wrong, it provides a map of
the Way, reclaimed, that we may, with all the
aloha we can muster, find ahead."

Meyer found inspiration for "Ku'u Aina Aloha" in
2000, when she discovered letters her aunt Emma
A'ima Nawahi wrote from 1895 to 1897. She and her
husband, Joseph, were royalists and supporters of
the queen, and ran a Hawaiian-language newspaper
in Hilo, Ke Aloha Aina, from 1897 to 1935.

"We are giving voice to the resistance," Meyer
said, "to show that we are not victims, but
instead, we are victors. Native Hawaiians have a
different relationship to the land. It's not a
commodity to us. And our conversation with world
issues is important as well."

ANOTHER integral part of Meyer's vision is
Bollinger, who has worked on activist
documentaries and features back home including
"Vigil," "The Piano" and the recent "River
Queen," which screened at last fall's Louis
Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival.

"I love this man's work," Meyer said. "He has an
extraordinary sensitivity of place, and it aligns
with my own."

"I've done documentaries in other Pacific islands
as well," Bollinger added. "I've dealt with real
people and real issues, so working on something
like this gives me more of a sense of purpose. I
sympathize with the subject, since there's a
similar conflict with the Maoris back home. These
are issues that need ongoing attention. We need
to approach this subject quite gently and with
aloha."

He admits that it's sometimes tough going lugging
around 50 pounds of equipment, a film camera with
a wide-angle 6-mm lens and a 12-foot ladder, "but
it's worth going that extra mile to make a piece
of poetry."

"We're not interested in creating a sense of
agitation," Meyer said. "It's meant to celebrate
all native Hawaiians, with Liliuokalani as our
fearless leader.

"My generation came of age in the '70s, and now
we're in our 50s and 60s. This is our legacy, and
we will not repeat this historical tragedy. Alice
has been a great mentor, so it's important to put
our best effort out."

'Olena Media
http://www.olenamedia.com

© 1996-2006 The Honolulu Star-Bulletin | www.starbulletin.com

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Ka`u Preservation Press release

2006-03-16T02:21:08Z

Na Ali`i has Moved On

J. Keolalani Hanoa
July 5th, 1960 - March 13, 2006

On March 13th, 2006, Jimmyleen Keolalani Hanoa went to sit with her
kapunas to guide us and future generations so we can continue her
work towards what is pono, for the preservation and protection of the
aina and the oiwi. Ku`e!

Most anyone who has spent time around Punulu`u have either seen or met Keola. Her and her mother Pele both live on the beach and have been very active in the local area as more developers look towards the Ka`u coast. For more info on whats happening down south, and the press release for Keola, Please go to the Ka`u Preservation site. Mahalo

http://www.kaupreservation.org/

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

URGENT FWD: Protect Taro from GMO research

2006-02-24T18:17:29Z

This is a FWD from activists in Hawai'i. Please take a moment to email your testimony. Mahalo!
---------

Aloha mai kakou,

This is a summary of the call for Testimony for the
Senate Hearing on GE Kalo scheduled for Sat. Feb. 25,
in Honolulu. Testimony can be sent by e-mail,
complete instructions are written below, as well as
supporting documents.

Aloha,

Nancy

> From: "Miss Sarah Sullivan" <soulfive@hotmail.com>
> CC: soulfive@hotmail.com
> Subject: TARO ACTION ALERT! WE NEED YOUR HELP!
> Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 17:32:38 -0500
>
> February 2006
> TARO ACTION ALERT: WE NEED YOUR HELP!
> PLEASE FORWARD THIS ON!!!
>
> Many of you probably already know that the taro
> plant is being genetically
> engineered in Hawaii: altered at a cellular level by
> researchers through the
> University of Hawaii. Many people are very concerned
> about this, and groups
> working on this issue have popped up all over the
> state.
> There are several things you can do to show your
> support in moving forward
> to protect the TARO in Hawaii.
>
> 1. There are two bills around taro that will be
> heard this Saturday,
> February 25th at 10:30am. We need to support the
> moratorium (or end) of GE
> research on both taro (SB 2749) and SB 2750 on
> coffee. The taro bill was
> introduced by Senators Hooser, English, and Chun
> Oakland and it is really
> important that we show our support that GMO TARO
> SHOULD STOP NOW! It would
> be great if you could show up but if not, please
> send in testimony. It makes
> a huge difference. You can send to
> testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
> Detailed directions for sending testimony are below
> at the bottom of this
> email.
>
> 2. Thursday, March 2nd there is an action at UH on
> Oahu. At 11:30 am at
> Bachman Hall we will be demanding that President
> David McClain drop the
> PATENT on taro in which the UH claims "Ownership"of
> Haloa, the ancestry of
> Hawaii and the taro plant.
>
> 3. University of Hawaii and the Industry involved in
> genetic engineering are
> getting letters to the editors published almost
> daily in many of our
> local/state papers. We really need to respond in
> mass, and a few of us have
> been working hard to try to get others to write
> letters to the editor. You
> could make a big difference by showing your support
> by writing a letter
> saying NO GMO TARO in Hawaii to any of the
> newspapers in Hawaii.
>
> 4. Chris Kobayashi, taro farmer from Hanalei on
> Kauai, and some others have
> worked very hard to get our “taro resolutions”
> written up. These are simply
> sign-on’s that people can put their name on to show
> their support in
> stopping GE taro research in Hawaii. If you could
> sign one and get your
> friends, any farmers, and anyone else to sign onto
> these it would be so
> valuable to the efforts to protect taro. If someone
> from you island is
> coming to Oahu Sat. the 25th, they could bring these
> resolutions which would
> be best, or you can mail them for future use t
>
> Sarah Sullivan
> PO BOX 343
> Koloa HI 96756
>
> SO, I’ve compiled some info below for you to see if
> you want to keep reading
> and pass on this on.
> You can open any of the attachments (in Word or
> Adobe.)
> I will also copy and paste some info below so that
> you can forward this
> message on easily.
>
> First, why should we oppose GE taro?
>
> Well, here is an example of how the Biotechnology
> companies view taro in
> Hawaii. This is good example of something put out
> by the companies that The
> University of Hawaii is working with that state that
> taro is not sacred, and
> that Hawaiian people who are opposed to GE are just
> fearful. This is
> offensive for obvious reasons. Here is what they
> say:
>
> HCIA
> Hawaii Crop Improvement Association
>
> BIOTECH CROPS: THE FACTS ABOUT GENETICALLY
> ENGINEERED TARO
>
>
>
-------------------------------------------------------------------
> “Taro Considered Sacred”
> Taro production was not merely an activity of food
> production in Hawaii’s
> early history, but was tightly interwoven into the
> Hawaiian culture and
> their legends about creation…
>
> Since the taro plant was the first-born of Father
> heaven, devotees of Wakea
> consider it superior to man and sacred. This is the
> source of some of the
> resistance to genetically engineered taro. It stems
> from a deep and abiding
> fear that changing any aspect of the taro plant
> desecrates a sacred deity-a
> fear that overlooks the fact that taro has already
> been changed
> significantly due to thousands of years of breeding
> to produce new and
> improved hybrid varieties.
>
> Sources: John J. Cho, Ph D., Plant Pathologist, The
> College of Tropical
> Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) at the
> University of Hawaii at
> Manoa, and Andy Hashimoto, CTAHR Dean
>
> You can read this document in full attached as the
> adobe “Taro Fact
> Sheet”put out by the HCIA. If you can’t open any of
> these and need them, I
> would be happy to send them to you on disk if you
> call me at 808-756-1269.
>
> Here’s a summary of what has happened with GMO TARO.
> (Attached as “Who,
> what, when of GMO taro.”)
>
> GENETICALLY ENGINEERED TARO IN HAWAII
> Here in Hawaii, the growing and cultivation of the
> kalo (or taro) plant is a
> tradition that stretches back for more than a
> thousand years. The Hawaiians
> loved, honored, and cared for the kalo plant as
> their older brother, and
> were in turn fed and supported by kalo for
> generations and generations. By
> tending carefully to the kalo plant, the Hawaiians
> eventually cultivated
> more than 300 varieties of taro.
>
> Today, the proud history of kalo in Hawaii is being
> threatened. Genetic
> engineers at the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii
> Agricultural Research
> Center are currently developing genetically
> engineered taro in laboratories
> here in Hawaii. They are altering the very genetic
> foundation of the taro
> plant by inserting genes from other, unrelated
> organisms. This process:
> • Undermines the genetic integrity of kalo;
> • Threatens the biodiversity of the taro plant;
> • Could cause new, unexpected problems in taro
> cultivation;
> • Could contaminate traditional varieties of kalo
> and take away taro
> farmers’ ability to choose what they grow in their
> lo’i; and
> • Overlooks the wealth of traditional knowledge
> about growing taro that has
> been passed down through generations and
> generations.
> History of Genetically Engineered Taro:
> WHO is doing this?
> Researchers at the University of Hawaii (UH) have
> been granted permission to
> do this. Susan Miyasaka was conducting research.
> Many other have been
> involved, such as Dr. John Cho who has mapped the
> genome (genetic structure)
> of the taro and participated in many PRO-GMO
> meetings around the taro.
> Andrew Hashimoto, Dean of the College of Tropical
> Agriculture and Human
> Resources (CTAHR) oversees the genetic engineering
> of taro.
> WHAT varieties are they engineering?
> • Chinese (Bunlong), Hawaiian (Maui Lehua), and
> Samoan (Niue)
> • Researchers are inserting rice, wheat and
> grapevine into the taro.
> WHEN did this research start?
> GE taro research started in 2003. UH received
> patenting rights on three
> varieties of hybridized taro in 2002 (read below.)
> WHERE is this research being done?
> Supposedly this GE taro has been kept in the lab.
> Researchers only have a
> permit for indoor research.
> WHY is this research being done?
> Researchers hope to make the taro resistant to a
> fungus (phytophthora), but
> clearly all GE revolves around ownership and
> money-making.
> GE involves PATENTING the taro plant (meaning the
> researchers own it) and
> overlooks the causes of disease and fungus problems
> with taro: poor water
> quality, lack of water, lack of diversity, and the
> loss of the knowledge
> about the old, organic, healthy growing techniques.
> Ownership of Taro:
> Patenting:
> Pa'lehua, Pa'akala and Pauakea varieties are now
> patented. These are all
> descendents the widely-grown Maui Lehua variety,
> which belongs to the
> original group Lehua of the Hawaiian-Polynesian
> taros.
> Farmers wishing to purchase huli, or breeding stock,
> must sign a licensing
> agreement with UH for this patented taro. The
> licensing agreement (click to
> see the agreement) states that "UH owns the taro
> cultivar..." It prohibits
> farmers from selling or breeding the patented
> plants, and requires payment
> of a royalty to the University. (See
> www.centerforfoodsafety.org)
>
> WHAT HAVE PEOPLE DONE ABOUT THIS:
> • Walter Ritte, activist from Molokai, and friends
> held a ceremony for Haloa
> (Hawaiian ancestor and taro plant) in May of 2005,
> getting the Dean of the
> University of Hawaii Andrew Hashimoto to sign a
> moratorium (end) of genetic
> engineering research of the Hawaiian taro until a
> Hawaiian advisory board
> was established. Unfortunately, some of the “board”
> that the University
> formed were paid employees of University of Hawaii
> with a vested interest in
> promoting GE taro to the Hawaii people. Since then
> this bogus board has
> disbanded.
> • Hundreds of farmers and citizens have begun
> signing onto the a resolution
> in support of banning the genetic engineering of
> taro in Hawaii as well as
> the patenting of any varieties of taro.
> • In January of 2006 Hawaiian activists and farmers
> demanded that the
> University of Hawaii (UH) give up its patents on the
> three lines of taro
> (mentioned above) whose lineage extends back to
> Polynesian taro first
> brought to the Islands centuries ago. Activists
> Walter Ritte and farmer
> Christine Kobayashi from Kauai, along with the help
> and legal support of
> “The Center for Food Safety” submitted a letter to
> UH demanding the drop of
> patents. They are currently awaiting a reply from
> UH. Go to
> www.centerforfoodsafety.org and type "taro" in
> search to find the following:
> Resources:
> • View the letter to University of Hawaii
> • View the University of Hawaii licensing agreement
> • Links to U.S. Patents on Taro
> Pa'akala Cultivar
> Pa'lehua Cultivar
> Pauakea Cultivar
> Links to WIPO Patents on Taro
> Pa'akala Cultivar
> Pa'lehua Cultivar
> Pauakea Cultivar
>
> TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY:
> GMO Free Hawaii Supporters:
>
> Three bills will be heard in the Senate on Saturday
> Feb. 25, 2006 at 10:30
> am.
>
> WE ARE NOT SUPPORTING SB2751, IT IS A COMBO COFFEE
> AND TARO BILL AND WE FEEL
> THAT COFFEE AND TARO HAVE VERY SEPARATE ISSUES AND
> SHOULD NOT BE MIXED
>
> Please respond with conviction,
> Mahalo,
> Una
>
> SB 2749 Provides a 10-year moratorium on testing,
> propagating, cultivating,
> growing, and raising genetically engineered taro.
> Introducer(s): HOOSER,
> ENGLISH, Chun Oakland. Current Referral: EIA/WLA
>
> SB 2750 Provides a 10-year moratorium on field
> testing, propagating,
> cultivating, growing, and raising genetically
> engineered coffee.
> Introducer(s): HOOSER, ENGLISH. Current Referral:
> EIA/WLA
>
> SB 2751 Provides a 10-year moratorium on testing,
> propagating, cultivating,
> growing, and raising genetically engineered coffee
> and taro. Introducer(s):
> HOOSER, ENGLISH, Chun Oakland, Nishihara, Kim.
> Current Referral: EIA/WLA
>
> Who do I submit testimony to and how?
> Testimony needs to be submitted at least 24 hours
> before the hearing.
>
> To submit testimony by email to
> testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
>
> Info that should be in the heading of your testimony
> (cut and paste the
> info below into your testimony)
>
> TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SB2750, or SB2749 Relating
> to Genetically Modified
> Organisms
>
> Submitted to the Committees on Energy , Environment
> and International
> Affairs, and Water, Land and Agriculture
> Date: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006
> Time: 10:30 a.m.
> Place: Conference Room 329
> Submitted by: (your name here)
>
> Chairperson English, Vice-Chair Kokubun, Chairperson
> Kokubun, and Vice Chair
> Hooser and members of these committees, Mahalo
> for the opportunity to testify in strong support of
> SB 2749 or 2750
>
>
>
> Here are some talking points for your testimony.
> Please make sure that you
> include some of your own words too!
>
>
> I strongly support the SB 2750 to create a ten year
> moratorium on the field
> testing and planting of GMO coffee in Hawaii.
> Hawaii's coffee industry has a
> lot to lose by the introduction of gmo coffee in
> outdoor plantings. A
> certain amount of cross-pollination will occur.
> Unlike the GMO papaya,
> where the flesh of the first generation is non-gmo
> when there is cross
> pollination, the coffee SEED is the part of the
> plant that is consumed.
> Consequently, the crop could be damaged by any
> amount of cross-pollination.
> The Hawaii coffee industry sells within the gourmet,
> specialty coffee
> market. GMO coffee would ruin that market. Japan
> and Europe require the
> labeling of all gmo foods imported into their
> countries. Consumers would
> not buy this product if it was GMO.
>
> This bill also allows for the research in the
> laboratory for new gmo coffee
> plants.
>
> This bill does not take away jobs from Hawaii, which
> is often the concern.
> It protects a substantially viable and successful
> industry in the state.
>
>
> I strongly support SB 2749 to create a ten year
> moratorium on the research
> and planting of GMO taro in the state of Hawaii.
> This is a spiritual issue
> for Native Hawaiians. Taro is considered an
> ancestor of the Hawaiian
> people. Any manipulation of this sacred crop is an
> affront to the Hawaiian
> people. Please take the precaution to protect the
> cultural rights of the
> people of this land. This bill does not take away
> jobs from the people of
> Hawaii. Please do what is pono.
>
>

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Vandals Strike Hawaiian Altar at Mauna Kea

2006-02-23T02:32:01Z

Mahalo nui loa to Ku for posting this from today's Star-Bulletin - 2/17/06

Vandals strike Hawaiian altar at Mauna Kea summit

The memorial held items of 2 soldiers from Hawaii who were killed in Iraq

By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com
HILO » A Hawaiian altar at the summit of Mauna Kea used for spiritual
purposes since 1997 was knocked down Tuesday by unknown vandals, according to a Big
Island activist.

The altar also had been used as a resting place for personal items of two
soldiers from Hawaii killed in Iraq.

"It's customary practice to place things of the deceased in high places,"
said Kealoha Pisciotta, who has criticized observatory expansion on Mauna Kea.

Breaking into tears, she added, "They lost their sons. It's obviously
hurtful and disrespectful."

Honolulu attorney Allen Hoe, whose son Nainoa was killed by a sniper in
Mosul, Iraq, last year, said he felt "blown away" by the desecration. "Talk about
hateful acts," he said.

Amid the rocks of the altar, Hoe had placed a written version of his son's
genealogy, his son's Army "Ranger tab," a kind of badge, and other items.

The family of the second man with items in the altar did not want to be
identified.

Pisciotta said people should try to avoid anger at the desecration. "We have
to remember that Mauna Kea is for peace," she said.

The altar was erected in 1997 by the Royal Order of Kamehameha "to help
provide a focus of reverence," Pisciotta said.

It was a time when old plans for astronomy on Mauna Kea were ending, new
plans were being proposed and some people were angered by feelings that the
biological and cultural resources of the summit were mismanaged.

The Royal Order built a "lele," a wooden skeleton of an altar 6 feet high
with posts in four corners, Pisciotta said. To anchor it, rocks were placed at
the base, beginning an "ahu," or stone altar. More stones were added by
visitors over time.

The lele stands barely a yard from a U.S. Geological Survey marker showing
the true summit of the mountain, which is a few hundred feet from the closest
observatories.

The day after it was built, 115-mph winds raked the summit, but the lele was
undamaged, Pisciotta said.

On Tuesday a patrolling Mauna Kea ranger saw the lele still standing in the
morning but knocked down in the afternoon, said Bill Stormont, director of the
Office of Mauna Kea Management of the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

A machete might have been used, Pisciotta said. "It looks like it was hacked
down," she said.

Stormont said he has five rangers under his command, but only two at a time
are on duty and they have no enforcement powers. A bill to give them that
power failed in the Legislature last year and is pending this year, he said.

There might be no law to enforce, since the lele is not a historic
structure, and there might be no law protecting a new religious structure, Stormont
suggested.

Rangers count cars going to the summit area but do not take license plate
numbers, he said.

The Mauna Kea management structure calls for Stormont to be guided by a
group of Hawaiians called the Kahu Ku Mauna Advisory Council.

Some members feel that a lele is traditionally built to serve for a specific
purpose and time and then should be removed, he said. After more than eight
years, some felt that the time to remove it had come, he said. But there is no
information on who knocked it down.

Hoe said the nature of the structure has changed with time from a temporary
lele to a permanent ahu. It "absolutely" has a right to remain, he said.

"A lot of other Hawaiians have adopted that as a kind of special place for
tributes to their ancestors," he said. "It is the highest point of our cultural
being."

[Note: The article contains a picture of the lele/ahu.]
http://starbulletin.com/2006/02/17/news/story03.html

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

FWD good news regarding Kamehameha Schools court case

2006-02-23T02:29:19Z

Mahalo nui loa to Noelani, who FWD'd this info. This is good news indeed.
-------
Court to rehear Kamehameha admissions case
By Ken Kobayashi and Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writers
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will rehear the case involving a non-Hawaiian student seeking to enroll at Kamehameha Schools.

The ruling today is a blow to the hopes of the unnamed non-Hawaiian student seeking to gain entrance to the school whose policy is aimed at admitting only students with Hawaiian blood.

The decision essentially sets aside for now a 2-1 decision by a three-member panel of the court that ruled in favor of the non-Hawaiian student on Aug. 2. The majority opinion in that panel's ruling declared that the school admission policy violated federal civil rights law.

Lawyers for the student had argued the admission policy violates federal laws, while school supporters said the policy is necessary to address social, educational and economic disadvantages faced by Native Hawaiians.

In a brief order, the appeals court said the decision to rehear the case was based on a vote by a majority of the active 9th Circuit judges who did not disqualify themselves from the case.

The non-Hawaiian student, who has not been identified, is currently a senior attending another school. He wanted to enroll at Kamehameha before he graduates this year.

Because Kamehameha Schools challenged the ruling and asked for a rehearing, the enforcement of the 2-1 decision was stayed and the student was not permitted to enroll at Kamehameha.

By granting the rehearing request, a panel of 15 appeals judges will be rehearing the case, according to Kamehameha spokesman Kekoa Paulsen.

Today's order said the 2-1 decision cannot be cited as precedent pending the ruling by the larger panel.

It was not immediately clear when the larger panel will rehear the case or when it will issue a decision.

Kamehameha officials were pleased with the development.

Robert Kihune, chairman of the Kamehameha Board of Trustees, said the decision "signals that the appeals court agrees that this lawsuit raises unique issues of exceptional importance to Native Hawaiians."

Kihune added: "We are hopeful that when the case is reheard the court will reverse the panel decision and allow Kamehameha to continue to direct our resources to those children who are in need of our programs and are the intended beneficiaries of this trust."

Kamehameha chief executive officer Dee Jay Mailer said the preference policy is critical to fulfilling the school's educational mission as spelled out by its founder, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, as it endeavors to extend its reach further into Hawaiian communities.

"Pauahi felt a kuleana (responsibility) to provide educational opportunities for the Hawaiian people," Mailer said. "She entrusted that kuleana to the leadership of Kamehameha Schools. We will not let her down."
Article url: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Feb/22/br/br01p.html

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD: Vandals Strike Hawaiian Altar at 'Iolani Palace

2006-02-21T00:49:01Z

Aloha kakou,
This is a message from "the front," written and sent by Lynette Cruz to the various Hawai'i lists. It is wonderful that the 'ahu was rebuilt so quickly and so lovingly, but it is sickening that someone is now going around vandalizing and violating these sacred places. This looks to me like deliberately provocative behavior, designed to provoke a hot headed response so that the authorities can come down hard on na kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiians).
Aloha is really put to the test this week, and I send pule (prayers) to the people who are acting with such strength and graciousness in the face of these profound insults and hate crimes.
Amy
----------

Photos from Ahu today

aloha all,
here's the story about today at the ahu. on the tv news for tonight (on every channel), there's one story. but after the media left, another story unfolded. the star bulletin guy, who got there late, just after the ahu was rebuilt, has the updated version, so maybe in tomorrow's pm paper.
----------------------------
Around 1 pm I got a call from Baron Ching, who regularly waters the burial mound on Sundays, about the ahu being desecrated, with rocks strewn everywhere. Baron called Mel Kalahiki, I called James. Then I drove to the palace and met them all there. James came down with the Olelo video camera and videotaped everything. Mel had called State Law Enforcement and had asked his granddaughter, Kapukini, to notify the media. All the media showed up (two newspapers, four tv stations), and an officer from State Law Enforcement came down to take photos and write up a report. There was a rock found up in a tree, one inside the burial mound (also broken ti plants), and many others spread throughout the palace grounds. It was surprising that those rocks, some of which are really heavy, could have been taken so far from the site!

So I called Evern Williams, from Palolo Access Studio, and she showed up with her grandchildren. Then she called Henry Noa, Peter Jensen, Bumpy, Kealoha Kaliko, Hina Wong and countless others. Most folks showed up after the media left. Those few of us at the palace, James, Mel, Nalani and George Gersaba, and a woman named Midge, who was passing by, then proceeded to gather all the rocks and bring them back to the ahu, but we didn't attempt to rebuild, as this is a particular art, and we didn't know how to do it.

As soon as we gathered the wayward stones, along came Henry Noa and proceeded to rebuild the ahu, with Peter Jensen helping him. Henry was there at the first building of the ahu. Then Hina Wong and about two dozen or so Halau Lokahi students, and some parents and their principal, Laara Albrecht, showed up. They gathered everyone around the ahu and offered oli and pule (which was so beautiful and made me cry!) to our ancestors, acknowledging them and asking permission and their kokua to rebuild the ahu. Then Henry gave the haumana a quick lesson in ahu-building and they proceeded to help. Mahealani Pai's brother was on the bus and saw us at the ahu, so jumped off the bus and joined us. Within an hour, the whole thing was rebuilt, and looking fantastic! Hina, of course, just happened to have in the school bus, inside a cooler, what appeared to be some 50 or so ti leaf lei, so these were brought out and all of us present gathered in a circle and connected all of the ti lei end-to-end. Then the long lei was placed on the ahu, on the outside top edge, wound round and round until all of it was in place. The single lei that were left were placed on the top. Other lei, that had been on the ahu before, but which had been thrown on the ground, were then re-placed on the ahu. Halau Lokahi students offered a haka, surrounding the ahu but facing out. Then everyone joined hands (including the State Law Enforcement officer) and did closing pule.

An interesting note, as you can see from the photos, is that a rock with white paint on it, and the words aloha aina, was found in the pile of stones as the ahu was being reconstructed. This rock is now sitting on the top of the ahu, along with the big round stone and a couple of others. It looks beautiful. The ahu looks nice and sharp at the corners and on the sides. We all went to Zippys afterward, for dinner, then drove back to the palace grounds to check on the ahu. It still looks fabulous. So something really good happened, after the damage. As Hina noted to her students (and Im paraphrasing here), "this is major hoailona. There will always be people who want to tear down what we value and who we are, but we must always be prepared to rebuild. And the outcome, as well as the process, will be beautiful, perhaps even more beautiful than it was before."

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

No Pule at Pohakuloa

2006-02-16T20:55:19Z

Subject: No Pule at Pohakuloa Ahu on Sunday

Press Release 10:30PM Feb. 12, 2006
Re: Military at Pohakuloa erect concrete baracade to block Pule `Aina access
to the ahu at Pu`u Ka Pele
further contact: Jim Albertini 966-7622

"The military at Pohakuloa erected a concrete baracade across a road entrance
to block access for a Pule `Aina (Land Prayer) gathering today planned for an
ahu (stone altar) at Pu`u Ka Pele," said Jim Albertini of Malu Aina, sponsor
of the event. Albertini said, "about 35 people gathered to take ho`okupu
(offerings) and to pray at the ahu at Pu`u Ka Pele but the military chose to
conduct live fire/bombing instead of respecting the religious rights of the people.
The military asserted its power to desecrate and destroy the land over people
praying for a healing of the land." Albertini said, "the group decided that
since the military blocked access to the Pu`u Kapele ahu, we would not attempt
to go to that ahu today. Instead the group built an ahu adjacent to the
baracade, and offered prayers and ho`okupu for a healing of the land there. (photos
attached).
Following the ceremony, many of the people went to the main gate at PTA to
hold signs protesting the war in Iraq and the military's attempt to acquire an
additional 23,000 acres of land to add to the existing 109,000-acre Pohakuloa
Training Area. The military says it needs more land for Stryker training,
involving hundreds of Strykers --20 ton 8 wheeled tanks. Albertini said, "Malu
`Aina and all the people participating in the Pule `Aina gathering want the
military desecration and destruction of the land, the cultural sites, natural
resources, and iwi kupuna to cease. The continued bombing at PTA and the planned
Stryker expansion is hewa (a crime, wrong, sinful)."

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD from Ku; Guam Bill to Allow more home-rule on island issues

2006-02-15T13:09:10Z

Mahalo nui loa to Ku for the following forward.
---------
GUAM: Bill to allow more home-rule on island issues

A prominent Guam politician has introduced a bill in the local legislature,
in a bid to give the people of the island more leeway in making home-rule
decisions on island issues. Senator Bob Klitzkie introduced Bill 259, which seeks
to ask the US Congress to allow the local legislature to amend Organic Act
provisions relating to local government. Should the bill become law and if the US
Congress were to approves it, the Guam government could amend the Organic Act
in Guam without having to refer to Congress. Senator Klitzkie calls this
process 'patriation'.

http://www.abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/stories/s1569330.htm

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Puerto Rico Independence Movement Attacked by FBI

2006-02-15T12:57:56Z

Mahalo nui to Ku for the following forward, an important post that should be distributed far and wide.
----------------
Subject: It could happen here!!!! (long, v.i.)

FBI commits domestic terrorism on Independence Movement in Puerto Rico

"The only domestic terrorist attack here is the U.S. government's attack on
the people of Puerto Rico." --New York State Assemblyman José Rivera (1)

In a move reminiscent of a U.S. Marine invasion of a foreign
country, the FBI descended in droves on Puerto Rico on February 10. (2)
Without breathing a word of the invasion to either the colonial governor or
the chief of police, heavily armed, militarized units of the FBI, including
the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit from Miami, hit six different spots
throughout the island. Their purpose, they claimed, was to execute search
warrants on six independence activists they identified as suspected leaders
of the clandestine independence organization, Ejercito Popular Boricua/
Macheteros (3), the same organization whose legendary leader, Filiberto
Ojeda Ríos, who the FBI assassinated five months earlier. Their true
purpose was widely understood as other: with their show of force, to
continue their long campaign to intimidate and criminalize those who support
independence for Puerto Rico, particularly in this moment of the resurgence
of the left throughout Latin America; and, of course, to detract from their
own criminal conduct in taking Ojeda's life. "This is yet another move on
the part of the FBI to control and warn those who advocate for the
independence of Puerto Rico, exercising their constitutional rights. It
appears they are sending a message of intimidation,"(4) said independentist
activist and attorney Roxana Badillo, who added that they are sorely
mistaken if they believe the movement will be intimidated.

Landing in military-style helicopters, accompanied by caravans
of vehicles, sometimes with the license plates obscured, FBI agents swarmed
private residences and businesses in Trujillo Alto and Río Piedras (in the
San Juan metropolitan area), and Mayagüez, San Germán, Aguadilla, and
Isabela (in the west of the island), terrorizing entire neighborhoods. The
search warrants bore the names and addresses of veteran labor leaders,
community leaders, known independentists, and even a Protestant minister
respected for his work promoting small projects of self-empowerment for poor
people. (5)

In Río Piedras, as Homeland Security helicopters hovered above
and sharpshooters watched through their telescopes from neighboring
buildings, FBI agents were ransacking the apartment of independentist
Liliana Laboy. The Puerto Rican media arrived to cover the remarkable
event. With the FBI's murder of Ojeda Ríos fresh on their minds,
independence supporters quickly gathered at the closed gates of the
condominium, shouting, "Asesinos!"(6) Meanwhile, the FBI had banished Laboy
from her apartment, and initially ignored requests from her attorneys to
allow them access to their client, grabbing and threatening to arrest the
attorneys if they didn't leave the premises.

In San Germán, agents assaulted the offices of the not-for-profit
Ecumenical Committee for Community Economic Development [CEDECO,
its Spanish acronym], where community activist and independentist
William Mohler García was at work. They not only removed Mohler from his
office, but they handcuffed him and left him to bake in the hot sun– this,
after searching his home, pepper spraying his dog, and subjecting his wife
to much humiliation. Supporters gathered at the scene, shouting at the
agents: "Get out of here, damned FBI," and "FBI, cowards, assassins,
terrorists!" (7) In Aguadilla, the FBI searched the home of another CEDECO
director, Presbyterian minister and independentist José Morales. Also in
Aguadilla, the FBI spent four hours searching the home of independentist and
elementary school teacher VilmaVélez Roldán, while she was at school.
Agents threw her two sons out of their home, handcuffed them, and left them
outside with no shade. (8) In Isabela, the Cabán family home was searched.(9)

In Trujillo Alto, the home of Norberto Cintrón Fiallo was ransacked while he
was away at his workplace.

Before leaving the scene in Río Piedras, the FBI, obviously
unhappy with the presence of protesters and abundant numbers of media and
the prospect of having to face further public exposure, aggressing against
all those gathered, including attacking the media with pepper spray.
Several journalists were treated by paramedics at the scene, and some went
to nearby hospitals. As the caravan of some fourteen vehicles sped from the
scene, the agents had their assault weapons pointed at the press and public.

Adding insult to injury, the FBI emitted a press release stating, "It
appears members of the media and the general public attempted to cross the
established law enforcement perimeter, and the use of non-lethal force was
utilized. This was done in order to protect members of the media, the public
and the law enforcement officers executing this lawful search warrant."

Reaction from the Press

"It gives us pause that in a democratic society, security forces
cut off the flow of information, and even worse, attack those who work in
journalism, who seek to divulge precise and reliable information," said
Annette Alvarez, a television reporter who was sprayed, who spoke in her
capacity as president of the Overseas Press Club chapter. (10) Oscar J.
Serrano, president of the Journalists Association of Puerto Rico, declared,
"The agents didn't use force and gas to defend themselves; they used them
offensively to attack the press. The act of an agent emptying his spray can
directly in the face of [journalist] Normando Valentín, who had his hands
occupied with the instruments of his trade, cannot be excused as negligence.

That, and the expression of disdain reflected on the agent's face, are
indicative of a specific intent to cause harm, and represents nothing less
than a criminal act."(11) The Association of Photojournalists, the Center for

the Freedom of the Press, the Organization of Independent Journalists, and
the Union of Journalists, Graphic Arts and Ramas Anexas joined in
condemning the FBI's use of force on their colleagues.

While the Puerto Rican print, electronic media and radio
provided full coverage of this extraordinary militaristic operation, the
U.S. press was virtually silent,(12) with only a few newspapers reprinting
slightly differing versions of an Associated Press wire story.

Reaction from the Puerto Rican Government

After the September assassination, the FBI lost all hope of
credibility in the eyes of Puerto Rican society. Having been told on
February 10 only after the FBI had begun its assault, and only that they
were serving search warrants on suspected Macheteros, the chief of police,
Pedro Toledo (himself a former FBI agent), as well as the head of the
Department of Justice were quick to distance themselves from the operation,
making public statements that they were not participants.(13) When Toledo
learned–after the operation was over– that the FBI asserted that this
"ongoing domestic terrorism investigation" averted "a potential attack,
where explosives devices were to be utilized," to be "directed at privately
owned interests in Puerto Rico, as well as the general public,"(14) he
insisted that, "[w]ithout a doubt, I should have been informed."(15) Toledo
rather resoundingly criticized the entire operation– not just the use of
force against the journalists– as having used excessive force, listing the
use of so many agents and the incorporation of helicopters. He recalled his
own participation in the 1980's in executing search warrants against members
of the same clandestine organization, when such incidents never took place.
"It was an improper use, completely outside of the norm. This gas (pepper)
is used when your life is in danger, against an attacker, not a journalist,"
he said.(16) However, although he expressed that the Puerto Rican Department
of Justice would have jurisdiction to prosecute federal agents for their
excessive use of force, he did not express any intention to conduct such a
prosecution, or even investigate these FBI crimes on Puerto Rican soil.

The governor was another recipient of such a "courtesy call," (17)
which also took place only after the FBI had begun its assault.(18) He, too,
expressed indignation at the assault on Puerto Rican journalists, calling it
unjustified.(19) However he offered absolutely no criticism of the FBI's
invasion of his country, let alone of the agency's failure to even notify him
in advance, and failed to insist that the U.S. government be accountable
for the acts of its agents committed in Puerto Rico.

Reaction from the Public

The very same afternoon the FBI conducted its show of force,
hundreds of people gathered at the federal courthouse, which houses the
FBI offices, to express their indignation. Called by the Worker's Socialist
Movement [MST by its Spanish acronym], (20) people of all ages and walks of
life marched and chanted, as elected officials, spokespeople from a variety
of organizations, and those whose homes had been ransacked, spoke.

The following day, fifteen organizations convened a press conference
to condemn the FBI's aggressive presence. A spokesperson for CEDECO's
support network expressed concern that the highly publicized raid could
cost the organization the financial support it receives from grants and
foundations and thereby undermine its ability to offer services of education
and of rehabilitating homes for people with few resources. Agency
spokespeople questioned why the FBI would take important documents
related to one of CEDECO's urban housing projects.(21)

Julio Fontanet, president of the Puerto Rican Bar Association,
expressed a common theme: "To complain to the federal government or the
government of Puerto Rico is an exercise in futility, and the FBI acts with
total impunity in Puerto Rico."(22) Observing that this type of FBI operation

in Puerto Rico has become a custom, Fontanet announced his intention to take
the matter to international fora.(23) The former dean of the Eugenio María de

Hostos School of Law, law professor Carlos Rivera Lugo, echoed Fontanet,
censuring the Puerto Rican government "for permitting the U.S. armed forces
to act with total impunity in this country."(24) The National Hostosiano
Independence Movement coincided: "The governor of Puerto Rico has the
obligation to stand up and defend Puerto Rico. We demand that governor
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá energetically condemn the FBI's abusive actions in
Puerto Rico, and that as a representative of the people he express the
general indignation we all feel, and that he demand respect for our
people."(25) The experience moved that organization to commit to redouble its

efforts to "expel forever from our national territory the federal court and
the FBI," because "the only thing the presence in Puerto Rico of these
federal dependencies has caused is injury, damage, and impediments to our
right as a people to self-determination."(26)

Amnesty International of Puerto Rico expressed its concern for
the FBI's conduct both in executing the search warrants and attacking the
press, reminding the FBI that they are not above the law of civil and human
rights, and that, like any other law enforcement agency, they must comply
with basic human rights provided by international law.(27)

Representatives of all the political parties have, however
timidly, expressed preoccupation with the FBI's conduct toward the
independence movement, but it was the independence party representative who
expressed the sentiment strongly felt throughout the diverse independence
movement: "This operation is the most crude proof that Puerto Rico is a
colony," noted Juan Dalmau, secretary general of the Puerto Rican
Independence Party.(28) "If the FBI thinks that with these acts it is going
to intimidate the independentists, it is mistaken. In the face of these
abuses, the independence movement will respond just as it has historically,
with more militancy, more patriotism and a greater commitment to
struggle."(29) That will be necessary, given the rumors that the FBI will
return to conduct more search and destroy missions,(30) and to increase the
wave of repression.

Jan Susler

February 12, 2006
All translations from Spanish to English are the author's.

Websites where photos and videos are available:

http://pr.indymedia.org/news/2006/02/13197.php
http://www.primerahora.com/noticia.asp?guid=F9260F8D7C3A47B682B0BA4AAE99B5D2
<http://www.primerahora.com/noticia.asp?guid=F9260F8D7C3A47B682B0BA4AAE99B5D2>

Diario/La Prensa, February 12, 2006.
2 For most Puerto Ricans, it was also reminiscent of August 30, 1985, when,
in another island wide invasion, the FBI arrested a multitude of
independence activists and accused them of participating in a conspiracy
involving $7.6 taken from a Wells Fargo depot, an action for which the
Ejercito Popular Boricua/Macheteros claimed responsibility.
3 Boricua Popular Army/Sugarcane Cutters.
4 Associated Press, "Abogada independentista acusa a federales de
intimidación," El Nuevo Día, February 10, 2006.
5 Jesús Dávila, "Ofensiva FBI contra independentistas," El Diario/La Prensa,
February 11, 2006.
6 Id.
7 Jackeline Del Toro Cordero, "Operativo federal buscaba documentos," El
Vocero, February 11, 2006.
8 Comunicado de Prensa, Movimiento Independentista Nacional Hostosiano de
Aguadilla, www.redbetances.com , February 12,
2006.
9 Carmen Edith Torres, "Irrumpe el FBI en seis puntos del País," El Nuevo
Día, February 11, 2006.
10 Associated Press, "OPC censura agresión contra la prensa," El Nuevo Día,
February 10, 2006.
11 Mabel M. Figueroa, "Condena al vicioso ataque a reporteros: Una sola voz
de repudio al FBI," Primera Hora, February 11, 2006.
12 With the notable exception of El Diario/La Prensa.
13 See, e.g., Maritza Díaz Alcaide, "Callaron lo del 'ataque terrorista',"
Primera Hora, February 11, 2006; Yanira Hernández Cabiya, "Informada la
Policía tras iniciar el operativo," El Nuevo Día, February 10, 2006; José R.
Ortúzar, "El Súper se lava las manos," El Vocero, February 11, 2006. The
chief of police of Mayagüez, whose police were roundly criticized by the
public for having cooperated with the FBI during its assassination of Ojeda
Ríos, and who was also not informed by the FBI about their operation, was
also quick to distance himself from this assault. Associated Press, "Jefe
de la Policía Mayagüez confirma operativo," El Nuevo Día, February 10, 2006.
14 FBI Press Release, February 10, 2006.
15 Maritza Díaz Alcaide, "Callaron lo del 'ataque terrorista'," Primera Hora,

February 11, 2006.
16 Daniel Rivera Vargas, "Con poder Justicia para acusar," El Nuevo Día,
February 12, 2006.
17 Yanira Hernández Cabiya, "Informada la Policía tras iniciar el operativo,"

El Nuevo Día, February 10, 2006.
18 Maritza Díaz Alcaide, "Callaron lo del 'ataque terrorista'," Primera Hora,

February 11, 2006.
19 Id.
20 EFE, "Convocan a manifestación contra FBI," El Nuevo Día, February 10,
2006.
21 Melisa Ortega Marrero, EFE, "CEDECO niega vínculos con el independentismo
puertorriqueño," Primera Hora, February 11, 2006.
22 Associated Press, "Varias voces expresan rechazo a operativo del FBI y su
trato a periodistas," Primera Hora, February 12, 2006.
23 EFE, "Denunciarán ante organismos internacionales actos del FBI," Primera
Hora, February 11, 2006.
24 Jackeline Del Toro Cordero, "Académico critica el operativo," El Vocero,
February 11, 2006.
25 "MINH [Movimiento Independentista Nacional Hostosiano] condena atropello
FBI," www.redbetances.com , February 12, 2006.
26 Id.
27 Melissa Correa Velázquez, "FBI choca con periodistas," El Vocero, February

11, 2006.
28 "Dalmau: tienen la Isla en estado de sitio," El Diario/La Prensa, February

12, 2006.
29 "Dalmau asegura FBI mantiene a la Isla en estado de sitio," Primera Hora,
February 11, 2006.
30 Ricardo Cortés, "Anticipados más allanamientos," El Nuevo Día, February
12, 2006.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD: Judge rejects Native American case to protect Sacred Mountains in Arizona,

2006-02-15T12:49:02Z

Mahalo nui to Mike R for this forward.
----------

Posted: January 20, 2006

Religious Freedom and Restoration Act tested

Indian Country Today

by: Tanya Lee <http://www.indiancountry.com/author.cfm?id=489>

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - In a stunning Jan. 11 opinion, U.S. District Court Judge
Paul Rosenblatt rejected every argument American Indians presented to
prevent further desecration of the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona.
The Peaks, sacred to 13 tribes, are federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest
Service. Despite decades of protests, a ski resort has operated there since
1938.

''This is another slap in the face,'' said Rex Tilousi, tribal council
member and former chairman of the Havasupai Tribe, who testified during the
trial on religious freedom issues raised by the lawsuit.

The suit, brought against the Forest Service by six tribes and three
environmental groups, was filed in June 2005 after the Forest Service
approved Arizona Snowbowl owners' 2002 application to make changes at the
ski resort. The most controversial is a plan to use recycled wastewater to
make snow.

The application triggered an Environmental Impact Statement under provisions
of the National Environmental Policy Act. In February 2005, Coconino
National Forest Supervisor Nora Rasure approved snowmaking and the
construction of related infrastructure. Tribes filed an appeal, and
Southwestern Regional Officer Harv Forsgren affirmed Rasure's decision.

Nine days later, the tribes filed suit.

The judge consolidated the lawsuits and ordered an October bench trial to
hear arguments on the matters related to the Religious Freedom and
Restoration Act of 1993.

The six tribal plaintiffs - Navajo, White Mountain Apache, Yavapai-Apache,
Havasupai, Hualapai, and Hopi - were joined by plaintiffs Norris Nez,
Navajo, Bill ''Bucky'' Preston, Hopi, Rex Tilousi, Havasupai, Dianna
Uqualla, Havasupai, and three environmental groups.

Defendents were the Forest Service, Rasure and Forsgren. Rosenblatt allowed
Snowbowl's current owner and operator to intervene. Attorney and former
Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt represented the owners.

The case is one of the first legal challenges to RFRA and as such has set an
important precedent.

Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Chairman Jamie Fullmer and Apache Historian
Vincent Randall said in a Jan. 12 statement: ''Recent history has shown the
federal courts are not supportive of Native American sensibilities and
traditions when it comes to issues concerning the landscape and spiritual
health of our People.''

The plaintiffs argued that the EIS was based on an ''impermissibly narrow''
premise - ''to ensure a consistent and reliable operating season, thereby
maintaining the economic viability of the Snowbowl.''

Rosenblatt disagreed: ''The Court concludes that the Forest Service's
statement of purpose ... is not unreasonable ... [T]he goal of providing a
reliable ski season is consistent with the Forest Service's multiple-use
mandate.''

Once this premise was accepted, other arguments fell by the wayside.

Phoenix attorney Howard Shanker, who represented the Navajo, Yavapai-Apache
and White Mountain Apache tribes and the environmental groups, said in a
statement Jan. 12: ''[T]he federal government felt, and the court affirmed,
that the economic viability of the Arizona Snowbowl Resorts Limited
Partnership was more of a priority than the beliefs of hundreds of thousands
of Native Americans.''

NEPA requires that federal agencies consult with tribes on projects that
could impact them. According to the judge, the Forest Service fulfilled that
obligation:

''[T]he Forest Service made over 200 phone calls, held 41 meetings, and
exchanged 245 letters with tribal representatives. Although the consultation
process did not end with a decision the tribal leaders supported, this does
not mean that the Forest Service's consultation process was substantively
and procedurally inadequate.''

This conclusion jives with what Heather Cooper (now Heather Provencio) said
in 2002: that there was no provision in NEPA by which a tribe could state an
adverse effect serious enough so that the Forest Service supervisor would be
required to deny an application.

The most far-reaching element of this case is the challenge to RFRA. At
issue is whether RFRA protects American Indians' religious rights as they
themselves define those rights and the necessary circumstances for
practicing their religions, or whether it simply extends to American Indians
the right to practice their religion in a way and to an extent that the
federal government deems appropriate and adequate.

Rosenblatt's opinion strongly favored the federal government, though tribal
leaders and religious practitioners testified at length about how the use of
reclaimed wastewater to make snow would negatively impact the very
foundations of their religious beliefs.

Hopi Cultural Preservation Office Director Leigh Kuwanwisiwma testified for
seven hours on Oct. 17, 2005. ''[The proposal] violates the basic principle
of what the mountain stands for in the spiritual life of the Hopi people. To
make snow on the mountain does not just desecrate the mountain; it defiles
it.''

Under RFRA, the government may not impose a ''substantial burden'' on the
practice of religion without a compelling reason to do so. So two issues
must be decided - whether a substantial burden exists and, if it does,
whether the government has an interest sufficient to allow imposition of
such a burden.

After the Native witnesses testified, two Forest Service archaeologists,
Judith Propper and Heather Provencio, were asked to evaluate whether tribes
would suffer a substantial burden.

Read the opinion, ''Propper testified that although practitioners sincerely
felt that the Forest Service decision would impact their beliefs and
exercise of religion, the impacts did not amount to a substantial burden.''

Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council Lawrence T. Morgan said in a statement,
''The sanctity of our cultural and spiritual relevance has been violated.
The U.S. District Court has now seemingly underscored this without
hesitation.''

''This is a devastating tragedy for all those who value environmental
health, culture and religious freedom.'' said Save the Peaks Coalition's
Klee Benally in a press release.

''The tribe is devastated,'' said Alicia LaCounte, an attorney for the
Havasupai Tribe, on Jan. 13. ''The San Francisco Peaks are part of every
religious ceremony the Havasupai perform. Every aspect of my clients'
religion is related to that mountain. It is the equivalent of the Garden of
Eden in the Judeo-Christian tradition.''

Shanker said in a statement, ''This decision further eviscerates the rights
of Native Americans to protect sacred lands that are essential to their
belief systems.''

He continued, ''It seems to me that requiring 'objective' proof that
something is sacred makes no sense. Short of producing God at the trial, it
is not clear how this could be accomplished ... Based on the reasoning by
the court, no substantial burden can ever be demonstrated by Native American
practitioners under similar circumstances.''

According to Shanker, Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. has said,
''[The] Navajo Nation will do whatever it takes to try to stop the use of
reclaimed sewer water to make artificial snow on the sacred San Francisco
Peaks.''

Kuwanwisiwma said on Jan. 16 that he had been assured the Hopi Tribe would
appeal.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Protecting Mauna Kea, the sacred mountain

2006-02-10T17:38:43Z

FWD from Ku, who is involved in contesting the future development of telescopes on the sacred mountain of Mauna Kea. Mahalo for posting this article on the Hawaiian Independence yahoo list.
-----------
Subject: Goodby Outrigger Telescopes! I hope.

Budget ax looms over telescopes

A NASA proposal cutting funds for a project on Mauna Kea has isle
astronomers concerned

By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com

HILO » Funding for the Keck Outrigger Telescope project on Mauna Kea has
been eliminated from NASA's draft 2007 budget, possibly killing the $50 million,
four-telescope project, University of Hawaii astronomy head Rolf Kudritzki
confirmed.

The proposed cut is part of $2 billion in funding for numerous projects
which would be shifted in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's
budget to support the space shuttle program, Kudritzki said. He called the
proposal "catastrophic."

Keck Observatory head Fred Chaffee called the $2 billion cut "alarming,"
saying some programs being cut are much farther along than the Outriggers. "It is
a sad and disappointing year for NASA science," he said.

The two existing Keck telescopes, each with a main mirror 33 feet across,
are the largest on Earth.

The Outrigger project would initially place four much smaller telescopes
with 6-foot mirrors around the giant main telescopes. Two others, for a total of
six, might be added later.

The small telescopes are named in comparison to small balancing outriggers
attached to fishing canoes.

Light from all of the telescopes would be combined in a process called
interferometry.

Because the greatest distance from one telescope to the other would be 275

feet, interferometry would create the equivalent of a single telescope with a
mirror that large.

Observers held varying degrees of hope that the project is not dead.
Kudritzki said the likelihood is high, but scientists across the country are
protesting.

Mark McGuffie, head of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, which
has supported the Outriggers, said alternative funding sources might be found.
An information source recommended by Kudritzki, www.newscientistspace.com,
suggested funding might come from other nations or from private industry.

Chaffee said the California Association for Research in Astronomy, which
runs Keck, has not decided how to respond.

"This is 2-day-old news, and we've been working on this project for eight
years," he said. He predicted "months of hearings" by Congress before a final
NASA budget is adopted.

Kudritzki explained that he received a phone call about the proposed cut
Monday.

NewScientistSpace says that was the day NASA revealed a $16.8 billion 2007
budget with the $2 billion cuts spread over five years.

Word was slow to reach Hawaii, with some of the strongest opponents of the
Outriggers unaware of it.

Debbie Ward, co-chairwoman of a Sierra Club committee dealing with Mauna
Kea, was part of a group of people who unsuccessfully fought a state Department
of Land and Natural Resources permit for the Outriggers. The project still
needs approval from university regents.

Ward said opposition to other Mauna Kea projects will continue because of
environmental issues.

"It's highly unlikely that opposition (to other astronomy projects) will
stop because the Outriggers have been killed," she said.

Another opponent, Kealoha Pisciotta of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, said a Circuit
Court appeal against the permit for the Outriggers is still pending. The
appeal deals not only with the telescopes, but also the alleged lack of a proper
management plan for the summit, she said.

She said the project might be complete now if the proponents had built it in
an alternate site in Spain's Canary Islands.

© Honolulu Star-Bulletin -- http://starbu

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD: Maori Armed to Meet Challenges

2006-02-07T22:34:37Z

Mahalo nui to Ku for finding this article and posting it on Hawai'i Independence list. There is hope that the gains made by the Maori can also be made by na kanaka maoli in Hawai'i in the near future.
---------

Rawiri Taonui: Maori armed to meet challenges
26.01.06

Last year was a significant milestone in the Maori renaissance. It began with a bang when Tame Iti shot-gunned the New Zealand flag at the opening of Waitangi Tribunal hearings into 19th century Crown actions in the Urewera forest.

Charged with firearms offences to circumvent the Bill of Rights loophole that allowed Paul Hopkinson to burn the flag, the irony is that the only person prosecuted in relation to the killing of Tuhoe ancestors is a Tuhoe descendant whose crime, if convicted, would be to have shot the flag under which the slayers of his forebears marched.

The Hui Taumata celebrating 11 years of Maori progress since the inaugural summit was a significant event. Progress has been huge.

The population has increased 30 per cent, unemployment is the lowest in two generations, Maori have an unheralded presence in business, politics, art, education, culture, film, literature, television and sport. Maori and the Crown have a multiplicity of relationships advancing Treaty settlements, education, health, social programmes, environmental protection, heritage preservation, land and fisheries management and broadcasting.

The culture is vibrant, the language in recovery. Hundreds of Maori emerge from kohanga reo, kura reo e rua, kura kaupapa, wananga and other tertiary institutions with a greater understanding about who they are.

Delegates urged Maori to look to the future, to move beyond grievance mode and over-reliance on Government funding, to extend their horizons to include more cooperative partnerships between Maori organisations, and new ones with private enterprise and overseas partners.

As one speaker said, Maori have found their place within New Zealand, now they need to find their place on the world stage.

To achieve this Maori need more people in higher decision-making positions, emerging leaders need better preparation, and there has to be a qualitative shift in the emphasis from access and participation in education to excellence, achievement and performance.

The year also marked a spectacular presence in sport. Michael Campbell's cool driving, putting and koru shirts were a stand-out. Elsewhere, Temepara George is the world's best netballer, Sonny-Bill Williams and Benji Marshall the best rugby league players and the Maori-Pasifika Kiwis the best team. Jonno Gibbes' Maoris defeat of the Lions softened them up for the All Blacks, which in turn gave them the confidence to storm the Tri-Nations and Grand Slam Britain.

Kapa o Pango took the haka to new levels of national pride and intimidation. The performance by a mixed team of Pakeha, Pasifika and Maori and its embracing by New Zealanders reflects a nation increasingly comfortable with its own diversity.

Maori have matured politically. The Maori Party took four seats from Labour. Stable, unified and experienced, they are less likely to implode than the Dirty Dog class of 1996.

Whether they last the long term is uncertain. I think Maori will eventually take over Labour. Demographics argue for that.

Whatever the case, the Maori Party is important for this time. It is the most independent Maori voice since the 1990s Maori Congress and 1890s Kotahitanga Movement and one that is refreshingly different from the corporate warriors, the Wellington consultant brigade and those still clinging to the apron strings of Labour and National.

This Maori Party's strength lies in its ties with disaffected Maori communities. Just look at the electorates it didn't win. Tainui and
the South Island have the largest Treaty settlements; the East Coast and Wellington have the strongest historical ties to the capital's brown bureaucracy - Apirana Ngata's legacy.

Each of the Maori Party MPs is also a long-time servant at the flax roots. Tariana Turia is a mother of six, grandmother of 24 and foster
parent of 30 children. Pita Sharples' cultural credentials, leadership skill, academic nous and long-term commitment to Maori education in schools stand without peer. Hone Harawira is a veteran protester firmly rooted in the community. Te Ururoa Flavell has equal credentials. The Gang of Four are my Maori Leaders of the Year.

Political successes at the United Nations reflect a greater sophistication. The Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination vindicated concerns over the foreshore and seabed, finding the Crown's actions ill-considered, hasty and discriminatory.

The UNHRC Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples, Professor Rodolfo Stavenhagen, reinforced these concerns at a wider level. Stavenhagen acknowledged the progress New Zealand had made. But noting that Maori still lagged in life expectancy, health, poverty, imprisonment, family and youth issues, violence, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide, he argued that strategies would be more effective if there was recognition of the link between this reality and discrimination.

Protestations from Labour and National that the Committee and the Rapporteur were ill-informed, corrupt or out of touch are unfounded. The UNHRC receives multiple annual briefings on New Zealand The Government made three representations on the foreshore issue and Stavenhagen's itinerary shows that he got a more thorough briefing on our race relations than most New
Zealanders get ui a lifetime. The condemnations are also a slur on the UNHRC's contribution in combating discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, women and children and crimes against humanity.

Maori can claim a big victory over National whose gamble on cash and old age racism in new age disguise floundered on the sensible approach that is the foreshore of New Zealand. Policies of "one law for all" and campaigns against "race based legislation" ignore historical and ongoing racism against Maori. It is hypocritical to describe measures introduced to reverse the inequalities that this racism caused as contemporary racism in favour of Maori. Only those incapable of acknowledging the advantages they derive from
historical racism do so.

Closer to home, the opening of Te Kopinga marae on the Chathams was a triumph for Moriori. They were driven to near extinction by European disease, and slaughter and slavery under Maori colonisation so the new facility is a testament to Moriori fortitude and endurance. Maori find it hard to accept the heinous deeds some of our ancestors perpetrated.

The year was not all glory. Donna Awatere's convoluted Pipi accounts finally unstapled. Accusations that her trial and sentencing were racist are regrettable. Greed is multicultural.

A brave John Tamihere fell on his taiaha. He placed his fate in the hands of the electorate, but Tamaki Maori swapped him for papa Sharples. A less capable but shrewder Dover Samuels survived on the list.

The ongoing debate over Te Wananga o Aotearoa was another low. The Auditor-General's report highlighted inappropriate management practices; the Waitangi Tribunal accused the Government of discrimination.

The truth lies in a clash of cultures. Maori have a vision of providing education for Maori and Pakeha. The Crown's vision is of Maori
providing for Maori. The Crown needs to accept Maori and Pakeha students have a right to Maori context and mainstream education.

Te Wananga needs to accept that publicly funded education requires transparent professionalism and lift its game.

The renaissance augurs well for the future. Treaty settlements will provide iwi with capital for development. Household incomes will rise and state dependency decrease.The knowledge economy will increasingly supplement land and resource-based economies.

As the general working population ages, the country will become increasingly dependent upon a rapidly expanding younger brown workforce. This will comprise 45 per cent of all workers by 2025.

Maori families will change. There will be greater socio-economic diversity and wider intermarriage with other ethnic groups, especially
Pacific and Asian. Children will be more competent Maori speakers than their parents.

There are also cautions. The gap is increasing between the Maori middle class who monopolise new Treaty capital and Maori of lower socio-economic status not yet in receipt of such bounty, the underclass within the underclass.

* Rawiri Taonui is head of the School of Maori and Indigenous
Studies, University of Canterbury
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=00027E96-12F7-
13D7-BED183027AF1010E

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD from Scott Crawford's Hawaiian Kingdom blog

2006-02-06T18:01:59Z

From: Scott Crawford <scott@aloha.net>
Subject: Taro production to new low

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2006/01/30/daily47.html?t=printable

Pacific Business News
February 3, 2006

Taro production to new low

Hawaii taro production is estimated at 4 million
pounds for 2005, the lowest total since the
government began gauging this in 1946.

The previous record low as 5 million pounds set
in 2003. The figure was down 19 percent from
2004, reported the National Agricultural
Statistics Service Hawaii Field Office.

Most Hawaii residents know about the apple snail,
which munches on taro and has devastated some
fields. But in 2005 another cause of trouble was
rain.

Taro needs a lot of water but even taro can get
too much, and did last winter when some fields
flooded. Initially it seemed that crop damage was
light, but the wet and cloudy weather did slow
crop development. Taro takes 11 to 15 months to
mature, so even though the weather soon became
more favorable, there simply were not enough
months in the calendar for taro to recover in
2005.

Most taro -- in 2005, all but 100,000 pounds --
is pounded into poi. The Hawaii Field Office
reported earlier this week that taro production
for poi was resurgent in December. But for the
full year it was down 24 percent from 2004. Taro
also is used to make kulolo, a Hawaiian desert
that also uses coconut, and taro chips, a tourist
favorite.

Taro production around the islands:

* Three-quarters of the state's
taro is grown on Kauai, though Kauai production
fell 26 percent in 2005 to 2.9 million pounds.

* Oahu and Maui County combined
produced total taro marketings of 850,000 pounds,
up 6 percent.

* The Big Island saw taro marketing
fall 50 percent to 250,000 pounds. Damage from
heavy rains in March 2005 in the Waipio Valley
area was mainly responsible for the drop in
marketings from the Big Island.

The overall farm price for poi and Chinese taro
remained unchanged for the fourth consecutive
year at 54 cents per pound, matching the record
high first set in 2002. Poi taro farm prices
averaged 54 cents per pound, unchanged from 2004.
Chinese taro farmers also received an average of
54 cents per pound in 2005, up fractionally from
2004. The farm value of all types of taro
marketings totaled $2.2 million, down 23 percent,
the lowest annual total since 1989's $2 million
in revenues.

© 2006 American City Business Journals Inc.
--

--
Please visit my weblog on Hawaiian Independence, updated regularly...
http://HawaiianKingdom.info

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Sadness for Waikiki

2006-02-06T17:54:42Z

Auwe!
I recently took a short trip to Honolulu and stayed (reluctantly) in Waikiki. I took the bus in from the airport and had to cringe every time one of the other riders exclaimed, "oh look, a Starbucks!" "Oh, there's a Macy's!" Why don't they just stay home and go to Starbucks there? Why have to build 'em on the islands???

Waikiki was once sacred land. The ocean water is sweet. The clouds (what you can see of them between the highrises) are resplendent messages from na akua. I experienced a seminal moment of grace, swimming at dawn, chanting to the clouds, the water, the horizon. But behind me there was the loud clamor and chatter of city life, trash strewn on the grass, and all the tragedies spawned by this so-called "Western civilization" that spreads itself over the 'aina like a cancer. The night before I had dreamt of a large shark that came up on the land, moving as fast as an alligator, attacking and swallowing something as large as itself in its oxygen deprived death throes.

Just sharing...

Pule for Hawa'i, please...she is in desperate straits.

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD from Noelani Jai-Kamehameha Schools court case

2006-02-06T17:43:00Z

[Please circulate through your networks]

Aloha Kakou,

Doe vs. KS
Still no word from the Ninth Circuit regarding a possible vote on KS's petition for rehearing. What does this mean? In a recent e-mail to alumni, KS officials stated, "It has been five months since we filed our petition. We are expecting an answer from the court at any time. We believe that the length of time it has taken the court to respond means that the court is seriously reviewing our request, however we know that we are not assured of a positive outcome....If we do obtain a rehearing, our case will be reviewed by a panel of 15 judges, instead of 11, because the court expanded the size of the en banc panel at the beginning of this year. The Chief Judge of the court automatically sits on the panel; the remaining 14 judges are selected randomly, which means odds are that two-thirds of the reviewing judges will be appointed by Democrats and one third by Republicans, reflecting the make-up of the court.....Of course, if our request for a rehearing is denied, we will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court."

In an encouraging development, an article in the most recent edition of the Harvard Law Review made a strong case for application of a different standard of review than that used by the judges in Doe vs. KS, and ultimately reversal of the August 2 ruling. You can read the article yourself (and all the footnotes -- lawyers and law students just love footnotes!) by going to this link, and looking for the third article under "Recent Cases". http://www.harvardlawreview.org/issues/119/Dec05/Dec05.shtml

It's very encouraging that such scholarly and reputable institutions as Harvard Law School and the New York Times have taken our case seriously enough to address the adverse ruling. These are resources which judges and their law clerks no doubt read. (See link below this e-mail to attorney Georgia McMillen's Aug. 29 Op-Ed piece in the New York Times - I urge you to read it if you haven't already).

And if YOU would like to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, I'd be happy to send you materials to get you started. Letters to the editor are positive, productive ways to express yourself on these issues. Imua!

'Aha Kuka Report; Civil Rights Commission Report

The January 20-21 gathering in Los Angeles was life-impacting for all 300 who participated. A big mahalo to all of the organizers who made this event possible, especially the Haw'n InterClub Coordinating Council of Southern California!

At the 'Aha Kuka, Kamehameha Schools' CEO Dee Jay Mailer eloquently explained that "[o]ur fight here is to help people see beyond legal theories and understand the heart and the kuleana behind Pauahi’s incredible gift." And she explained how the Doe lawsuit fits into the bigger picture of preservation of all private programs established by our beloved ali'i and intended to restore Native Hawaiians.

Did you know that Hawaiian history, even regarding the overthrow of our monarchy, is being rewritten in the annals of U.S. history even as you read this? Martha Ross, OHA's Bureau Chief in Washington D.C., flew from the U.S. Capitol to report back to the crowd at the 'Aha Kuka on a U.S. Civil Rights Commission hearing which took place just hours prior to our gathering. The crowd at the 'Aha Kuka was alarmed and greatly disturbed by what we heard. For example, here is an excerpt from testimony by Robert Fukuda, who was Hawai'i's Deputy Attorney General from 1953-1959 (emphasis added): "The Hawaiians are not an oppressed race. Since the time of the Hawaiian Kingdom and Territory and State, Hawaiians have thrived and succeeded professionally, politically and economically. [He goes on to give examples of successful Native Hawaiians which of course we don't dispute]... There are pockets of poverty and cultural challenges in various areas of Hawaii, but these are problems that affect every race, and not just Hawaiians. The Hawaiian language, history and culture are thriving and being taught in public and private schools and the University Of Hawaii, and not in any danger of being lost or extinguished.

Americans did not steal the property of Hawaiians. In fact many Americans helped the Hawaiians. One of the best examples is the Bishop Estate, a private charitable trust, which owns thousands of acres of prime land in Hawaii. The assets of this trust are estimated to value more than eight billion dollars [sic], with an annual income of several hundred million dollars, which is entirely dedicated to the education of Hawaiian children. The founders of this Trust were Bernice Pauahi, a member of the Hawaiian royal family, and her husband who was a white American who donated his own personal fortune to the trust, and took no benefits in return."

Whether you are for or against Senate Bill 147, I think we can all agree that such statements, being entered into official government transcripts, pose a serious threat to our legal ability to fight for the preservation of land and resources intended to restore the health, education and overall well-being of Native Hawaiians. We must educate ourselves, and stay on top of these kinds of legal attempts to diminish the significance of our unique history as a sovereign people.

Tune In This Sunday, Feb. 5

I will be on Solid POI (Positions On Issues) which streams live on the internet this Sunday, from 5-6p.m. Go to www.solidpoi.com, click on the link to "Listen", which will direct you to KLAV's main website. Click on the tab "On Air" to listen in. I will be giving an update on Doe and the 'Aha Kuka at around 5:45 p.m.

In the meantime, I promise to keep you informed of significant media attention to these issues, and of course any word from the Ninth Circuit. Please continue to pule with me for Ke Akua's will, aloha and lokahi to prevail in these matters. Finally, I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating here (even as a reminder to myself): may we all extend forgiveness in our hearts to John Doe and his attorneys, and to folks like Robert Fukuda (quoted above) -- anger is never productive, and only hurts us.

In the Way and Aloha of 'Iesu Christo, Noelani (Loo) Jai, KS '83, alohajai@socal.rr.com

(Here is the link to Georgia McMillen's terrific NY Times op-ed piece - click on the title "A School of One's Own"):
The New York Times E-mail This
OPINION | August 29, 2005
Op-Ed Contributor: A School of One's Own
By GEORGIA KA'APUNI MCMILLEN
A school designated for Native Hawaiians is still necessary as a remedy for past injustice.

Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Na 'Aumakua--The Ancestors

2006-01-28T21:21:04Z

Aloha kakou,
I am sharing a short piece I just wrote for my hula halau's independent learning program. Mahalo for reading it!
Amy
-------
Na ‘Aumakua

An important feature of life for na poe kahiko, the people of old, was found in the men’s eating house (the mua). Inside the mua daily offerings of ‘awa were made to the ‘aumakua, the family’s ancestral gods. Daily offerings were one way to nourish and sustain the relationship of the family to the ‘aumakua.

In Na Pule Kahiko-Ancient Hawaiian Prayers, Jane Gutmanis explains:

“Since the ‘aumakua are intimate members of the human family,
spiritual relationships with them are especially close and
their presence is sought for feast and festivity
as well as in time of crisis. They act as healers and advisors, counteracting troubles and punishing faults.”

‘Aumakua often take the form of animal spirits such as na mo’o (lizards), na mano (sharks), na honu (sea turtles and seals), na ‘io (hawks), na pueo (owls), and so on. Such animals are the kinolau--the “many bodies” of na akua, the gods--and through their ‘aumakua, Hawaiians include na akua in their genealogies. Na akua can also take the forms of plants, clouds, and other features of the natural world. The important goddess, Hina, is also the coral polyp, ‘Ukuko’ako’a, whose birth is sung in the Kumulipo creation chant and genealogy. The sea turtle is a kinolau of Kanaloa, lord of the ocean. The hawk is Ku. The shark is Kua, the “shark chief” of the Ka’u district of Hawai’i.The powerful lizard goddesses, na mo’o, are Haumea and her descendants, such as the influential Kihawahine of Maui, who was born a daughter of the chief, Pi’ilani, and deified after her death.

It’s worth making a special note of the importance of the mo’o in Hawaiian geneologies. In Na Wahine Kapu-Divine Hawaiian Women by Lilikala Kame’eleihiwa, Ph.D, it says:

“...Mo’o women were worshiped by female chiefs at the
female temple known as Hale o Papa, named for Pahahanaumoku,
Papa the woman who gives birth to the islands,
Papa the earth mother,
another descendent in the lineage of Haumea...”

Kame’eleihiwa also says of Haumea:

“...she lives in every Hawaiian woman. I am Haumea too,
and she teaches that all that Haumea has done, I too can do.”

There are families who claim Pele, the volcano goddess, as an ‘aumakua. Mary Kawena Pukui and E.S. Craighill Handy remark, in Polynesian Family Systems of Ka’u, Hawai’i:

“If Pele is not real to you, you cannot comprehend the quality of relationship that exists between persons related to and through Pele,
and of those persons to the land and phenomena,
not ‘created by’ but which are, Pele and her clan.”

In such statements as this, we can see that even today the influences and relationships to ‘aumakua are still profoundly felt among the Native Hawaiians. Many Native Hawaiians still have their own stories of message-bearing ‘aumakua, such as seeing an owl before learning that a grandparent has just fallen gravely ill.

Jane Gutmanis also points out that the consideration given to an ‘aumakua kinolau was also extended to all members of that species:

“Whatever its form, the ‘aumakua is one specific shark, owl, etc.
However, all members of the species are treated
with the respect of family members.”

In practical terms, this means that a family having a certain ‘aumakua would traditionally be unwilling to eat any animals or plants that form part of that ‘aumakua’s group of kinolau. Kumuhea, a son of Ku who became an ‘aumakua of many people in the Ka’u district of Hawai’i island, took the form of a caterpillar. People in that district were very careful to not harm the caterpillars that fed on sweet potatoes. Kumuhea’s other form was the loli (sea cucumber) and none of his descendents would eat it:

“Instances are cited of young folk who have scoffed at the
warning of the elders against this kapu food as ‘deadly poisonous’
to the family and who have sickened and died after eating the loli
in a spirit of reckless defiance.”
Polynesian Family Systems of Ka’u, Hawai’i

In Na Poe Kahiko, by Samuel Kamakau, the ancestral relationship of people and gods was explained as the result of pregnancies obtained through sacrifices and offerings presented to a kahuna (priest) of Ku and Hina, or Ku, Lono or Kane:

“The children begotten through such sacrifices and offerings
called the gods their ‘aumakua. That is how the relationship was maintained through ‘aumakua and descendants
and how the Hawaiian people became
the actual children (keiki ponoi) of the gods.”

The concept of kino lau is important to understanding Hawaiian aumakua and akua. Michael Kioni Dudley has a whole chapter on kino lau in A Hawaiian Nation: Man, Gods and Nature. He says:

“Every spirit can have more than one instantiation:
that is, every spirit, every akua, has the potentiality
to take form in more than one place at one time.
While all spirits--either of the living or of the dead--
can assume at least some other forms,
the higher gods are believed to manifest themselves
in almost unlimited numbers of things at the same time.”

Dudley also says that the spirits of deceased people were known to enter into animals, plants and natural forms, so that the spirit of a chief could live in a star, be the star and thus be worshiped as the star.

Profound relationships with animal spirits and ancestors are not unusual among the cultures of this world. Many shamanic and indigenous cultures hold these relationships as central, including Native American cultures. In an online Encyclopedia Mythica, an excerpt by Gerald Musinsky says:

“Animals in particular, along with weather and other elements of
nature, possessed particular qualities of power and knowledge.”

In many cases, the knowledge imparted by animals and animal ancestor spirits consists of self knowledge for the human being. As geneticists have found that human beings share so much of our DNA with other forms of life, this Hawaiian way of acknowledging ancestral relationships with other creatures seems to encompass scientific as well as spiritual truths. And the ethical behavior which must naturally result from this and other indigenous traditions is certainly healthier and more respectful to the planet and its living beings than the behavior of the unsustainable, polluting consumer culture that is our dominant paradigm.

Pau

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Voices of Truth Television Shows

2006-01-26T17:48:05Z

A Special Holiday Presentation Of "Voices Of Truth - One-On-One With Hawai`i's Future"

Aloha `aina,

A big mahalo to you all who have contacted us this past week regarding our
United Nations segment, "Hawaiian Independence At The United Nations - Part
One," which we debuted last Saturday on O`ahu's `Olelo.

For those of you who caught it, we're very grateful for your many kind words
and encouragement.

And for all those who contacted us from the neighbor islands asking when it
will air where you live, you don't have long to wait - it will be airing in
another week or two.

Finally, for all of you outside of Hawai`i who called, wrote and emailed,
you may view the segment via live streaming, online at the `Olelo website.
Instructions for doing so are listed below.

And because we received so many requests from viewers on O`ahu who didn't
see it, we are airing it again this Saturday.

Actually taped inside the UN in New York City, the segment features a
blow-by-blow account of what transpired about a month before, on Capitol
Hill in Washington, DC, in a Senate hearing room on the Akaka bill.

Well, you probably won't be surprised to learn they didn't allow anyone a
chance to speak against it.

Naturally, OHA and others tried to have only one side of the story told -
their side. But not all went exactly as planned.

So as we bring another year to a close, and you have your `ohana close, sit
down, relax and join us for a special holiday presentation of Voices Of
Truth - One-On-One With Hawai`i's Future.

MONDAY, December 26th - On Na Leo Television, channel 54, on both sides of
Hawai'i island at 7:00 PM
"Unsettled Spirit - A Visit With Bumpy Kanahele." Another of our second
season segments that has received very positive reviews, we feature one of
Hawai`i's long time sovereignty fighters, and founder of both Pu`uhonua O
Waimanalo and Nation of Hawai`i.

Because he shares with us an aspect of himself that not everyone sees, and
what got him involved in creating a better future for the people of Hawai`i,
viewers have remarked about powerful, inspiring aspects of Bumpy they never
knew.

We promise you'll want more as Bumpy tells how his years growing up actually
helped to mold him as a leader today who is both strong and wise.

Filmed on location at Pu`uhonua O Waimanalo, Bumpy is 100% inspiration in a
setting of stunning beauty and also an example of what all Hawai`i could be.

WEDNESDAY, December 28th - On Akaku, Channel 53 at 6:30 PM
"Hawaiian Superman - A Visit With Dr. Kanalu Young, PhD." Rarely do we come
across an individual as remarkable as Kanalu Young, a quadriplegic and
Professor of Hawaiian history at the University of Hawai`i on O`ahu.

If that isn't impressive enough, he's also Director of the Masters Program
at Kamakakuokalani, the Center For Hawaiian Studies on campus.

Even though he's currently bed ridden at home under doctor's orders, Kanalu
accomplishes more in one day than most. Setting up his bedroom as his
office, the world now comes to Kanalu - literally.

He meets on almost a daily basis with dignitaries and educators from all
over the world as well as conducting his work for the university - all from
his bed. Of course we went calling on Kanalu, in his office/bedroom, and
found an amazing individual indeed who lets absolutely nothing stop him.

So if you're looking for a big dose of high inspiration and want to meet a
world-class expert at showing us all how to become unstoppable as well as
putting our own challenges in perspective, sit down with your entire `ohana
and meet Hawai`i's Superman.

THURSDAY, December 29th - On Ho`ike, Channel 52 at 8:30 PM
"Woman Of Accomplishment - A Visit With Jackie Kaho`okele Burke." In
another of our second season segments, Jackie reminds us of the saying, "If
you want something done, just ask a busy person to do it."

As if being publisher of the `Oiwi Files wasn't enough, Jackie has somehow
found time to launch a plan for Sovereignty Buses that will travel
throughout Hawai`i as well as across the US to educate and spread the
message of Kanaka Maoli self-determination. On top of that, she plans to
film a documentary on the project as the buses travel.

And did we mention that she also has not one but two masters degrees as part
of her action plan?

We're sure you'll agree that Jackie's a superb role model for making things
happen as she shares with us her exciting vision for the future of Hawai`i.

Don't miss our interview with this wahine whose boundless energy and ideas
never seem to end!

FRIDAY, December 30th - On Na Leo Television, channel 54, on both sides of
Hawai`i island at 5:30 PM.
"Unsettled Spirit - A Visit With Bumpy Kanahele." Another of our second
season segments that has received very positive reviews, we feature one of
Hawai`i's long time sovereignty fighters, and founder of both Pu`uhonua O
Waimanalo and Nation of Hawai`i.

Because he shares with us an aspect of himself that not everyone sees, and
what got him involved in creating a better future for the people of Hawai`i,
viewers have remarked about powerful, inspiring aspects of Bumpy they never
knew.

We promise you'll want more as Bumpy tells how his years growing up actually
helped to mold him as a leader today who is both strong and wise.

Filmed on location at Pu`uhonua O Waimanalo, Bumpy is 100% inspiration in a
setting of stunning beauty and also an example of what all Hawai`i could be.

SATURDAY, December 31st - On 'Olelo this Saturday at 8 PM.
"Hawaiian Independence At The United Nations - Part One" In this first part
of a brand new two-part series, Koani Foundation Director Kai`opua Fyfe,
during a break in proceedings at the UN, relates his experiences of what
happened when he went to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC this last spring and
attempted to testify against the Akaka bill.

With Senator John McCain chairing the Senate Hearings, what Kai`opua found
was that only those supporting the bill were scheduled to speak despite his
numerous attempts to be included.

But, while no negative testimony was allowed, Kai`opua did see and hear some
very eye opening things that will definitely surprise you.

Be sure and sit down with your entire `ohana this holiday weekend and catch
this unique first person account of what it's like to be a part of a US
Senate hearing, along with some of the most powerful people in the US in the
same room attempting to stack the deck their way once more.

Voices of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to
discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants in
the hopes of inspiring viewers to do the same.

Those not in Hawai`i wishing to view the series may do so by visiting
<http://www.olelo.org/> www.olelo.org and then clicking "NAT-Channel 53." A
screen should then display allowing you to see the show via live streaming.
Please refer to the `Olelo television programming notes above for segment
times and titles.

All show times listed above are Hawai`i Standard Time (HST.)

Now - For our international viewers, both parts one and two of "The Truth
About Federal Recognition - A Visit With David Ingham" are available for
viewing worldwide, 24/7, on the Internet at <http://www.villageaccess.com/>
www.villageaccess.com. Don't miss it!

Also available are "Travels To Foreign Lands," "Who Are The Real
Hawaiians?," "From Fisherman To Activist" and "Perpetuating Makahiki -A Time
Of Peace" among others. Visit the Village Access home page for immediate
viewing.

Ho`oku`oko`a,
`Ehu Kekahu Cardwell
The Koani Foundation
Visit <http://www.freehawaii.info/> www.FreeHawaii.Info
"Just Say No! To Federal Recognition"

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 2 replies

FWD from KU: Hawai'i Public Radio broadcasting Mauna Kea development views this week

2006-01-25T23:24:03Z

Hawaii Public Radio's Noe Tanigawa will be presenting her views on Mauna Kea and astronomy this week - from Wednesday to Friday.

Her views are expected to be generally supportive of our [the Mauna Kea activists - the "real" Royal Order (Paul Neves and group), Mauna Kea Anaina Hou (Kealoha Pisciotta), Hilo Chapter of Sierra Club (Debbie Ward) and me] position.

On Hawaii Public Radio - times will be 7:30-ish am and 4:30 pm.
O'ahu - 88.1 FM
Maui - 90.7 FM
Waimea (Kamuela) - 94.7 FM
Hilo - 91.1 FM
Kaua'i - don't know

On KIPO (89.3 FM) - between 8 and 9 am and at 4:30 pm

Will also be on online at www.hawaiipublicradio.org or at www.noetanigawa.com by the end of the week.

ku

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Free Ho'oponopono Workshops in O'ahu and Maui, thru June

2006-01-19T00:42:45Z

Aloha kakou,
My ho'oponopono kumu, Ramsay Taum, just sent me this schedule of his organization's workshops, meetings and reviews through June. If anyone is in Honolulu or on Maui on any of these days, they are welcome to attend these free sessions. They are quite wonderful. A modern, individualized version of the traditional process is taught.
Amy Waihili
----------------

Hawaiian Ho'oponopono Workshop Schedule
from Keala O Kalani (teachers trained by Morrnah Simeona or in Morrnah's tradition).

All Honolulu sessions are held at McKinley High School Library. For Honolulu sessions, please call Kevin Chang, (808)780-3525, Gene Ono (808)942-0702, or Allan Prevo (808)488-4200.

All Maui meetings are held at Island Honda. For Maui classes and review, please call Anne at 808-873-8081 to confirm.

All workshops and meetings are free of charge and are not affilitated with McKinley Libary or Island Honda.

Sunday, Feb. 12 9 AM-1 PM Review for people who have taken the workshop before
Honolulu only

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 7 PM Keala O Kalani Meeting
Honolulu and Maui

Sunday, March 12, 9 AM-4 PM, Ho'oponopono Workshop for beginners and repeat students
Honolulu only

Tuesday, March 21, 7 PM Keala O Kalani Meeting
Honolulu and Maui

Sunday, April 16, 9 AM-1 PM Review for people who have taken the workshop before
Honolulu only

Tuesday, April 18, 7 PM Keala O Kalani Meeting
Honolulu and Maui

Sunday, May 7, 9 AM-4 PM, Ho'oponopono Workshop for beginners and repeat students
Honolulu only

Tuesday, May 16, 7 PM Keala O Kalani Meeting
Honolulu and Maui

Sunday, June 11, 9 AM-1 PM Review
Honolulu only

Tuesday, June 20, 7 PM Keala O Kalani Meeting
Honolulu and Maui

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

FWD: UH military research protests! Important!!!

2006-01-18T17:35:47Z

Aloha kakou,
This forward is from KAHEA-The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance. Please go to their website, www.kahea.com, and take action by sending a protest letter.
Mahalo!
--------------

What's At Stake:
Beginning in 2002, University of Hawai'i officials have quietly promoted a University Affiliated Research Center (U.A.R.C.) contract with the U.S. Navy without consultation with the faculty, the students or public, which are the communities most affected by this research. In response to the UH Administration's lack of transparency and accountability, an impressive coalition of students, faculty, and community members came together to educate decision-makers about the true implications of a classified research center at UH. U.A.R.C. Must Be Stopped To Save UH's Educational Integrity and Freedom: The Navy states that the U.A.R.C.'s mission is to "improve system performance of Department of Defense weapons systems" through Navy-controlled research aimed at "full spectrum dominance." In other words, UH researchers under UARC would develop weapons that promote U.S. military supremacy throughout the world. This is incompatible with UH's mission to create "a Hawaiian place of learning" based on the principles of aloha, malama aina, academic freedom and intellectual rigor. UH cannot create weapons for world domination and still uphold its motto, "Maluna a e o na lahui a pau ke ola ke kanaka" -- Above all nations is humanity. U.A.R.C. would institutionalize secrecy and military-control at UH. Currently, UH has a policy against conducting secret research on the Manoa campus. All research must be open to peer review and allowed to be freely published. U.A.R.C. research would be exempted from this rule. The U.S. Navy would dictate what research is conducted at UH and control any review and publishing of the research. The secrecy inherent in U.A.R.C. undermines academic freedom, compromises public accountability, and endangers public health by removing independent oversight. Unfortunately, the history of the U.S. military in Hawai'i does not engender trust. In 1893, the U.S. Navy aided U.S. businessmen in their overthrown of the independent Hawaiian Kingdom. More recently, the U.S. Army revealed that it dumped 8,000 tons of toxic chemical weapons into the nearshore ocean surrounding O'ahu. Environmental activists recently discovered that Depleted Uranium was used in live fire training on O'ahu, despite years of emphatic denials from the U.S. military. In the 1960's a secret partnership between UH and the U.S. military resulted in the death of two UH employees from experiments with Agent Orange. The deadly legacy of Agent Orange continues to haunt the Vietnamese, U.S. Veterans, and all lands it was used and tested on. Lack of Transparency in the Decision-Making Process: The public first discovered a secret U.A.R.C. proposal in November 2004, when the UH Administration brought the contract to the Board of Regents for approval. The Administration insisted that it had fully consulted with the public. Members of the Native Hawaiian Kualii Council, who were at the meeting for another reason, clarified to the Board of Regents that groups on campus were totally unaware of the U.A.R.C. proposal. As a result, the Regents gave provisional approval to the U.A.R.C. contract, pending consultation with affected groups and the public. The first attempt by the administration to accommodate public input was a failure. Three "informational meetings" were scheduled. A few pro-U.A.R.C. speakers lectured the audience on why U.A.R.C. should be approved. In the second meeting, a consultant paid by UH to promote U.A.R.C., praised classified military research. His affiliation with the U.A.R.C. proposal and his paychecks from UH were not disclosed, but were raised by a person in the audience. The meeting ended in a storm of broad public disapproval. The third meeting was never held. In response, the State Legislature convened public hearings where elected officials and many citizens expressed serious concern about the U.A.R.C. proposal. In Spring 2005, UH officials held a second series of meetings, in which community members were allowed to speak, but only in tightly controlled snippets. These meetings featured a broad diversity of voices speaking in opposition to UARC, with a small handful of people supporting the proposal. Unfortunately, the UH administration was impervious to public input. They continued to move the U.A.R.C. proposal forward, in spite of overwhelming opposition. In the wake of UH officials undermining of the democratic process at UH, Save UH/Stop UARC Coalition members undertook a peaceful protest in the summer of 2005 with a sit-in at the UH administration building. In the negotiations for the return of Bachman Hall, the UH Interim President promised to hold a public hearing but did not specify a date for a public hearing. However, public opposition grew and the proposed Navy UARC was determined that it is unsuitable for our university and our home. UH Interim President David McClain specified that the Interim Chancellor of the Manoa Campus must first recommend the proposed U.A.R.C. contract be brought to the Board of Regents before he would move forward with the proposal. The Chancellor sought the advice of the faculty senate, a body of elected faculty representing every discipline on the Manoa campus. After much debate, the faculty senate passed a resolution opposing the U.A.R.C. in the Fall of 2005. A few weeks later, the Chancellor released her decision opposing U.A.R.C. and recommended to the Interim President that the proposal NOT be advanced to the Regents. The Chancellor and the Faculty Senate joined the growing chorus of opposition to U.A.R.C. The Kuali'i Council of Native Hawaiian faculty, the UH Student Caucus - representing all student government bodies throughout the UH system, the Associated Students of UH - representing the undergraduate students at UH-Manoa, and the UH Professional Assembly - the faculty's system-wide union all publicly oppose classified military research at UH. The UH President is proposing yet another "informational meeting." We believe that this is another attempt by UH administration to undermine the broad and clear opposition to this military contract. This meeting demonstrates that the UH Administration is unwilling to play by its own rules and take "NO" for an answer. UH Interim President should follow the process he created and abide by the formal decision of the Manoa Chancellor Dr. Konan to oppose U.A.R.C. She based her opposition on the concerns of her constituents and stands opposed to this problematic military research program. By trying to resurrect the clearly opposed U.A.R.C. proposal with another "informational meeting," the Interim President is dividing our University, usurping the Chancellors' authority and undermining the legitimacy of the faculty senate and the student governments. U.A.R.C. would alter the intellectual and ethical alchemy of this university and is a perversion of our university motto, "above all nations is humanity." Mahalo nui loa for supporting the community's voice in this effort. For more information please visit the Save UH/Stop UARC Coalition website at www.stopuarc.info.

Campaign Expiration Date:
February 18, 2006

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 0 replies

Learning about Hawai`i.

2006-01-15T00:00:43Z

http://www.mythicalrealm.com/creatures/menehune.html

"Today, scholars speculate that the Menehune may not have been an imaginary race at all, but rather the descendants of the first wave of settlers who came to Hawaii from the Marquesas sometime around the sixth century. The Menehune legends come from later settlers who reached Hawaii six or seven hundred years later from the Islands of Tahiti. Scholars have concluded that this second wave of immigrants may have defeated the descendants of the original Marquesans, driving them north from the Big Island to Kauai, where they made their last stand. Only later did they emerge in their elfin guise. Linguistic support for the explanation comes from the Tahitian home islands where the word Manahune derisively refer to a class of workers and slaves."

Is this true?

posted in Hawaiian Culture and Independence - 1 reply

FWD: Preserving sacred land. Waimea settlement reached.

2006-01-14T23:55:12Z

WAIMEA VALLEY SETTLEMENT REACHED
Renaissance of Waimea Valley Begins Today

HONOLULU: JANUARY 13, 2005 - After several tumultuous months, Mayor
Mufi Hannemann has announced a settlement agreement which will preserve
the entire 1,875-acre sacred ahupua'a of Waimea Valley intact. The
court appointed mediator has facilitated a settlement agreement for $14
million that will keep the case from going to court on February 13,
2006 where the property's "fair market" value would have been decided
by a trial by jury.

Parties to the settlement include the City & County of Honolulu -- who
have already paid $5.1 million towards the settlement -- the Office of
Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawai'i State Department of Land and Natural
Resources, the National Audubon Society, and the U.S. Army (which has
indicated a desire to maintain a "buffer zone" between the Valley and
their adjoining property). Although not the settlement was not
officially announced until 5:45 PM, Mayor Hannemann had called a
highly-unusual emergency meeting with the City Council at 11:00 AM this
morning (Friday) where the offer was presented to the City Council for
their approval.

Jim Case, attorney for the Stewards of Waimea Valley and one of Hawai's
leading legal experts on land holding, said, "We have not yet had an
opportunity to study the settlement agreement in detail. However, we
are very happy if the Council has sustained its earlier position, which
it took clearly in the unanimous vote on December 7 -- that Waimea
Valley will remain whole, as a complete traditional Hawaiian ahupua'a.
That means an ownership regime of government or non-profit
organizations that is committed to the long-term unity of the Valley,
with no subdivisions or entanglements -- commercial or residential.
After we have studied the details of the settlement agreement, we may
have further comment."

Michael North, President of the Stewards of Waimea, commented, "Michael
North, president of the Stewards of Waimea, commented, "Today, one of
the great treasures of the Islands -- a living ahupua'a, a connection
to Hawaii's proud past and to our future -- has been saved from
development. It is a day to rejoice for everyone involved in this
settlement. All have shown leadership, vision and commitment to reach
this initial result, and should be justly proud." He added, "This is
only the first stage of Waimea's renaissance, however -- much remains
to be done to bring forward native Hawaiian leadership in the Valley,
to build a world-class biological and botanical institute, to make
Waimea Valley a center for arts, culture and community for all of O'ahu
and our visitors from around the world. The Stewards of Waimea is
committed to supporting that vital process, for the long term."

Scott Foster, Communications Director for the Stewards said, "This
agreement marks a new beginning for Waimea Valley. The long saga begun
in 2000 when East coast real estate speculator and developer, Christian
Wolffer put the sacred ahupua'a 'property' up for sale as a private
residence is at end and the real work can begin. Waimea Valley now has
every chance of becoming the center of Hawaiian cultural on O`ahu that
it should and could have been all along. We are truly thankful for this
positive conclusion."

THE STEWARDS OF WAIMEA VALLEY
Scott Foster, Communications Director
VOICE 808.637.9822 / CELL 808-372.2513 / FAX 808.637.1236
fosters005@Hawaii.rr.com
www.waimeavalley.org/

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