Law does not serve the Hawaiian people
There are two conflicts in Hawaii that demonstrate precisely why American law does not equally serve the interests of Hawaiians.
The first case is the conflict at Naue Point in Haena, Kauai. Millionaire Joseph Brescia of California seeks to build his beachfront mansion on the top of more than 30 native Hawaiian kupuna buried on "his land." He claims he has received all the necessary approvals and permits under American law. Under American law, the 30 Hawaiian graves are not considered a cemetery. Under Hawaiian law, he would still be missing one more permit, one which he would never be able to receive, that of building your home on top of someone else's kupuna. This is desecration. Under American law, our kupuna's burials will continue to be desecrated.
The second case is the admissions lawsuit against Kamehameha Schools. Under American law, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop cannot leave her birthright, her very inheritance to her own people. Under American law, her right and responsibility as a Hawaiian Ali'i, to care for her people is nullified. Under American law, she cannot leave to her beneficiaries what is legally hers to give, her own resources for the education of her own people.
I wish the circumstances were different, but the truth is that under U.S. law, Hawaiian rights are not protected.
Kealiimahiai Burgess
Waipahu
It might not be a good idea to pursue activists
Gov. Linda Lingle announced that the Hawaiian activists arrested at Iolani Palace on Statehood Day should be "prosecuted to the full extent of the law." Interestingly enough, Ah Quon McElrath earlier in the week called for "sensitivity" about statehood in view of Hawaiians who didn't fare as well as others because of statehood. McElrath serves on the Governor's 50th Anniversary of Statehood Commission.
While the state contemplates coming down on the 23 Hawaiian activists, it might be wise to step back. In the absence of reconciliation many Hawaiians are busy building governmental restoration of their stolen nation. Some are like that of the group arrested, others like Kau Inoa (state supported through OHA). It is not inconceivable that soon the Hawaiian government will reclaim Iolani Palace -- yet thankfully, not the way it was taken with U.S. guns and troops in 1893 when international and U.S. domestic law clearly forbade it.
U.S. Apology Law 103-150 is an admission of international crimes against Hawaii where investigation and reparations have yet to be made. Statehood celebrations have been tried at Iolani Palace in the past two years and failed because of Hawaiians' just indignation.
Michael Daly
Moiliili
Anti Statehood Hui
McCain's judgment on war, economy is shaky
Does John McCain have the experience, judgment and character to represent all of us, as Jimmy Kuroiwa claims (
Gathering Place, Insight, Aug. 17)?
Five years after the U.S. has been embroiled in a deadly conflict in Iraq, McCain revealed he still didn't know the difference between opposing political and warring factions Sunni and Shiite.
McCain has admitted his lack of depth in economic policy and has relied on banking lobbyist former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm to guide him in these matters. Gramm has promoted deregulation legislation and reduction of oversight that helped lead to the Enron debacle, the current banking, home foreclosure and energy futures trading crisis.
McCain's 1980's experience in S&L industry revolves around improperly aiding Lincoln Savings and Loan Chairman Charles Keating Jr. in return for huge campaign contributions and favors.After McCain gave the money back, he was cleared. Keating spent five years in prison for his corrupt mismanagement of that S&L.
This is cause to pause before voting for McCain. Can you see your descendants 100 years from now serving their third military tour in the mideast?
Smoky Guerrero
Mililani
Politicians fear honest vote on rail system
The sly, sneaky, underhanded City Council worded a question for the November general election ballot in such a way that if you vote "yes," we will have a new railroad on Oahu, and if you vote "no," we will have a new railroad on Oahu.
They think we are so dumb that we will not notice what they are doing to us.
Then, knowing how the Council is pulling the wool over the eyes of the voting public, the mayor said he will not veto the railroad measure, no matter the outcome. LOL.
He too, thinks we are so stupid that we won't notice what they are doing to us.
Next, the elections office will tell us that a "blank" vote will be counted as a "yes" vote, a dishonest gimmick that has been foisted upon us before. So, if you don't vote on that issue, you are really voting in favor of a new railroad on Oahu.
Make sense? Only if you have a vested interest.
The question a majority of voters want on the ballot is not whether the proposed railroad should be "steel on steel," but whether there should be a new railroad, PERIOD. Yes, or no.
Our elected officials obviously are afraid that if they are honest about it, the public might vote it down, and all of their friends would lose millions of dollars.
Keith Haugen
Nuuanu
McCain's actions fall short on foreign policy
Forgetting how many homes he owns only shows that John McCain does not live up to his hype about being one of us. More important is his claim to knowing how to win wars, which begs the question, which one? He spent five years in prison in Vietnam after bombing civilians (that's what he told the world press at the time), hardly a foreign policy success. By the way, we lost that war.
McCain also fell for Ahmed Chalabi's lies about WMDs in Iraq and phony links between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. And he predicted invading Iraq would be a quick and easy victory. Today, when he talks about the surge, he ignores the ethnic cleansing and walling off of whole neighborhoods of Baghdad and the paying of Sunni insurgents to fight al-Qaida. And he even thinks Iraq has a border with Pakistan that needs patrolling!
His plan to give the rich (like him) bigger tax breaks will create the largest deficits in U.S. history, and his pandering to calls to start a war with Iran shows he has as little grasp of reality as our current president.
David Chappell
Kaneohe
Middle class doesn't make millions
Sen. John McCain defines rich as making $5 million per year.
By McCain's definition, you're middle class if you're making $3 million per year. Do you think that's the middle class?
McCain is more of the same economic policies we've gotten from President Bush for the last eight years. McCain thinks multimillionaires are members of the middle class, homeowners are to blame for the housing crisis, and Big Oil needs more tax breaks but middle-class families don't.
Cynthia Dixson
Captain Cook, Hawaii