Na Pua to
march in protest of
Bishop Estate

The four-mile-long march
will mark the first anniversary
of last year's historic walk

By Rick Daysog
Star-Bulletin

Saying that "stonewalling" efforts by Bishop Estate trustees won't deter them, a group representing 2,700 Kamehameha Schools graduates, parents and students said they plan to go ahead with today's march protesting the ongoing controversy.

Yesterday, a representative from the Bishop Estate's Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center Inc. informed members of Na Pua a Ke Ali'i Pauahi that they would need to get a $2 million insurance policy if they want to assemble at the estate's Kawaiahao Plaza downtown headquarters.

But Toni Lee, Na Pua's president, said the march will go on, even if marchers have to meet on the public sidewalks next to the estate's offices.

"We find it very astonishing and appalling that we who are the beneficiaries have to come up with a $2 million policy to come on grounds that is for us," Lee said.

A Bishop Estate spokesman could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Today's four-mile march, which marks the anniversary of last year's protest walk, will start at 4 p.m. at the Royal Mausoleum at Maunaala and will end at Kawaiahao Plaza where marchers will meet with trustee Richard Wong.

Fellow trustees Oswald Stender and Gerard Jervis are expected to take part in the walk.

Last year's protest of about 700 people was instrumental in raising public awareness of the issues surrounding the estate and Kamehameha Schools.

Since then, state Attorney General Margery Bronster has opened an investigation into charges of financial mismanagement, breaches of fiduciary duties and manipulations of student admissions by trustees.

Lee estimated that it would cost about $800 to purchase a $2 million insurance policy but she noted that it may be difficult to obtain a policy on one-day's notice. The estate did not require the group to purchase insurance last year.

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