Ha Hawaii process has ignored other groups
I am a Hawaiian attorney who does not support the actions of the Native Hawaiian Bar Association's board of directors, which endorsed Ha Hawaii's process for the election of delegates on Sunday for the so-called Hawaiian Constitutional Convention.Ha Hawaii is a private, business corporation, organized under state law. There has been no recommendation or suggestion that its promoters made a genuine good-faith effort to work with many older, longer-established sovereignty groups, which have been working for years to reach a common understanding of what, how and why such an important cultural/ political entity should be created.
This represents a total lack of respect of our elders and an understanding of how important it is to us and our kupuna to fully kukakuka about the ramifications and intricacies of our own form of government.
This decision is indicative of an apparent failure to understand the trauma that resulted from the illegal overthrow of our queen and kingdom 106 years ago.
W. Koomealani Amona
Class of 1941,
Kamehameha Schools
Sunday is historic day for native Hawaiians
History will be made once more on Sunday. Unlike Jan. 17, 1893, this year Hawaiians will be voting for delegates to a Native Hawaiian Convention. It has taken Hawaiians 106 years to come together in unity for this very important event.The election is for a Native Hawaiian Convention, which will involve many Hawaiians from all walks of life representing many Hawaiian organizations.
All elections by the people are important in a free society. All Hawaiians are invited and encouraged to participate in this step forward.
Years from now, someone will ask the question, "When did Hawaiians have their first convention on nationhood?" Jan. 17, 1999, will be long remembered as the first convention on Hawaiian nationhood -- when many Hawaiians exercised their inherent sovereign right to determine their own future as a people and as a revived nation.
Richard Pomaikaiokalani Kinney
Sovereign, Hawaiian Political Action
Council of Hawaii
Don't let anyone usurp Hawaiians' right to vote
I am appealing to the native Hawaiian community to go to the polls on Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., to vote in the Native Hawaiian Delegate Election. Participation is critical. A vote is a voice. Do not allow anyone to deter you from this rightful choice.Ha Hawaii has used three instruments to inform the Hawaiian community:
The Native Hawaiian Convention Brochure.
This should be ample information to select a choice. Don't give up that right! For more information, call Ha Hawaii at (808) 597-1889 or fax inquiries to (808) 597-1892.
Pua'ala McElhaney
President, Ha Hawaii
Getting prepared for Y2K is good advice for everyone
Having worked in the computer industry for the past 15 years, and as a "certified Y2K project manager," I applaud Kauai's approach to the Y2K issue. While no one person can be sure what will happen, there is one certainty about Y2K -- it will affect our business and personal lives.Whether this effect is directly a result of computer-related problems or compounded because of misinformation, lack of preparation, panic or a combination is directly relational to how we prepare as individuals, families, neighborhoods, businesses and state to meet this challenge.
Studies prove that communities react well to emergencies when people have received good information and are prepared. The option is the "bunker-down" mentality that is happening on the mainland, or an isolationist attitude that could lead to martial law in a worst-case scenario.
Hawaii can use this as an opportunity to prepare its people to be self-sustaining for a given period of time. It is preparedness we should all have as evidenced by Kauai and its experience with hurricanes.
Become informed; share information; stock food and water, not guns; start a garden; get to know your neighbors; gather together, not apart; stay calm and start now.
Pamela Rigg
Hawaii isn't an anomaly in accident investigations
In a Dec. 26 letter, UH Professor Panos Prevedouros carped about an hour-long delay in traffic. He was unsympathetic to the death in a car-moped collision, criticized the investigating police for closing Kalanianaole Highway and the inconvenience that it caused, and wrote that things are not like that on the mainland.A couple of days later I read where the I-5 highway in Oregon was closed for three hours while police investigated fatalities from a car/pedestrian accident. It seems we in Hawaii do investigate traffic accidents like on the mainland.
Ted Chernin
Jack Hoag has surrendered to gay marriage proponents
I was very disappointed to see Jack Hoag's statements (Jan. 6), saying that his only objections to legalizing homosexual partnerships were parental rights and adoption. This caused the governor to modify his domestic partnership bill to accommodate Hoag's concerns.This, in turn, won kudos from gay-rights attorney Dan Foley. Thus, everyone is getting along and the process of "healing" has begun. Isn't that nice?
Mr. Hoag, this is not healing. This is abdication. By negotiating the particulars, you concede the principle. The objections to legalizing same-sex marriage were not over the particulars of what marital benefits to bestow or withhold, but upon the principle of non-recognition of homosexual couples as a special protected class.
The public voted an overwhelming "no" to same-sex marriage. Hoag was a key leader in that outstanding victory. What was this battle about if not principle?
By declaring his support for domestic partnership, Hoag has conceded the very principle won in that hard-fought and now short-lived victory. He has provided the governor and other proponents of gay rights the encouragement they needed to bring domestic partnership before the Legislature. Now the battle begins anew.
Mary Poll
White icicle Christmas lights should go
It's almost safe now. By the end of January, most affected households should be back to normal. I fear, however, that this latest outbreak has simply receded into boxes and attics, to hibernate for another 12 months only to burst forth next December with even greater virility.I write of course about the dreaded "Hanging White Icicle Christmas House Lights" virus.
I first noticed this aberration on our street three years ago. Was it some sort of mutation or something engineered by a sick human mind? To my horror, I saw the same infestation growing off houses in other areas of Oahu. And now, three years later, it has grown into an epidemic of massive proportions.
There seems to be no reason or rhyme as to its infection. It's crossed all socio-economic barriers from Hanalei to Hilo. No neighborhood is safe from this affliction. Is there no end to the spread of this plague?
Hopefully, after growing out of every roof on every house in Hawaii, this pestilence will consume itself and disappear. Like disco and li hing mui oysters on the half shell, we will be left with only memories of this bright, white, hanging madness.
Mark Simunovich
Lanikai
New millennium begins with the year 2001
Somehow, it doesn't make sense for people to plan parties for next New Year's to welcome the next millennium. Actually, they will be a bit early.Let's say you count from 1 to 10. Both first and last numbers count in the series. The first millennium began with year 1 and ended with year 1000. The second millennium began with year 1001 and will end with year 2000. Thus the next millennium begins with year 2001.
The year 2000, up until midnight Dec. 31, is still within the current millennium. Time waits for no one -- except millennium counters -- nor will it hurry.
Kenneth S. Foley
Col. USMC (Ret.)
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