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Akaka bill will endanger ceded lands

We wish to extend a big mahalo to the Hawaiian groups that support Senator Akaka's recognition bill. It is so wonderful that they are willing to share their 205,000 acres of Hawaiian Home Lands with those of us who are less than 50 percent of the koko (blood).

They, of course, understand that Section 9 Reaffirmation says that the United States had clear title to the ceded lands and that, by this bill, the state will have no problem selling the ceded lands. The bill will throw Bill Meheula's lawsuit out the door. His lawsuit has stopped the state as the title insurance companies have refused to touch the ceded lands as the ownership of the land is still in question.

We are sure that the state will laugh all the way to the bank. All they have to give up to the Hawaiian governing body are the Hawaiian Home Lands, 20 percent of the ceded lands revenue that they can and have manipulated, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs portfolio of $370 million (minus $5.6 million OHA lost from January to June 2000), a great deal for the state. But is that justice for Hawaiians?

This is the last stand for true Hawaiians who believe in justice for all. Attend the federal hearings of the Akaka recognition bill this week at the Neal Blaisdell Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lela M. Hubbard
Aiea

Neighbor isles could have been included

Given the technology that facilitates video conferencing, there is no justification for not conducting the Akaka hearings on the neighbor islands. The senator could have remained on Oahu and viewed and interacted with the committee and speakers with the use of the networking technology.

William J. King

Gambling will follow once isles are sovereign

The Hawaiian people should have their ceded lands returned or the proper rent compensation paid to them. But just watch: If and when they do gain self-determination, the first thing Hawaiians will do is bring gambling to the islands, just as the American Indians have done on the mainland.

With the racial predisposition to gambling so strong in Hawaii, our welfare cases will soar. Even I would have a tendency to gamble if the temptation were right here. It would be a disaster.

Marijane Carlos

Why is union only supporting Democrats?

Does the Hawaii Government Employees Association's endorsement of only Democrats for the Sept. 23 primary election represent the views of all HGEA members or was the decision made by the union's bosses?

With this kind of thinking, Hawaii will always be a one-party state. Nothing beneficial will be accomplished to benefit the islands and pull us out of recession. We will be seeing more and more special sessions to correct blunders. It will be business as usual with our state Legislature.

Hawaii needs a two-party system and I, as a registered voter in Makiki who strongly feels the need for change, will be voting for Sam Aiona. He is running for state representative in our district and has not been endorsed by the HGEA.

K. Shotwell

Quotables "We will resist to our last breath the wrongs that were done to us." Butch Kekahu KAUAI RESIDENT AND HAWAIIAN ACTIVIST Opposing a congressional bill to set up a government-to-government relationship between Hawaiians and the U.S. "My family has owned this parcel since 1871...What I want to do with it is no business of someone who just moved here from Michigan." Jimmy Pflueger RETIRED AUTO DEALER NOW LIVING ON KAUAI Discounting criticism from north shore residents who are angry that the county allowed Pflueger to build a 15-foot-high, mile-long berm without a permit

Dairy products should be avoided

So the milk industry has chosen the stars of "Survivor" as poster children for its milk-mustache ads. What these folks need to know is that consumption of milk is not very conducive to long-term survival.

Milk is designed for baby bovines and is definitely unnatural for humans. In fact, 95 percent of Asian Americans, 70 percent of African Americans and Native Americans, more than 50 percent of Mexican Americans, and 15-20 percent of Caucasians are unable to digest the milk sugar lactose.

Dairy consumption raises the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. In addition to saturated fat and cholesterol common to all animal foods, dairy products contain pesticides, hormones and antibiotics. A 12-year study of 78,000 nurses found that those who regularly consumed dairy products suffered more bone fractures than those who rarely or never did.

I plan to promote my survival and that of my family by partaking of the rich variety of available soy, nut and rice milk products.

Howard Blake
Haiku, Maui

Puna resort plans will blight landscape

Regarding the resort planned for Puna on the Big Island (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 25), all I can say in response is, "Arrgghh!"

When will it stop? When will Hawaii no longer be for sale? Can't you hear her heart breaking at the discussion of further desecration of this place, which is like no other?

Sean Ross
Kahaluu/Kaneohe

Have pals abandoned indicted senator?

What a martyr Marshall Ige is when he says, "I guess I'm going to have to take the blame" (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 25). Where are your Bishop Estate friends now, Senator? Feeling alone in that little sinking life raft?

Frank McCafferty

Fonseca deserves praise for job well done

Every defendant, no matter how evil the crime, deserves legal representation. Jerel Fonseca did his duty well (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 10).

He did not try to deny the fact that his client, Byran Uyesugi, murdered seven men. Instead, Fonseca tried to prove that Uyesugi was insane, which must have been true. How can a sane man kill seven men and be so nonchalant and apathetic?

Compare it to the defense of that diabolical, double killer somewhere in Brentwood some six years ago. His attorneys used every trick and contrivance in their bag to get that vicious killer off the hook, knowing that he had done it.

Now, after considering the above two cases, shouldn't we give credit to Jerel Fonseca for his efforts in defending his client, not disparagement and ostracism?

T. Ono
Hilo

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