Whatever
Happened To...
An update on past news
Hawaiian protester
maintains cattle
on Big IsleQuestion: Whatever happened to Hawaiian Homes leasing policy protester Sonny Kaniho?
Answer: Tuesday marks the 30th anniversary since Kaniho, a retired Pearl Harbor shipyard worker, was first arrested in a series of protests against leasing Hawaiian Homes lands to non-Hawaiians.
Now 82, Kaniho continues to live in Waimea on the Big Island. He was eventually granted a 100-acre pastoral (ranching) lease in the Saddle Road area, where he maintains ten head of cattle.
In April 1974, Kaniho announced he would "occupy" Hawaiian Homes land near Waimea formerly leased to Parker Ranch. He had applied for land in 1955, but the department discarded the application. "I'm sick and tired of waiting," he said.
On May 18, 1974, he and supporters were arrested for trespassing. Three months later, a district judge threw out the charges because the land wasn't leased to anyone.
Kaniho later placed cows on various Hawaiian Homes sites as protest acts.
Kaniho never achieved his goal of halting leases to non-Hawaiians. The department has always said it has to continue the practice to get operating money.
Kaniho still says that's wrong: "Their job is only to put the people on the land, not to lease the land for their revenue."
The department does it because no one protests, he said. "If (Hawaiians) don't bring it to their government, they're not going to get any results," he said.
About 20,000 Hawaiians remain on various waiting lists. Department chairman Micah Kane has promised to speed the issuing of leases.
Ever wonder what happened to a person, event or issue that has been in the news? We'll find out for you if you e-mail us at cityeditors@starbulletin.com, call us at 529-4747 or write 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana, Honolulu, HI 96813. "What Ever Happened to ..." runs Saturdays.