The September 11th attack
Activist defends ban on flags at clinic
By James Gonser
Advertiser Leeward Bureau
WAI'ANAE — Hayden Burgess, the executive director of the Wai'anae Coast Community Mental Health Center, says his decision not to allow American flags to be flown at the center in response to the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington is based on a long-standing policy against displaying any political or religious symbols, not his personal beliefs.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
But Burgess, also known as Poka Laenui, is a veteran Hawaiian activist and has angered many in the rural community with his public comments that many people in Wai'anae feel no allegiance to the United States.
Hayden Burgess of the Wai'anae Coast Community Mental Health Center explains the center's policy of not allowing flags on the building. Burgess has caused an uproar by saying many Wai'anae people feel no allegiance to the United States.
Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Barbers Point, Makaha), said such comments are ridiculous.
"It makes everybody look so bad out here," Hanabusa said. "That is not the way we feel. If he is speaking for himself, that is fine, but don't try and speak for everybody on the coast."
The clinic, a nonprofit facility serving the mental health needs of children and adults in the community, was flooded with angry phone calls yesterday.
Leeward resident Celeste Lacuesta, who is Hawaiian and has a son in the Navy, and several others spoke during the center's board of directors meeting last night.
Residents said they are proud of their country and felt that Burgess' remarks hurt the community.
Burgess said his comments were taken out of context and he did not intend to speak for all of Wai'anae.
Richard Bettini, executive director of the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, a separate organization not affiliated with the mental health center, said they have no policy against displaying American flags and many were put up at the facility the day after the attack with the full approval of the employees.
"From what I have seen, and we are the largest employer on the Wai'anae coast, there is a tremendous level of patriotism amongst our employees and the majority are from the Wai'anae Coast," Bettini said. "There are a lot of people really upset."
Burgess said the "accessibility" policy is set by the mental heath center's board, not him, and is meant to protect patients using the facility.
"One of our policies, ... adopted years ago, is that we must remove all barriers to treatment, both physical as well as psychological," Burgess said. "In implementing that policy it has been our rule that flags, religious symbols or things that would somehow make people feel uncomfortable, whether clients or employees, should not be erected on the buildings."
Burgess said that he removed two flags from the building last week, one in a window and the other on the front door, but that he does allow employees wear patriotic pins or place flags on their desks if they want.
"The Hawaiian flag doesn't fly, the American flag doesn't fly," Burgess said. "It's not a question of anyone's loyalty, it is a question of our clients needing service and we remove all barriers as much as we can."
The board agreed that the existing policy is correct and let it stand.
