We must have local hearings on bill now

Thank you, Chief Maui Loa, for explaining that you must have 50 percent Hawaiian blood to be "Hawaiian."

Most of the activist Hawaiians are pretenders! They are not Hawaiians, as they have less than 50 percent Hawaiian blood. Yet, these pretenders want their neighbors' money in the form of government programs for being born right.

A lovely Asian lady with some Hawaiian blood is not a Hawaiian princess; she is actually an Asian princess. If the Akaka bill were designed to give recognition, special programs and rights to only the people of German Aryan blood, there would be outrage throughout the United States.

Ask yourself: If apartheid was not good for South Africa, how is it good for Hawai'i?

We must have local hearings on the Akaka bill now!

Jack Martinez
Kapolei

It's a devious attempt to avoid truth, justice

In 1993, the United States of America admitted, in U.S. Public Law 103-150, that it had deprived the Native Hawaiian people of their right to self-determination and that the native people have never given up their right of "inherent sovereignty."

Understanding this, it is clear that the Akaka bill is not a fair or just solution. International laws, treaties and conventions have been broken. U.S. constitutional law and Hawaiian kingdom law have been broken. Restitution and reparations are due. The Akaka bill does not address these crimes at all.

There have been seven or eight versions of the bill, yet only one hearing on one island in Hawai'i before the Hawaiian people. How can the Hawaiian people determine for themselves what they are really going to get or lose? Why hasn't the process included open and in-depth discussion in the Hawaiian communities so that Hawaiians may have input? I'm not talking about one or two meetings, I'm talking about many meetings in each community.

This bill is about the building of a nation. One hearing isn't fair or logical. As it stands, the Akaka bill is simply a devious attempt to avoid the truth and justice.

Isle nationals should stand against the bill

I hope the Hawai'i nationals will stand against the Akaka bill. Why give the United States the whole pie so it can dish out the crumbs to us?

Under the international laws of occupation, the United States is obligated to ensure the welfare and rights of Hawaiian subjects, regardless of ethnicity. It's a nation that's being violated, not one ethnic group, albeit the Hawaiian kingdom is of kanaka maoli origin, culture and society. Common sense dictates this to be a national issue, not a predisposed archaic tribal group.

The choice is to remain Hawai'i nationals or to be Hawaiian Americans; so step out of the delusional U.S.A. box and recognize who we really are. The United States has already recognized us as a nation and needs us to recognize them as our lord and master.

Is it a 'pig in a poke' or a 'Pandora's box'?

After reading your analyses and studying the complete text of the bill you published April 10, I am not sure whether it is more like a "pig in a poke" or a Pandora's box. It has characteristics of both:

I As your analyses correctly pointed out, no one can be sure now what will be the final result of the sovereignty process that the bill authorizes.

I The fact that emotions are already running high in both the pro-bill and anti-bill camps leads one to expect unpleasant racial and ethnic tensions when details are worked out years down the road.

The only thing certain about the Akaka bill is that we have no way of knowing today how it will impact the various segments of Hawai'i's population and institutions, because all the bill does is set in motion a series of negotiations with totally unpredictable outcomes.

The fact that the current strategy of our congressional delegation is to advance the bill "under the radar" speaks volumes.

Non-Hawaiians should know place in history

A crucial point to make to all non-Hawaiians opposed to the Akaka bill is that this legislation does not grant any money or privileges to Hawaiians; it simply gives them recognition in order to negotiate with the U.S. government.

Those who say that we are all Americans in Hawai'i and that Hawaiians should simply "get over it" lose sight of the fact that Hawaiians 100 years ago overwhelmingly opposed the overthrow and annexation (Ku'e Petitions). Recognition of a Native Hawaiian government is one small step to help address historical wrongs (as acknowledged by the United States in 1993), a gesture consistent with the values of justice, compromise and self-determination.

Every non-Hawaiian who chooses to live in Hawai'i should be thankful Hawaiians created a viable and vibrant culture that accepts influences from all who come here. The reason we stay here is not that Hawai'i is just like the rest of the United States; many, myself included, stay precisely because it is not.

Read what the bill says concerning race

The Akaka bill has been described by some as unconstitutional because it favors a certain race. Have those who perceive this bill as racial apartheid ever taken the time to actually read what it contains?

For example, the term "Native Hawaiian" is defined in part as "an individual who is one of the indigenous, native people of Hawai'i who is a direct, lineal descendant of the aboriginal, indigenous native people who resided in the islands that now comprise the State of Hawai'i on or before January 1, 1893."

Captain Cook discovered the Islands in 1778, a full 115 years prior to the overthrow. How many other haoles arrived between 1778 and 1893? Was this bill amended to include the haoles as well as the descendants of immigrant plantation workers, the very workers whom the white plantation owners thought suitable for the laborious duties that would make the owners very wealthy, but were not to be regarded as equal citizens alongside the white race?

It is interesting that the vast majority of non-Hawaiian-blooded persons who complain about the constitutionality of the Akaka bill fit into both of these two categories: They cannot trace ancestors to Hawai'i in 1893; and they see absolutely nothing unconstitutional about the 400-plus other Native American peoples who currently enjoy federal recognition.

What do Akaka, Heen have to hide?

Sen. Daniel Akaka and former judge Walter Heen want to stifle further local discussion of Akaka's bill.

Sen. Akaka wants no additional hearings, despite his claim to be "saddened ... by ... the fear and frustration of individuals who are not familiar with the bill." And Judge Heen says that "Nothing will be gained from further hearings, except further confusion." This paternalism sounds a lot like, "We know what is best for Hawai'i, so there is no reason to confuse yourselves by examining our plans for your future."

From what I can see, this dangerous bill creates two classes of citizens in Hawai'i, promising an end to community life as we know it. I am appalled that these proponents insist on blocking further discussion of their scheme. What have they to hide? All of us will ultimately be affected and deserve to learn whatever disaster may be in store for us.

Hawai'i's people voted overwhelmingly in favor of the republic, the territory and finally statehood. I'm confident that, once fully informed, they'd oppose this monstrous destruction of 100 years of progress.

Set up the talks

Hold hearings on the Akaka bill.