• Kamehameha Schools issue • More on Kamehameha Schools • Misconceptions about hospital • Letter to Congressman Case Kamehameha Schools issue As our Hawaiian community debates the pros and cons of the Akaka bill amongst each other, questions the holdings
• Kamehameha Schools issue
• More on Kamehameha Schools
• Misconceptions about hospital
• Letter to Congressman Case
Kamehameha Schools issue
As our Hawaiian community debates the pros and cons of the Akaka bill amongst each other, questions the holdings of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and jockeys for position among various sovereignty groups, it becomes quite clear that we have lost sight of the island. We have, however, only lost sight collectively. Each of us in our na‘au knows what that island is.
In my attempt toward pursuit of the Hawaiian people, I want to proceed with all humility. I do not know that I am right, I do not pretend to speak for anyone but myself. I just know that nothing can stand in the way of 12,000 marching to Mauna‘ala.
I think we as a people want simply this:
We deserve to be the Hawaiian People thriving in our Hawaiian land.
Every other goal of preserving culture, preserving entitlements, preserving our ‘aina falls under this one goal. I think that every Hawaiian for or against the Akaka Bill is so because we want to be Hawaiian thriving in our Hawaiian Land.
I do not know if I have worded this perfectly and again I may not be right. I only say this in the hope that we remain ever as strong as we were that August 6, 2005.
Mau a mau.
- Imaikalani Aiu
Kamehameha Class of ’93
More on Kamehameha Schools
I enjoyed reading the letter to the editor in The Garden Island on August 9. It’s proof that there are many people out there who are unaware that almost all races in Hawai‘i are represented on the Kamehameha Schools campus. Just an FYI to the letter writer, the Kamehameha Schools does not exclude “Hapa students.” In fact, my niece who is now a senior is “Hapa” — one of her best friends (also at Kamehameha Schools) is Caucasian and is only one-sixth Hawaiian! There is no other school in the Mainland that can match Kamehameha Schools’ ethnic diversity.
As far as teaching our children about “injustices of the past,” I think many miss the whole reason behind doing this. Although the letter writer may be correct in stating, “that there has never been a time without injustice,” the whole reason for teaching our children about past injustices is because they are our future. They need to know that if we err, we correct it.
Misconceptions about hospital
I find it disconcerting that The Garden Island continues to take jabs in all sorts of directions at the Wilcox Hospital and Kauai Medical Clinic. Physicians dedicated to our health care on Kaua‘i should be commended for the countless hours and personal approach they take 24 hours a day.
If the reporter would reflect on the overall health care provided over the years on our island, he would understand that most doctors and nurses for generations have come and gone from our island, not necessarily because of the facilities provided but rather because the lifestyle in years past, or more recently cost of living and insurance constraints facing them in order to buy a box of strawberries for $5.99, a monthly rent that approaches $2000 a month, or a lot, with no improvements overlooking pristine views of our Pacific for a mere million dollars.
In actuality, the physicians and system that serves us on Kaua‘i should be commended for their tireless efforts, their continued upgrading of systems and procedures in the wake of medical costs, and most importantly the dedication we find at most clinics. I know of very few hospitals per se that claim profits annually, and my last question is I wonder what our new business writer might say if Wilcox Health were to be making money hand over fist annually…would he then condemn the operation for taking monies and making profits at the sake of those unhealthy few.
Get a grip and start investigating some economic conditions in the community that make sense, and that most likely drive us all to the doctor’s office in the first place.
Letter to Congressman Case
I appreciate your candid articulation of your stance on the Iraq war and why you cannot support Congressman Walter Jones’ resolution to set a date certain for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. It is difficult to understand your position when it flies in the face of reasonable and responsible action from our government. Yes indeed we did invade Iraq. Yes.
Indeed we have created a mess that the planners of this horrific excursion did not foresee. Yes sir, the reason for invading Iraq were many. Some of these reasons, as we now know, were fabricated by the Bush administration for mass consumption. You, like many other supporters, were duped by our trusted leaders and gave the thumbs up to this costly and arguably immoral campaign to keep us safe from terrorists. Yet by continuing to remain on this path of death and carnage we create more of the same and fall prey to the fact that we are occupiers and not liberators, threatened and not welcomed by many. Our troops continue to suffer senseless casualties that could be prevented by simply withdrawing and returning home.
