• A historic OHA/state settlement • Hawaiian lands in Hawaiian hands • ‘Let fault lie where it should’ • Open letter to Kaua‘i’s dojos A historic OHA/state settlement On April 11, in an emotional ceremony at Washington Place, Gov. Neil
• A historic OHA/state settlement • Hawaiian lands in Hawaiian hands • ‘Let fault lie where it should’ • Open letter to Kaua‘i’s dojos
A historic OHA/state settlement
On April 11, in an emotional ceremony at Washington Place, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed the historic $200 million settlement between the State of Hawai‘i and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
After many years of negotiations, OHA has finally resolved all claims that were raised with the state relating to its portion of income from the public land trust from Nov. 7, 1978, to June 30, 2012.
The state has now fulfilled its constitutional obligations to Native Hawaiians by providing OHA with fee simple title to lands in Kaka‘ako makai. The proposal will not affect any other claims against the state.
I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to those who made this momentous settlement possible: Abercrombie; Senate President Shan Tsutsui; House Speaker Calvin Say; the chairs of the House and Senate committees that heard the bill; the Native Hawaiian Caucus and all of the legislators who voted for this historic settlement.
I also thank the following Native Hawaiian organizations for their support: The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaiian Civic Clubs, the Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Home Lands Assembly, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and Kamehameha Schools.
The lands that were transferred to OHA will someday generate the revenue needed to support OHA’s many Native Hawaiian programs. This process may take some time, but we are well on our way to someday being completely self-sufficient.
Rowena M.N. Akana, Trustee-at-Large, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Hawaiian lands in Hawaiian hands
Wolves in sheep’s clothing is just one factor to this particular issue.
The KPD chief and Kaua‘i county mayor/council in my opinion fabricated and received media attention in-house for something that to date, we the people are not privy to knowing about.
I believe it was a ruse so they could put a lid on their researching and securing a new substation site in Kapa‘a on ceded lands.
First a request for funding a module container and now a $6 million dollar substation to the south of Mahelona Hospital.
I personally know several dozen decedent Hawaiian lessees, who did not have grandfathered scenarios as this, and I am increasingly outraged at the audacity of our county to blatantly think they’re going to reign supreme on this one.
Consider how the Hanalei Fire Substation setup is managed and/or moved to the new Kapa‘a Fire Station, which also has the same infrastructure.
I pray for action and that the host culture will begin to see how it is and rise up to this challenge, keeping Hawaiian lands in Hawaiian hands
Debra Kekaualua, Wailua Homesteads
‘Let fault lie where it should’
In response to the letter “Fatal Kauai Wreck in 2006,” published Friday, I have to ask these questions.
Why would a safer bridge over Hanalei River deter a drunk speeder?
The issue is not the safety of the bridge, which actually slows traffic to a safe speed, even for us cyclists.
The real issue is the driver was drunk and tragically killed someone by making a poor choice.
It isn’t the county’s fault. By the same applied logic, suppose the had made it further than the bridge and went off the road or collided with someone else.
Would it be that property owner’s fault or the “other guys” fault?
Let fault lie where is should and we can only hope and pray that terrible incidents like these are minimized through the proper thought processes and choices of those who make them.
John Oszust, Princeville
Open letter to Kaua‘i’s dojos
Just now I got home from a walk along the bike path and a swim at Kealia beach. As always, getting out of Kealia was a bit of a challenge.
There were many cars heading north but just a silver low-rider pickup heading south. I saw cars turning in and headed to Kapa‘a. The silver low-rider pickup with blacked out windows rode up on my tailgate and I did the speed limit.
Upon exiting the highway, the pickup followed me. It proceeded to pass me going up the hill to Kawaihau, and tearing past the school.
As I reached the stop sign he was hu hu, out of his truck and ready to battle. My wife was terrified.
Here’s is the thing: We live on a small island, we must live together. I obeyed the law, did the speed limit. Everybody speeds at Kealia, then complains how hard it is to get out to the highway.
The other point is this: This man could beat me up, fine. What then?
My experience of learning in martial arts is this: The principles of efficiency, patience, and control held the key to success in all aspects of life.
There is a dojo here that is not sharing this philosophy. I know which one, I may write to them.
I wish my new friend well and I hope he learns these lessons. I did not as a young man and I had a tough road.
Jay Dorrance, Kealia
